General discussion on current situation

[groom]

Possibly DC didn't break any rules or laws but he certainly bent them. His wife called him home as she thought she had Covid19, but the same day when she felt better, not knowing if she had it, he returned to work, when the rest of us were told if any one had symptoms we were supposed to self isolate. They drove 250 miles with her still showing symptoms - weren't the police at that time given the powers to escort anyone showing symptoms home? After his son was taken to hospital and whilst he was still suffering from what he says was the virus, he left the house to drive and pick them up. Even if he didn't leave the car, if he was as ill as claimed, he was a danger behind the wheel.

There was no need for them to go for a test drive, as his wife drives - something she has mentioned several times in articles, so could easily have taken over driving home.

I think what people are so angry about is the fact that majority of us have sacrificed seeing family and friends, have missed holidays, weddings, funerals etc because we thought it was right and now we find that we could probably have found loop holes and done these things! How many parents have struggled with child care when ill, because they didn't realise they could have driven to family?

A simple admission of an error of judgement when all this came out and an apology and a sign of some regret would have gone a long way. Instead we get none of that, even arrogance yesterday keeping the whole Nation waiting half an hour!

[Spidermonkey]

And we are meant to accept that it was pure coincidence that the trip(s) matched up with his mother's  birthday and his wife's birthday (the day of the 'eyesight' road trip to Barnard Castle).

Also that his wife's accounts of their 'illness' - one in print in the Spectator and the other via the radio - made no mention of being in Durham/Barnard Castle/having to go to hospital/eyesight issues.

I am not a hugely political person- I have voted for most parties at one time and another, for different reasons - however I do not think I can adequately convey my sheer disgust and horror at the catalogue of lies and excuses that our government appear to think that the public will swallow.  And I refer to more than just the DC episode.  Day after day, government spokespeople have stood in front of the nation and spouted guff (protective arms thrown around care homes, anybody???  100,000 tests in one day??? Individual gloves counted in the PPE tally???).  They have praised key workers, whilst not protecting them and excluding some of the poorest paid from death in service benefits and indefinite leave to remain (only changing when public opinion forced them to do so).  The DC episode is frankly just the unpalatable icing on the cake.

[Rishile]

I think what people are so angry about is the fact that majority of us have sacrificed seeing family and friends, have missed holidays, weddings, funerals etc because we thought it was right and now we find that we could probably have found loop holes and done these things! How many parents have struggled with child care when ill, because they didn't realise they could have driven to family?

I totally agree Groom.  People are, quite rightly, angry.  Apart from the things you have mentioned, people have lost jobs, lost or could lose businesses, have lost family members without being able to say goodbye, and for what?  Because we were TOLD to stay indoors.  Because we were TOLD to self-isolate if we had even mild symptoms or if any of our family had mild symptoms.  Because we were TOLD it was the right thing to do to save lives and to save the NHS.  How many times were we told STAY INDOORS.  But one person who was, no doubt, instrumental in all these instructions decides he will do things differently.  It doesn't matter if he wife did not have the virus.  She THOUGHT she may have the virus.  In the current situation, it's the same thing.  He THOUGHT he may have the virus but still decides to drive to a beauty spot 30 miles away.  He had other options available to him but he decided to do what he wanted to do.  How many people have had that luxury over the past three months?

Rishile

[Gadget]

Just been reading a piece which mentions a slogan used by the Paris student demonstrations of  1968

DO NOT ADJUST YOUR MIND – THERE IS A FAULT WITH REALITY.”

It seems to fit, somehow.

[mazi]

I'm not sure if anyone else remembers Black Wednesday (Sept 1992) but I feel that the vibes are very similar to then.

The latest YouGov poll is out and makes worrying reading for Boris.

I remember black Wednesday, that’s what happens when you choose a nice honest but weak prime minister.

Mike

[mazi]

I doubt it will make the slightest difference but there is a little snippet on the bbc home page, seemingly there have been reported cases of covid19 affecting the eyesight.

They rarely affect the vision, but the advice is to drive with caution until you are sure you are ok.

Mike

[Ray T]

they decided to take a short drive to see if he could safely manage to drive back.

Barnard Castle is approximately a 50 mile round trip from Durham.

Thereby lies another inconsistency. From the property in which he was staying, the centre of Barnard Castle is over 25 miles by the most direct route. His claimed stop by the river involves driving through the centre and out the other side.

His claim that the trip to Barney took half an hour is also a 50% exageration. The AA Routefinder quickest route times the journey at 43 minutes to the centre of Barney - perhaps the problems with his eyesight meant he couldn’t see his speedometer!

On a separate matter, did anyone watch the recent interview with Alastair Campbell on the BBC news channel? - Classic!

[Rishile]

I doubt it will make the slightest difference but there is a little snippet on the bbc home page, seemingly there have been reported cases of covid19 affecting the eyesight.

They rarely affect the vision, but the advice is to drive with caution until you are sure you are ok.

Mike

What?  When has this been the case?  Drive with caution because you can't see properly?  Where does it say this in the Highway Code?

Rishile

[LizzieL]

Nowhere!

"92
Vision. You MUST be able to read a vehicle number plate, in good daylight, from a distance of 20 metres (or 20.5 metres where the old style number plate is used). If you need to wear glasses (or contact lenses) to do this, you MUST wear them at all times while driving. The police have the power to require a driver to undertake an eyesight test.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 96 & MV(DL)R reg 40 & sch 8"

Some of the highway code is "guidance" but this para is backed up by law as shown in reference at bottom of section