Weekend Thread 3 April 2020

Far Left Biased BBC ‘education’ begins on 20th April 2020.
Readers will only dream of the propaganda opportunities for the
Broadcaster to indoctrinate kids with its preferred view .

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554 Responses to Weekend Thread 3 April 2020

  1. Guest Who says:

    John knows who to rely upon.

       8 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      Does a graph of deaths so far prove future trend ?
      No

      The first thing to look at is the graph of new cases
      cos that is the one that dictates deaths 7 days later.

      Sweeney as per beeboid programming exhibits “2+2 = 6” thinking as he rushes to reduce complex systems to simplicity.

         17 likes

  2. Guest Who says:

    …and on that note….

       23 likes

  3. Dover Sentry says:

    Let us remind ourselves.

    Lord Hall, boss of the BBC, earns more than twice that of Boris.

    Does that really make any sense?

       39 likes

  4. taffman says:

    “Brexit: Spending on UK’s final European elections revealed”
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52150171
    Well done Brexit Party I say !
    It would be a good bet that Al Beeb wont like it though.

       18 likes

  5. Dover Sentry says:

    My wife now pays the BBC Telly Tax as I refuse to do so. She watches stuff that I would never watch.

    But, the BBC are chasing me night and day for not paying our tax. Let them come, it’s all paid for anyway.

    The BBC administration as regards payments is non-existent. The right hand doesn’t know even what the right hand is doing. Typical BBC,really. But in the BBC’s case it would be the LEFT hand.

       23 likes

  6. vlad says:

    “Coronavirus outbreak eats into EU unity”

    Oh dear, all is not sweetness and light in the beeb’s favourite EUtopia.

    And our Katya is especially worried about Hungary and that horrible Viktor Orban who’s not playing ball at all.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52135816

       32 likes

  7. Darcy3 says:

    Panic buying ?
    looking at a local facebook community page, noticed someone saying that loads of stuff gone from Tesco only to appear in a local village store with paper labels covering the label price and £1 added to each item

       21 likes

    • maxincony says:

      Darcy3,

      …stuff gone from Tesco only to appear in a local village store with paper labels covering the label price and £1 added to each item

      False.

      Tesco (like all other major supermarkets) displays prices on the shelf – not the item.

         1 likes

      • taffman says:

        Ah! maxincony we haven’t seen you for some time . Have you got the virus and been self isolating ?

        Now then, can we expect to see some posts coming from you about Al Beeb’s Blatant Bias ? After all that’s what this site is all about. You must admit that there is lot of public support for getting rid of the Telly Tax . Do you pay it, no ?
        You may find this site of use to you …………….
        https://tvlicenceresistance.info

           8 likes

      • Up2snuff says:

        maxi, when did you last shop in Tesco’s? If you did, you will know that some goods are priced on the item, especially some ‘fresh’ goods.

        Oh, and while you are here, where’s that apology you owe me?

           3 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      I read it as paper covering the supermarket label
      Also when people say “Tesco” they often mean “the suppermarket”
      BTW some but not many Tesco items do have price labels on the packet
      eg “2 for £6”

         3 likes

      • maxincony says:

        StewGreen,

        I read it as paper covering the supermarket label

        Course you did, Stewart; because “label price” doesn’t actually mean, “label price”.

           0 likes

  8. Dazed and Confused says:

       14 likes

    • Darcy3 says:

      Remind me, is this the same bunch of racists who will happily have you arrested for saying anything like that about them over here ? but when in the majority are happy to tell racist joke in their bleeding parliament

      imagine the outcry the faux outrage from their kommunihi yet this is their real nature

         17 likes

    • Darcy3 says:

      Remind me, is this the same bunch of racists who will happily have you arrested for saying anything like that about them over here ? but when in the majority are happy to tell racist joke in their bleeding parliament

      imagine the outcry the faux outrage from their kommunihi yet this is their real nature

         5 likes

  9. Confused.and.Sceptical says:

    I’ve just joined this site. Some of my friends think the BBC is biased in favour of the right and some that it favours the left. Hence my handle confused and sceptical.

    I’m not going to take the simple view and assume that it must doing things about right. My question is how has the BBC NOT reported Operation Cygnus which I have seen reported in the rightist Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/28/exercise-cygnus-uncovered-pandemic-warnings-buried-government/) and the leftist Guardian currently. Cygnus was the formal contingency planning exercise to model what might happen if the UK were hit by a pandemic.

    My current position is that this is pro-government which since that is of the right has to be the BBC on the right in this case. I’m happy to be argued out of this initial position.

       6 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      Welcome. And good that you are not going to take a simple view.

      Interesting to be at the centre of the ‘must be getting it about right’ group by saying you are not.

      I find the bbc unfit for purpose and have done so for years. Hence I legally follow procedure not paying the TVL.

      If someone wishes to support the bbc, then they can pay for it.

      This seems to have freaked out a large chunk of the bubble, with Jeremy Bowen citing Polly Toynbee in defence, intriguingly.

      So, rather than simplistic single issue exchanges, where do you stand on this basic right of choice?

         22 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Welcome sceptical . In the inquiry over the Chinese virus – which I’m sure will be designed to be even longer that the inquiry into the paras actions one Sunday in Northern Ireland – i m sure Cygnus will be covered .

      I can guess what the outcome will be – lessons from Cygnus we’re not learned – but will be now ( which I doubt ) . Large numbers of big expensive exercises have Great ‘learning points ‘ but often little is actually ‘learnt’ and so weaknesses remain and mistakes repeated .

      As for the current behaviour of the government – well it knows it faces an MSM which is an enemy – not just holding it to account – as well as an NHS / public health England which appears unwilling to think and do things at speed; and – despite a whole army of managers and professors – flounders from day to day with basic stuff – much to the glee – of the MSN – pouring acid on HMG 24/7 and deifying the failed Health system …
      I’m not sure if glee is the right word since the failure result in the deaths of NHS troops and civilians .

      Long term – we need retribution on the Chinese – maybe a bit like after The Great War . They should pick up the tab .

         19 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      @C&S it’s not called “Operation Cygnus”
      It’s called Exercise Cygnus, it’s on Wikipedia but not much
      https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/28/exercise-cygnus-uncovered-pandemic-warnings-buried-government/

      Actually the New Statesman did an article about it on March 16

      No BBC webpage mentions it
      Some libmob journos did tweet about it, but not many
      BBC journos do usually tweet with the libmob pack, but none tweeted about Cygnus
      but I do spot someone on Twitter saying they heard it on the BBC
      \\The BBC let this out of the bag tonight.. “Exercise Cygnus!”//

      The idea that we don’t have enough ventilators is a narrative
      Is it a truth ?
      I’m not sure. We have had enough upto now
      The government does certainly have a current operation to rush manufacture them
      but that might have been part of contingency.
      Ah I see some one refers to a Spectator article

      The exercise was a WORST CASE scenario
      It is wrong to say that we are in a worst case scenario now.
      I’m guessing that mostly you don’t spend money based on worst case scenarios, but rather what is more likely.

         7 likes

      • StewGreen says:

        Until recently John Beatties BBC Radio Scotland show used to have a Media Review segment where him and his lefty mates would sneer at righty media and praise lefty media
        They would froth aginst Farage and Trump.

        Here is him tweeting the New Statesman article

           1 likes

    • Bogtrotter says:

      As an aside regarding Exercise Cygnus:

      In a previous place of employment, being referred to as engaging in ‘Operation Cygnet’ (or ‘Op Cygnet’) referred to the ruse of swanning about the place with a clipboard as a cover for doing bugger all.

         5 likes

  10. Darcy3 says:

    Meanwhile back to normality:
    https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/three-jailed-enfield-rape-imprisonment-wood-green-crown-court-a4406911.html

    Three jailed for ‘horrific’ rape of schoolgirl after one robbed her with machete and held her captive

    Roberto French, 22, Abdisalam Mohamad, 21, and Hilal Mohamed, 22, face a combined prison term of 45 years over the incident which took place in August 2016.

    During the trial, which ended on February 6, 2020, jurors heard how the victim had travelled to London from Bristol when French held a machete against her throat while robbing her in front of the other two men.

    The 22-year-old then falsely imprisoned her in a residential block in Enfield, where she was forced by the defendants to perform oral sex on each of them.

       26 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      How come it took 3.5 years to come to trial
      … had they been on trial for other offences in the meantime ?

         28 likes

  11. Richard Pinder says:

    Eddie Large died on 2 April 2020 at Southmead Hospital in Bristol. He was 78. He had suffered from heart problems for a number of years and while in hospital receiving treatment for heart failure, caught Covid-19 from other patients or NHS staff while in the Hospital. The next day, the daily figures revealed by the Department of Health and NHS England, showed that Eddie was amongst 13 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours at Southmead Hospital. A cock up. In fact, these 13 people died over the past two weeks, and represent all of the hospital’s deaths connected to the pandemic since it first began. But then people like Eddie are going to the hospital because of other health issues, then catching the virus in the hospital, and then they put down Covid-19 on the Death Certificate instead of Heart failure.

       51 likes

  12. Cooper_Man says:

    Like most people I’d imagine, I’ve been looking at the worldometer site for ongoing coronavirus statistics, and one thing that puzzles me about the U.K. figures is the lack of recoveries so far. Since March 23rd , supposedly, not a single person has recovered as the total has stood at 135 since that date when it increased by 42. And yet, of the 34,428 active cases, 99.53% of them are mild while 0.47% are serious or critical. What is going on?

       24 likes

  13. StewGreen says:

    BBC clap-zombies in the US

       10 likes

  14. StewGreen says:

    Chinese figures are declared fantasy
    and arrests of citizen journalists cited
    .. but then UK also jails bloggers.

       11 likes

    • Nodding Dog says:

      Shame they didn’t jail the previous man who wandered freely around the wards of Stoke Mandeville!!

         15 likes

  15. vlad says:

    “Coronavirus exposes ‘inherent problems’ with globalisation”

    I’m sure the beeb will air this view?

       18 likes

    • Oaknash says:

      Vlad – I expect Aunty will be racking her brains to try and pin Covid somehow on Orange Man.
      After all he is a very bad man indeed.

      What will be interesting however is whether, after all of this is over Boris continues with his dangerous and foolish decision to push forward with allowing Huawei to take part in our 5G network.

         30 likes

    • theisland says:

      “The importance of nation states”
      SPOT ON.
      More common sense from Australia.

      Boris take note.

         18 likes

  16. Guest Who says:

    An awful lot of Beeboids hit twitter to say they have no clue.

    Refreshingly honest, but why are they deemed ‘essential’?

       16 likes

  17. taffman says:

    Al Beeb is running the headline about two doctors coming 5 thousand miles to die for the NHS . Did they really “come here to die “ or did they come here because there was a good job for them ?

       34 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      Ask Amol, who is ‘BBC News’…

      ***

      Ever wondered how the news is still made, despite coronavirus restrictions in place?

      The BBC’s media editor Amol Rajan explains.

      bbc.in/2USz2wI

         6 likes

  18. vlad says:

    Poor old beeb are much too busy with the Coronavirus to find the time or the space to report the small matter of a violent rape in the capital.

    So allow me:

    “Three jailed for ‘horrific’ rape of schoolgirl after one robbed her with machete and held her captive”

    https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/three-jailed-enfield-rape-imprisonment-wood-green-crown-court-a4406911.html

    kstgnuuyqd2sy7trhjmr.jpg

       38 likes

  19. Sluff says:

    What microscopic strand of UK society would the biased BBC dredge up on Toady this morning with the aim of undermining the evil unthinking Tory government during the Coronavirus crisis?
    Step forward Mischal useless Hussein bringing us the appalling story of……errr………a surrogate baby ‘provider’ who has got stranded while giving birth…….in the Ukraine.

    Those useless heartless Tories. They just don’t consider the effects of their policies on people.

       46 likes

  20. Celtic_Mist says:

    Yesterday, the US CDC –

    “Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings, Especially in Areas of Significant Community”

    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html

    At the Whitehouse press conference, Trump indicated he would not be complying.

    Naturally, the media went into meltdown, but what it couldn’t know was –

    BREAKING: Trump has fired the intelligence community’s chief watchdog, Michael Atkinson, saying he no longer has confidence in him. He will be removed 30 days from now.

    Here we see Trump at his best because –

    1. The MSM is now recommending that the public use masks

    2. He has highlighted how the MSM has politicised the pandemic

       22 likes

  21. Sluff says:

    It’s just dawned on me that those of us who criticise Toady are looking at things through the wrong end of the telescope.

    What has happened is that, without any fanfare or announcement, ‘Thought for the Day’ has been extended from its normal 2 minute slot to cover the three hours of the whole programme!

    That way, instead of worshipping our traditional gods for a couple of minutes, we can worship the one true new God, the NHS, for the whole three hours. For example straight after the news at 0710 we were able to reflect on two recently canonised nurses who had died. Later we hear of all kinds of ways to offer protection to the new deity. Protecting the NHS is all that matters. I tell you, it all fits together.

    My problem is that in this new god-fearing age, I’m an atheist. Protection of the NHS from what? Oversight? Accountability?

    And after all this, what will we be doing? Still worshipping the NHS. The 8pm Thursday evening communion services are already established. No money will be enough. No criticism allowed. Boris will have a King Jong Un haircut and we will descend, North Korea style, into an enduring age where you are defined by the enthusiasm of your worship for the new central deity. Any opposition or questioning will be ruthlessly suppressed in Labour camps and execution facilities (to be known as Nightingale hospitals). The new system will be kept in place by relentless propaganda and perpetual fear of the external threat (new viruses), which will justify a continuing state emergency footing and cancellation of elections. All economic activity will be controlled by the state with the sole aim of ‘protecting the NHS’.

    We’re already well on the way, aren’t we? Any moment now the statue-building will begin.

       32 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Sluff – I’m no longer partaking of the Toady programme – I do the music streaming thing instead so i m at a disadvantage . However I am reading Twitter more and there are strong similar opinions that it has reached a new level of bias – coming after the brexit project fear period .

      I don’t mind there being a far left biased broadcaster . But there should also be a far right broadcaster to balance . Which there isn’t .

      If you notice I use the word ‘far ‘ which is abused by the press and used as an insult – which is why I use the term ‘far left BBC’ .
      In current political terminology ‘far right ‘ is anything the wokey snowflakes don’t approve of – it is not the same of waking up dreaming of invading Poland .

      I take it that in the current Chinese pandemic the Toady crew are back to normal giving ritualised kickings to enemy government ministers on a daily basis .

      As an aside – I wonder why journalism attracts monsters like Robinson , Humphreys, Peston, naughtie ,maitliss, piers Morgan and a long list you can make – who desperately want their image to be bigger than any event or story ? Bullied at school maybe ?

      ‘That’s all we’ve got time for – and now the weather “

         26 likes

      • Guest Who says:

        I’d prefer a simply factual, accurate broadcaster.

        I might even voluntarily pay for it.

           21 likes

  22. Celtic_Mist says:

    I watched 1:05hr of television during the last 24

    In the five minute slot I learned that 9 (of colour) out of 10 children will be disappointed – assessed exam grades

    Fox’s Hannity 1hr show is essential viewing because he set out the Chinese cover up date line and that the US will demand reparations.

    The second isn’t frivolous..

       18 likes

  23. Guest Who says:

    OT, but who decides the MSM gets ‘essential service’ status?

    Unless to comedy.

    Kevin surely assured QT residency on this one.

       19 likes

    • vlad says:

      What he meant to say was that by leaving Labour it’s in a better position to win the next election.

         18 likes

  24. Guest Who says:

    BBC still trying to pretend it’s everyone else who is the problem.

    ***

    Within minutes, fake news shared on WhatsApp can reach millions.
    Think twice before forwarding coronavirus advice. Check – is all of the advice really true, do you trust the ‘friend of a friend’?

    bbc.in/CoronavirusFakeNews

       18 likes

  25. Thoughtful says:

    Again unreported by UK media is the fact that the head of the WHO Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is suspected of crimes against humanity.

    What else might you expect from an Ethipian Muslim living in a country which has routinely practiced atrocities against those of a different religious persuasion?

    https://ecadforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/APU_opposes_candidacy_of_Dr_TAG.pdf?x35370

    In this instance it is the Ahamhadi Muslims who are the victims and it isn’t just a single pressure group making the accusations.

    Human rights watch, normally a favourite of the BBC when they are accusing the hated white people, are also accusing the government Dr. Ghebreyesus was a member of, yet the the media including the BBC are silent on this most disturbing allegation.

    This man is the achitect of our lockdown, potentially a serious criminal, and potentially compromised by large financial interests, and no one in the media says a word.

    What a surprise.

       34 likes

  26. Sluff says:

    Cooperman, Stew, and probably others, further up the thread, discuss the worldometer statistics.

    A statistic not commented on is the disparity between survival rates across the UK.
    https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/f94c3c90da5b4e9f9a0b19484dd4bb14

    With a little rounding up, we have…
    England 3300 deaths, 32000 cases (mortality rate over 10%)
    Wales 140 deaths, 2500 cases ( 6%j
    Scotland 130 deaths, 3000 cases (4%)
    Northern Ireland 36 deaths 900 cases ( 4%)

    That’s quite a discrepancy. What is happening? Surely one of the BBC’s journalists could get on the case?

       15 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Sluff
      Being completely unqualified to make a judgement I saw those numbers and had an instant list of reasons for the Engerland stat – I’d even suggest that the mortality rate is even higher for Londonistan hospitals as well ……

         14 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      That’s a mortality rate for registered cases
      Most people don’t have a test
      and very few of them die, so they are not in the stats at all, hence the mortality seems way higher than it is.

         7 likes

  27. Guest Who says:

    BBC News, via ‘quotes’

    The UK’s largest council has warned the government’s plan to feed the “shielded vulnerable” during the coronavirus pandemic is putting lives at risk.

    ***
    I wonder if the bbc got in touch with them, or they got in touch with the bbc?

       9 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Guest – perhaps one from each labour organisation isn’t practicing ‘social distancing ‘ and it was just ‘pillow Talk’.

         10 likes

  28. Fedup2 says:

    Even in the most testing times there is always an opportunity to open the popcorn . This time it is at 1045 Saturday morning which comrade Corbyn s successor is appointed .

    It seems comrade sir Keir Starmer is to pick up the crown . I’m assuming the true followers of comrade Corbyn will see comrade Starmer as ‘right wing ‘ and then get going on a serious civil war in the Labour Party again .

    It will be interesting how the BBC take to him because they’ll only be happy when a black girl is running things . Even then I’m sure she won’t be ‘black ‘enough or ‘girl ‘ enough …

       21 likes

  29. Guest Who says:

    Certainly still galvanises the BBC.

    As did Gina, Adonis, Femi, Ken, etc on Brexit.

    Essential.

       16 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Guest – I’m guessing he’ll not be taking ms Alvarez – the lady wife ? On a 2 week holiday to Israel any time soon – with or without the current version of the Chinese viruses …..?

      Bye Jeremy –

         13 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      Guest, they took two minutes to cover Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party? Two WHOLE minutes? Incredible!

      Reckon 30 seconds max would cover it.

         11 likes

    • davylars says:

      In any other report, the BBC always would end two positives with a negative.
      Funny how a report on Steptoe gets too negatives and ends with a positive.

         11 likes

  30. AsISeeIt says:

    The Rainbow (Tax) Coalition

    Somewhat in jest I’ve called for a windfall tax on the supermarkets. Also hereabouts it has been commented that fuel duty will inevitably rise. That’s not even the half of it.

    If I may make a dismal small prediction. With public finances shredded at an emergency autumn budget we will be told we have to implement not only the Corbyn proposed tax rises on higher rates but even the Lib Dem notion of a standard rate penny on the pound ‘to pay for the NHS’

       12 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      AISI, think you could be right.

      However, increasing Fuel Duty too much could be counter-productive to the economy. It’s an inflationary tax, unlike Income Tax. FD is also a dying tax. Increases only hasten its end. In addition to that, people may well have discovered that outdoors and shopping do not necessarily require a car. (Apparently, UK bicycle manufacturers are now enjoying something of a boom.)

      There is one other problem with FD. It’s OK when the oil price goes down (although public & media pressure increases if the government is seen as taxing motorists more than Chief Executives) but when the oil price increases, as it inevitably will at some point, it again has a depressive and inflationary effect, thanks to the VAT on top. At least outside the EU we will be able to decide as a nation what VAT is applied to and at what rate.

      There will be upward pressure on inflation due to the amount of ‘government money’ that is being spread all over the place, also supermarkets are appearing to be taking advantage of the current situation to cancel discount offers, vouchers, loyalty bonuses. Whether competition will quickly reduce prices again remains to be seen.

      Offsetting that will be the likely deflation on things that are no longer quite so marketable. Meat should become much cheaper. It will be interesting see if supermarkets profiteer on lamb prices this Easter.

      I think if the Conservative Government are really smart, they will take the opportunity to re-balance and reform the fiscal structure of the UK following this virus. Various groups are showing themselves to be candidates for higher taxes.

      You have suggested supermarkets in jest. I would, in all seriousness, suggest Premier League Football Clubs and other sports organisations.

      The basic rate of Income Tax is likely to increase but I think where organisations (I include the BBC in this) have not voluntarily stepped up to do their bit and cut top level pay, then the Chancellor may well increase the two higher levels of Income Tax substantially.

         9 likes

      • StewGreen says:

        AFAIK supermarket cooking oil can go in a diesel engine
        especially as a mix.
        One country I think Croatia, once put diesel prices up
        and people bought supermarket oil instead.

           5 likes

        • Up2snuff says:

          Stew, happened here in the UK, too, and a friend tried it. Worked OK although a fuel ‘supplement’ is recommended.

             0 likes

  31. pugnazious says:

    It will be interesting to see how many BBC journalists start wearing masks as they and the rest of the media ramp up the pressure to make the government force people to wear masks…despite nearly all ‘expert’ advice [on the BBC itself ironically] saying they do little good for everyday public.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-51881555/coronavirus-do-face-masks-actually-work

    The BBC has a big story on the frontpage…

    ‘Coronavirus: Trump to defy ‘voluntary’ advice for Americans to wear masks’

    Why use the very pointed ‘defy’ which is a clear accusation and attempt to condemn Trump?

    Expect to see Sopel & Co all wearing masks from now on.

    Similarly we have this frontpage story…

    ‘Coronavirus: US accused of ‘piracy’ over mask ‘confiscation’’

    Funny that there wasn’t any BBC frontpage story about the French confiscating masks and hand gel and blocking sales of ventilators to Britain….or about Germany doing similar….

    ‘French authorities impounded two lorries carrying some 130,000 masks to health workers in Britain’s embattled hospitals, following President Emmanuel Macron’s pledge to “requisition” all stocks in his territory.

    The move followed hot on the heels of French border guards seizing another heavy goods vehicle carrying hand sanitiser to Britain the day before. The incidents triggered a diplomatic spat between the two countries as Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) struggles against the Chinese coronavirus pandemic.’

    Do you remember the BBC making headlines with this sort of news?….

    ‘Germany and France are condemned by other EU members after blocking the export of medical supplies, raising alarm among smaller countries hit by coronavirus’

    When the BBC is constantly attacking the government [not the NHS though] for failing to provide enough PPE do we read stories ike this?…

    ‘Coronavirus: French protective mask manufacturer scraps NHS order to keep masks in France

    France has forced a face mask manufacturer to cancel a major UK order as the coronavirus-inspired scramble for protective gear intensifies.

    The National Health Service ordered millions of masks from Valmy SAS near Lyon earlier this year as COVID-19 threatened.

    But amid a global shortage, France earlier this week ordered the requisition of all protective masks made in the country.’

    The BBC seems more concerned with criticising and undermining the government and sabotaging trust and confidence than in supporting the huge effort that is going on…where are the positive stories?

    Look at this long rant by Triggle….just one long, drawn out attack on the government claiming it has failed at nearly everything…and note any small success is because ‘arguably it is NHS staff’s determination and ingenuity that has helped this happen.’

    Well yes but you can’t then heap all the blame on the government for any failures [and there will always be some in such a crisis…but the BBC doesn’t want to give the government any credit or leeway]….the government has followed ‘expert’ advice from the NHS all along until ironically crumbling under the ‘expert’ advice of journalists like those from the BBC who insist we follow China or South Korea or Italy in their approaches…despite those differing vastly.

    The reason we are ‘unprepared’, allegedly, is because the government’s preferred course of action was destroyed by the media and thus we are playing catch-up in a game we didn’t want to play.

    The Media caused these problems.

    And note…yesterday we were told that the NHS had well over a thousand ICU beds still free…and that’s not counting all those in the new pop-up hospitals that are supplying thousands more beds.

    The economy is being destroyed in order to take the pressure off the NHS…and yet we have over 1,000 beds still free and thousands more on the way? You might ask if there hasn’t been a massive over-reaction.

    Instead of crippling the economy for decades to come why not spend the money on proofing the NHS and making sure it has all the resources needed to cope with any in-rush of patients due to the virus? When this is over we won’t be able to afford the NHS or welfare or schools or any of thse public services the BBC is usuaully so concerned about….not now apparently….it is business alone that pays for all that…destroy the business and you have no money…and no NHS etc, etc, etc.

    ‘West plunges into recession as virus sparks economic catastrophe ‘

    Oh hang on….the lockdown….it’s all been a waste of time?…back to the future and the original government policy?

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8186507/PMs-virus-adviser-warns-Britain-need-adopt-herd-immunity.html

    ‘PM’s virus adviser warns Britain might still need to adopt herd immunity in its fight against coronavirus as lockdown measures have painted the country ‘into a corner”

       17 likes

    • JimS says:

      Isn’t the NHS the ‘government’ agency that is tasked to provide a health service to the UK? Doesn’t it employ lots of professionals on big salaries to do this work?

      It reminds me of the ‘railway timetable crisis’ a while back where all those professional railpersons working for Network Rail and the train operating comanies apparently played no part in it, as if the minister had sketched out a few times on the back of an envelope one Monday morning and told them to get on with it.

      Besides aren’t we always beeing told that the NHS belongs to the Labour party, so what are they doing about it? (A party that takes months to find a new leader could hardly be expected to provide the 60 million ventilators that the BBC would have us buy in a week!).

         25 likes

  32. pugnazious says:

    Oh hang on….the lockdown….it’s all been a waste of time?…back to the future and the original government policy?

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8186507/PMs-virus-adviser-warns-Britain-need-adopt-herd-immunity.html

    ‘PM’s virus adviser warns Britain might still need to adopt herd immunity in its fight against coronavirus as lockdown measures have painted the country ‘into a corner”

       9 likes

    • The Mouse says:

      I believe it has always been thus – that the Government is plotting a course between herd immunity and not over loading the NHS (hence the lockdown). Can’t be honest with the plebs otherwise they will all be rushing out to have parties and overload the NHS. If we went for total lockdown we will be buggered without a vaccination and if we have only very little herd immunity. COVID-19 may keep coming (winter ?) and we still probably will be without a vaccine. Those countries with very little population immunity (I know it is still questionable how much immunity having had the virus will give the individual) will be even more buggered. Government are doing a good job – with the exception of not lining medical resources up sufficiently early. Farage was right about getting ‘doers’ on the case early – those who make stuff happen more effectively than politicians and NHS management.

         6 likes

  33. vlad says:

    The beeb tells the story of 2 doctors from Sudan who died from Coronavirus under the title “Coming 5,000 miles to die for the NHS”.

    Now, we should all grateful for all medical staff who put their health and their lives at risk doing their job.

    But the headline is misleading. They did NOT come to die for the NHS. Nor did they and others like them come to serve the NHS, or the community, or to contribute to the UK. They came to escape yet another islamic hellhole and for a better paid job.

    Once again, this is not detract in any way from the dedication and selflessness of all medical workers and these two in particular who sound like kind and generous men, but to correct the relentless BBC agenda pushing.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52152375

       35 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      Lots more taking the risk still, albeit via the medium of rubber rib.

      Odd direction to take given how great the EU is vs. here.

      Apparently.

         15 likes

    • Van Helsing says:

      Odd how they don’t mention just how far the virus came (well, was brought) to kill…

         11 likes

  34. theisland says:

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/04/02/food-box-delivery-15m-shielded-people-delayed-brussels-data/

    Supermarkets have been unable to get the names of 1.5 million vulnerable people because of EU data protection rules.

    Defra said it must act in full compliance with laws.

       18 likes

    • AsISeeIt says:

      ‘Defra said it must act in full compliance with laws.’

      Obviously not such a serious emergency that we can break EU rules then.

         19 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      Much to be proud of in this country. The jobsworthery of the civil service, especially gold-plating EU turds, is not one of them.

         21 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Theisland
      I see a derogation for public safety . The need is greater than a prosecution by the failing EU to disclose this information

      I smell jobsworth in bad times

         9 likes

  35. pugnazious says:

    https://www.spiked-online.com/2020/04/03/the-alleged-cure-is-immensely-worse-than-the-disease/

    ‘The alleged cure is immensely worse than the disease’

       12 likes

  36. pugnazious says:

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/Ventilators-aren-t-a-panacea-for-a-pandemic-like-coronavirus

    Ventilators aren’t a panacea for a pandemic like coronavirus

    More ventilators!’ cried the journalists on Twitter. ‘Yes, more ventilators!’ replied the politicians. ‘Where are the ventilators?’ demanded the journalists, now screaming on television. ‘Yes, even more!’ replied the government, somewhat nonsensically.

    I am a critical care physician, specialising in the use of such machines. I’m flattered by all the attention our tools are receiving. But I fear the current clamour reminds me of nothing so much as the panic buyers of toilet-paper stampeding over each other in early March. When the history of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Western world is written, I do not believe ‘massive ramp-up of ventilator manufacturing,’ will be credited with our deliverance. Let me explain why.

    Clinical trials of new and old medications are ongoing. But right now, I am sorry to say there is no proven treatment for Covid-19 infection. It is therefore at least conceivable that putting patients on ventilators for Covid-19 pneumonia could be a bridge to nowhere.

    Now of course, hope springs eternal. The patient may recover on their own while we keep them alive with our machines. But this is not a risk-free wager. Dr. Paul Mayo, perhaps New York City’s most illustrious critical care doctor expressed the risks pithily: ‘putting a person on a ventilator creates a disease known as being on a ventilator.’

    When we mechanically blow air into your damaged lungs faster and harder than humanly possible, ventilator-induced lung injury may result. Generally, for a person to tolerate the undertaking, we have to sedate them, leading to immobility and severe weakness. While sedated, the person cannot cough or clear their airway effectively, leading to superimposed bacterial pneumonia.

    This is an awful lot to survive. And in the case of Covid-19, the preliminary outcome data is rather dismal.

    Data from NHS intensive care units are broadly in line with the Seattle series. As of 27 March, of the UK’s ventilated Covid-19 patients who left ICU, only one-third were alive. Not reported is how many of those made it home.

    To put it simply, we do not know how many lives ventilators could or will save in the UK. It seems that at least two-thirds of attempts to stave off death with their use will fail in the short term. Of the remaining third, we do not know how many will be successful in the medium or long term. This doesn’t quite seem like a convincing rationale to shut down the British economy, redirect previous manufacturing output towards ventilators and suspend civil liberties to give us more time for the attempt. And those bemoaning the government’s failure to demand more and more ventilators should pause for a moment and ask themselves whether that is really the right solution.

       31 likes

    • BRISSLES says:

      Someone on here earlier mentioned the old method of sticking a towel over your head while breathing in steam.

      I remember my Granny taking charge of my brother when he had Croup (upper respiratory tracht viral infection) when he was little. The bedroom was full of steaming bowls when he was struggling to breathe, sounds primitive (as it was back then just after the war), but it worked. My Dad also would visit the old Turkish steam baths when he had a bad cold, and it soon cleared his airways, and was dealt with pretty quickly. So something to be said for Granny’s remedies.

         21 likes

      • Up2snuff says:

        Guilty as charged, Brissles, my dear old thing (well, it should be the cricket season) I was reminded of it by my GP a few years ago but had it done to me as a kid for bronchitis. My family was a bit medical. GP had offered me an asthma thing for a respiratory problem but was concerned (as I was) about the downsides of those devices.

        Told my GP that I had found a sniff of Olbas Oil on a hankie helpful for clearing the old tubes. GP had to look that one up. Later, I discovered Lavender Oil was even better at night time.

        Granny? Yes, she was the one who’d been in the medical biz.

        As I said in my previous post: DO NOT use these remedies on yourself without checking with your GP (or a pharmacist) first.

           12 likes

    • BigBrotherCorporation says:

      During the Great Plague of London outbreak of 1665, the hysterical ‘elite’ of the day (we’re talking Samuel Pepys and chums) demanded the Government impound VOC (Dutch East India Company) ships carrying cloves, which at the time were considered a panacea for the Bubonic Plague (despite scientific proof they did nothing). The big problem was, apparently, that the city didn’t have enough cloves… not the swarms of big fat, flea infested rats, or filthy, overcrowded slums… no, a lack of cloves people – cloves!

         24 likes

  37. Doobster78 says:

    As per Pugs post above. Looks like after their relentless moaning about schools shutting, not enough PPE, not enough ventilators, not enough testing, the new BBC stick for having a pop at the Government is …….face masks.

    Prepare for your after hour of utter drivel. The scientists at the press conference yesterday gave a FULL, FACT BASED reasoning why we don’t need to wear them.

    That won’t stop the BBC tho. They know better and will find ANY angle possible to undermine the Government.

    Already we have that the science is at odds with what President Trump is saying.

    BBC heaven. Two birds, one stone !!!!!!

    Only people causing any confusion and anxiety, are the bbc. They really are a disgrace.

       31 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      Doobs, unfortunately, on the 8 a.m. R4 News, the BBC played a clip of what President Trump actually said about masks in response to a question. Completely shot themselves in the foot.

      Hilarious.

      The President explained that when he is the Oval Office, behind the desk, in meetings with other Heads of State (and I assume their representatives, together with meetings with his own staff) he will not wear a mask. Not appropriate. Also not needed.

      Perhaps we can get Jon to go measure the size of the President’s desk to prove or disprove there will be two metres of social distancing? He should be in there, already. Maybe he could ask a question about it, the next time he’s allowed in to a WH Press Conference?

         22 likes

  38. vlad says:

    The ever readable Douglas Murray nails it:

    “We don’t need ‘gotcha’ journalism now”

    He singles out Catty Newman, Robert Peston and Piers Morgan, but of course his critique holds true of the BBC look-at-me reporters too.

    Well worth a read: https://unherd.com/2020/04/we-dont-need-gotcha-journalism-now/

       28 likes

  39. AsISeeIt says:

    As I said to the fireman working on my loft extention – all this fuss about our healthworkers, they’re only doing the job they signed up to do.

       24 likes

  40. Van Helsing says:

    Apologies if this has already been mentioned.

    Another possible new treatment has emerged in the form of Invermectin, an an anti-parasite treatment that’s already licensed for human use.

    The initial test results look promising. Further tests are being conducted, so it could be a few weeks yet before it’s introduced as a treatment.

    Oh, and we can thank the Aussies for coming up with this one.

       13 likes

  41. Fedup2 says:

    Vlad
    I left ms Newman off the list of egomaniac ‘journos’ in my earlier list …. but perhaps the problem is that by being the idiots ( language ) they are – they remain talked about and watched …

    Hence retaining the ability to get more money out of their producer bosses .

    It’s clear that some of them are not mentally well . Anyone who admitted being so far out of understanding the public mood – as Peston did with brexit – who shut his mouth for a while and maybe spend a bit more explaining like a good journo instead of trying ‘gotchas’ all the time over something so much more personal and affecting than whether the UK is in his favoured EUReich or not .

    It reminds me a bit of the race hate industry which is also very competitive and attracts halfwits who have to keep going at whitee more than the competition . There stars ascend – they get a documentary series – appear on chat shows – do one of those dancing shows and they’re made.

    Dif subject . I white 7 year old girl was stabbed to death in a ‘random ‘ attack in a park last Sunday . The Female killer Was detained , not named or charged but put in the nut house .

    Social media is now saying the killer is a 30 year old Somalian woman who was refused something like asylum so went and took it out on whitee . There is also – allegedly – a muslim angle .

    Now this may all be ‘puff ‘ … but if it’s true – we deserve to know more about it .

       28 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Bad news about the labour leadership – Starmer as leader and Angie ‘ I don’t do numbers ‘ Raynor as deputy .

      I was hoping for Wrong Daily and Dawn Butler as the ‘nightmare ‘ team . ….

         23 likes

      • smoogie7 says:

        I would have had a laugh if Becky had won. At least the hard left have had another defeat and I expect the infighting to continue.

        One thing I will give Starmer is that at least he had the guts to apologise for the antisemitism which is something that cowardly Corbyn never did but the BBC are already over him like a rash so I expect him to get the same special treatment as Corbyn and any in house disputes would be kept quiet from the BBC

           18 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      BBC did report the same story on March 25
      “A 30-year-old woman arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder has been detained at a secure facility under the Mental Health Act.”

      They don’t say Somalian
      but police sources don’t seem to have denied that claim.
      https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-52040433

         5 likes

      • StewGreen says:

        It’s absolutely surreal how how reports focus on the victim and not the perp
        Surely everyone in the neighbourhood is talking about the perp
        And there was a similarly Mad Muslim woman stabbing people at Barnsley a year ago

        The March 22 LBC report
        “A 30-year-old woman who was not known to the family was detained by a member of the public and then arrested by the police.
        She is currently in custody for murder and it is expected she will be interviewed by detectives later.”
        The LBC page is headed by this super stupid video, which is 50 seconds of panning across police tape in a park.

           11 likes

  42. AsISeeIt says:

    As much as we may have hoped the economy might be reballanced, I’m afraid this new reality is going to make things much worse.

    With the public sector the only employer not laying people off and the benefits bill escalating the government dominance of the economy and at the same time dependence on large corporations is greatly exaserbated.

    Just as they find after every revolution promising to share out the riches of the rich things never seem to work out. You storm Versailles or the Winter Palace but by the time it’s sharesies time, well, most of you end up queuing for bread and loo rolls. So I’m sure we will see taxe hikes on corporations and high earners – for appearances sake – but the real grind will be on us lot of average earners.

    Sunny being the major employer in the country will calculate that whatever pay rises he has to give the public sector (and their unions will be waiting in the wings to mug him with compassion once this emergency is done) he can at least grab back a bit in higher payroll tax.

       12 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      AISI, guess it depends how many working age people die from Covid-19 in the UK. The plague wiped out so many people here in the 17th century that the poorest workers suddenly found their wages increasing thanks to the law of supply and demand.

         11 likes

      • AsISeeIt says:

        Up2snuff, respectfully, you’re sniffing up the wrong tree there. Even were this virus to increase the overall annual death rate by a notch or two our rapid population growth will continue as per the new normal (post-1990s) via that ever reliable apparently uninterruptible method of inward migration and elevated new-arrival birth rates.

           15 likes

        • Up2snuff says:

          AISI, you are absolutely right but only because I do not want that many people to die from Covid-19 which is really, in effect, a dose of the ‘flu’. Was just showing off my armchair expert credentials re the Great Plague.

          Shameful, really. :- §

          There are going to be all sorts of economic re-sets, some minor, some major, all depending, of course, whether this is ‘last days’ territory or not. If it is then start the clock running, all done and dusted by 2027. Eat your heart out, Greta.

          On the other hand, to borrow a phrase from the pro economists, people may well have their consuming habits changed. Was chatting this a.m. with a stranger (at a range of about 2.5 metres) and she was saying how she hasn’t been able to physically give presents to her grandchildren for their birthdays but the kids are loving the attention and time they are getting with both parents at present.

          Parents may stay more firmly wed and value home life and family. The divorce rate may take a battering. Bad for lawyers. The abortion rate may take a hammering. Bad for that sector and those who trumpet ‘rights’ and ‘choice’.

          The obesity rate may also take a battering (or may get worse) when people scoff all their panic buying in the last week of lockdown. Bad for the NHS either way.

          Local authorities may want to attract people to local shops and scrap parking charges and restrictions. People may discover how much they can do locally. Bad for retail park real estate owners – and everyone with a pension!

          I would hope that Government and the Chancellor would take a look at 1.3 million unemployed previously and then look at supermarkets where shoppers were allowed in on a ‘One out, One in’ basis and make it a firm rule for migration into the UK.

          We will not be able to afford to carry an unnecessary one million unemployed for twenty five years (25 years!) as we have done, after this is over.

          We also will not be able to afford tax avoiders like professional footballers, other sports ‘stars’, musicians and actors and media types (BBC, please note) and everyone who earns money in the UK will have to pay some tax on all their income wherever earned or pay full tax on some of their income earned worldwide.

          The endless expansion of certain sectors of the economy may have to end, no more State constantly being asked for handouts. Good for the private sector.

          More people may start to save more in case there are crises ahead, because Government bailouts may be restricted. That may spill over into pensions savings. Good for investment industry and brokers.

          On the other, other hand, nothing may change much at all, just like after 2007-2009 where we have carried on doing the same old same-oh after the ripples had faded away in 2011.

             1 likes

      • Eddy Booth says:

        Sadly EU workers will dilute that effect as we’re still on that club

           5 likes

  43. smoogie7 says:

    Keir Starmer is now Labour leader.

    The BBC must be rubbing their hands with glee that they have a new Tony Blair to back.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52164589

       22 likes

    • gb123 says:

      Are we sure Starmer is real? He looks like one of those Auton dummies that DR Who and Rose were battling in the first of the new DR Who series. You know the one that hadn’t been wokified.

         21 likes

    • fakenewswatcher says:

      smoogie – on that you can bet your bottom dollar. Beeb will be pushing Starmer for all they are worth (and they’re not really worth a lot), as he has a halfway presentable CV.
      Concurrently, look for attacks on Boris to increase exponentially.

         21 likes

      • taffman says:

        “Sir” Keir Starmer, if you don’t mind
        “Shadow Brexit secretary”, now there is a misnomer if there ever was one ? Starmer was a supporter of a second referendum on Brexit. He is probably a Rejoiner .
        Beware! Al Beeb and the Rejoiners will weaponise this Cova Pandemic as an excuse to rejoin the EU when this is all over !

           25 likes

        • Darcy3 says:

          Made his loot out of being an “equalities” lawyer hmm but still does not acknowledge that racism againt jews is racism, the left inventing another word for their endemic racism does not alter that

             10 likes

          • BRISSLES says:

            Darcy, all the more surprising when his wife and children are jewish !

               5 likes

  44. Doobster78 says:

    Laura and the BBC already excited and planning the PR campaign for 2024.

    Follow his 4 year long Party Political Broadcast aided by our trusted impartial friends at the BBC for just £157.50 per year.

       18 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      George Galloway has penned a piece – obituary – for comrade Corbyn which is on Twitter . It actually feels quite honest and although I’m no fan of Mr Galloway he does bang those nails in .

      When Parliament does sit again it will be interesting to see who clusters around comrade Corbyn- his surrogate daughter – wrong bailey And abbot I guess ….

      I think Lammy has been promised a shadow cabinet post – my sick sense of humour thinks Home Office …..

         17 likes

  45. G.W.F. says:

    Looking forward to Easter.

    91936194_3821868247842798_2680614463823937536_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_ohc=7uT2l8EZxPUAX-WdXeb&_nc_ht=scontent.flhr4-2.fna&oh=288318902f8b9685c67c7e0f96801c89&oe=5EAD54BC

       21 likes

  46. Celtic_Mist says:

    I tried listening to the BBC for five minutes

    It’s a sobering thought that R4 Today now represents the ‘best’ of the BBC

    However, by chance, I caught the slot where Fergus was interviewed

    1. We will reach a peak in a week to 10 days and can consider the possibility of relaxing SD and opening up of the economy

    2. Rapid testing ie 50,000/day with fast results is key to getting people back to work

    3. It was only when the data from Italy started to come in that the numbers could be estimated (hence the turnaround in UK and US)

    The FT to their credit is the only media to have printed that Trump knew the numbers –

    “But yeah, Donald Trump’s idea about everyone getting back to work by Easter might not have that much scientific basis to it. Which is weird, because he told the White House briefing room, on his reason for proposing that festive date:

    I just thought it was a beautiful time, a beautiful timeline, it’s a great day…

    https://ftalphaville.ft.com/2020/03/26/1585245384000/Let-s-flatten-the-coronavirus-confusion-curve/

       8 likes

  47. Fedup2 says:

    It’s funny that the Labour Politician who could have really challenged the Tories – Caroline Flint – spent Saturday morning putting up curtains when she could have been a tough brexiter labour leader .

       21 likes

  48. vlad says:

    Another picture randomly chosen by Al-beeb webshite.

    What a coincidence, given that

    “White staff made up 79.2% of the NHS workforce, followed by Asian staff (10.0%), Black staff (6.1%)”

    (https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/workforce-and-business/workforce-diversity/nhs-workforce/latest)

    _111603393_top-pic.png

       20 likes

  49. Darcy3 says:

    The morons are gathering again today ensuring we will get even tighter restrictions…

    Will they NEVER learn? Cyclists ride close together through Regents Park in London despite Boris Johnson telling Britain it is essential to stay indoors this weekend and maintain coronavirus lockdown

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8186935/Police-tell-holidaymakers-stay-home-Easter-holiday-period.html

       13 likes

    • Eddy Booth says:

      How do cyclists spread the virus?
      Or someone walking in a national park?
      How about Outrage at people still smoking during the lockdown, they’re the ones likey to be prime spreaders of c19 if they catch it, as smoking is an underlying health condition.

         7 likes

      • Darcy3 says:

        Read the article not just cyclists, photos showing groups gathering in parks

           4 likes

      • Up2snuff says:

        Round my way, the LycraLouts or MaMiLs, as they are known ie. weekend not regular cyclists, like to behave as though they are on the Tour de France. Three and four abreast, even though the road is not suitable, and slipstreaming with passing and re-passing. Someone who spends any time at the front with Covid-19 will have infected the whole peloton by the time they stop for lunch.

           1 likes

  50. Foscari says:

    Darcy- Not only do they ride close together,but they seem to want to
    get as close to pedestrians as they can. We live next to the Dollis
    Valley Walk which stretches through the borough of Barnet
    in North London all the way into central London.
    There are parts where there is NO cycling permitted . But
    this does not stop the cyclists using them.
    I am not a killjoy . I just wouldn’t mind if they rung their bells as
    they sped past . I used to run a lot up to 40 miles a week.
    There are also a lot of people running now, good for them . I wish
    I could do the same. However they need to keep a wide berth
    of us oldies walking , now. Am I asking too much?

       16 likes

    • Darcy3 says:

      They are a bunch of antsocial, gobby bullying ( word removed by Fedup2 moderator ) , I also use a shared cycle / pedestrian path and constantly being badgered to get out of their way, yet if cars dared to do that…also in Cambridge on a bridge over the Cam where many pose for photos they come over the blind summit at 20 mph regularly ploughing into pedestrians

         7 likes