Breaking news tonight Johnson missed 5 COBRA MEETINGS.

If you read the whole of the article above from the Sunday Times, it is quite damning on Boris and the whole government.
Boris was too busy basking in the glory of his Brexit triumph and personal commitments. He quite frankly took his eye off the ball and ignored the growing threat.

Germany is often held up as a shining example of efficiency, but scratch the surface there and you find the same problems there, but Health Insurance is mandatory. In fact, there’s a lot wrong in that country, but that’s another story.

I think insurance was floated by someone a few years ago and there was uproar.

Did anyone really think that the virus was not going to cross borders was living in cloud cuckoo land.

For Boris to miss 5 meetings is indefensible.

Matt Hancock in January stated on question time that availability of PPE was no issue and sitting in warehouses.

A shocking lie.

yes it would be indefensible had all the rest of Europe been taking this more serious... but they didn't

One fact is that the Government are not responsible for procurement of PPE for the NHS. It is the role of the CE.
Blaming Hancock is wrong, but some people seem confused.

Well guess what ?? All this stock due to come in today from Turkey - AS PROMISED TO NHS .... Is not coming in today !!!!

Yes, the ship was due but is delayed. I may as well say it’s it’s Matt Hancocks fault, f****n easier.

If you read the whole of the article above from the Sunday Times, it is quite damning on Boris and the whole government.
Boris was too busy basking in the glory of his Brexit triumph and personal commitments. He quite frankly took his eye off the ball and ignored the growing threat.

as did the whole of Europe...clearly people want to ignore that no government was looking at this with any sense of urgency in February...but that is the reality. lack of PPE and respirators are not problems the rest of Europe has not faced many countries worse than ourselves.. what we have managed is to keep our bed capacity below max...a number of countries failed and had people dying in passages..

Did anyone really think that the virus was not going to cross borders was living in cloud cuckoo land.

For Boris to miss 5 meetings is indefensible.

Matt Hancock in January stated on question time that availability of PPE was no issue and sitting in warehouses.

A shocking lie.

Stop political point scoring, Boris missed the cobra meetings because he was ill, and then in hospital, did you miss that,unbelievable!

These meetings were in February!

'And what you learn about Boris was he didn't chair any meetings. He liked his country breaks. He didn't work weekends.

'It was like working for an old-fashioned chief executive in a local authority 20 years ago. There was a real sense that he didn't do urgent crisis planning. It was exactly like people feared he would be.'

I was about to say the same Fred. Ironic igovner thought you were look alike point scoring and instantly tried to score political points straight back. With out actually reading the post. Unbelievable.

But said I don’t believe a word of it and think the government are doing a pretty good job a lot better than if labour had one.

Did anyone really think that the virus was not going to cross borders was living in cloud cuckoo land.

For Boris to miss 5 meetings is indefensible.

Matt Hancock in January stated on question time that availability of PPE was no issue and sitting in warehouses.

A shocking lie.

Stop political point scoring, Boris missed the cobra meetings because he was ill, and then in hospital, did you miss that,unbelievable!

These meetings were in February!

'And what you learn about Boris was he didn't chair any meetings. He liked his country breaks. He didn't work weekends.

'It was like working for an old-fashioned chief executive in a local authority 20 years ago. There was a real sense that he didn't do urgent crisis planning. It was exactly like people feared he would be.'

I was about to say the same Fred. Ironic igovner thought you were look alike point scoring and instantly tried to score political points straight back. With out actually reading the post. Unbelievable.

But said I don’t believe a word of it and think the government are doing a pretty good job a lot better than if labour had one.

I cant find gov saying your final sentence...? didn't actually read the post maybe.?

gov did jump the gun, but if your honest nobody thought this a serious issue in February ..no government..to a point there was a full fixture list right across Europe on the weekend of 7th/8th Marcch..

Did anyone really think that the virus was not going to cross borders was living in cloud cuckoo land.

For Boris to miss 5 meetings is indefensible.

Matt Hancock in January stated on question time that availability of PPE was no issue and sitting in warehouses.

A shocking lie.

Stop political point scoring, Boris missed the cobra meetings because he was ill, and then in hospital, did you miss that,unbelievable!

He wasn't ill in January mate. We are entitled to criticize this is not China.
If there was n criticism Chamberlain would have been PM for the whole of world war 2

One word....AGENDA!

No agenda. Its costing life's and suffering.
The government ran the PPE down before the pandemic.
It's all coming home to roost.
I'm just following the news.
1000s dying in nursing homes.
What do you want me to say. Everything is Hucky Dory
1000

Did anyone really think that the virus was not going to cross borders was living in cloud cuckoo land.

For Boris to miss 5 meetings is indefensible.

Matt Hancock in January stated on question time that availability of PPE was no issue and sitting in warehouses.

A shocking lie.

Stop political point scoring, Boris missed the cobra meetings because he was ill, and then in hospital, did you miss that,unbelievable!

Michael Gove was asked about this by Andrew Marr this morning. He didn’t say anything about illness (and let’s be honest he would have). Gove said it is normal for the Sec of state of the dept most closely involved with the Particular crisis to chair the cobra meeting not the PM. So why Dominic Raab has been doing it is anyone’s guess

Germany is often held up as a shining example of efficiency, but scratch the surface there and you find the same problems there, but Health Insurance is mandatory. In fact, there’s a lot wrong in that country, but that’s another story.

I think insurance was floated by someone a few years ago and there was uproar.

I think you're right; but we only focus on our own rather than the issues abroad...and I suspect it's the same when you're in/from another country, i.e. focussing on your own rather than others problems

Did anyone really think that the virus was not going to cross borders was living in cloud cuckoo land.

For Boris to miss 5 meetings is indefensible.

Matt Hancock in January stated on question time that availability of PPE was no issue and sitting in warehouses.

A shocking lie.

Stop political point scoring, Boris missed the cobra meetings because he was ill, and then in hospital, did you miss that,unbelievable!

He wasn't ill in January mate. We are entitled to criticize this is not China.
If there was n criticism Chamberlain would have been PM for the whole of world war 2

One word....AGENDA!

No agenda. Its costing life's and suffering.
The government ran the PPE down before the pandemic.
It's all coming home to roost.
I'm just following the news.
1000s dying in nursing homes.
What do you want me to say. Everything is Hucky Dory
1000

I think being even handed and level would be a start.. hunky dory its not...we actually sold PPE to China as many countries did... because at the time it seemed the correct thing to do... having said that there is a world shortage.. and its BILLIONS and Billions of bits of kit we are short not something an 8 yr old can cover over breakfast like some people think..

Germany is often held up as a shining example of efficiency, but scratch the surface there and you find the same problems there, but Health Insurance is mandatory. In fact, there’s a lot wrong in that country, but that’s another story.

I think insurance was floated by someone a few years ago and there was uproar.

I think you're right; but we only focus on our own rather than the issues abroad...and I suspect it's the same when you're in/from another country, i.e. focussing on your own rather than others problems

there is no shortage of numbers, graphs and reports including the rest of the world though... criticism should be fair not what we are seeing here with people who cannot even begin to back up their points constantly beating a drum because of a gut feeling...

Did anyone really think that the virus was not going to cross borders was living in cloud cuckoo land.

For Boris to miss 5 meetings is indefensible.

Matt Hancock in January stated on question time that availability of PPE was no issue and sitting in warehouses.

A shocking lie.

Stop political point scoring, Boris missed the cobra meetings because he was ill, and then in hospital, did you miss that,unbelievable!

Michael Gove was asked about this by Andrew Marr this morning. He didn’t say anything about illness (and let’s be honest he would have). Gove said it is normal for the Sec of state of the dept most closely involved with the Particular crisis to chair the cobra meeting not the PM. So why Dominic Raab has been doing it is anyone’s guess

Right let's get back to this thread - for those interested Number 10 Have now given there side of the storey -

No 10 responds to claims of lack of preparation for coronavirus

In response to a Sunday Times article claiming the Johnson administration dragged its feet in the run-up to the coronavirus outbreak, a Government spokesman said:

"This article contains a series of falsehoods and errors and actively misrepresents the enormous amount of work which was going on in government at the earliest stages of the coronavirus outbreak.

"This is an unprecedented global pandemic and we have taken the right steps at the right time to combat it, guided at all times by the best scientific advice.

"The Government has been working day and night to battle against coronavirus, delivering a strategy designed at all times to protect our NHS and save lives.

"Our response has ensured that the NHS has been given all the support it needs to ensure everyone requiring treatment has received it, as well as providing protection to businesses and reassurance to workers.

"The Prime Minister has been at the helm of the response to this, providing leadership during this hugely challenging period for the whole nation."

full response and statement, sorry if already posted.

i find it odd that some people are trying to point score about politics at a time like this to be honest, i dont think anyone would have got it spot on, ifs tough and a new enemy as seen through out the world.

https://healthmedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/04 ... t-article/

Right let's get back to this thread - for those interested Number 10 Have now given there side of the storey -

No 10 responds to claims of lack of preparation for coronavirus

In response to a Sunday Times article claiming the Johnson administration dragged its feet in the run-up to the coronavirus outbreak, a Government spokesman said:

"This article contains a series of falsehoods and errors and actively misrepresents the enormous amount of work which was going on in government at the earliest stages of the coronavirus outbreak.

"This is an unprecedented global pandemic and we have taken the right steps at the right time to combat it, guided at all times by the best scientific advice.

"The Government has been working day and night to battle against coronavirus, delivering a strategy designed at all times to protect our NHS and save lives.

"Our response has ensured that the NHS has been given all the support it needs to ensure everyone requiring treatment has received it, as well as providing protection to businesses and reassurance to workers.

"The Prime Minister has been at the helm of the response to this, providing leadership during this hugely challenging period for the whole nation."

There's no denial in this statement that Johnson missed COBRA meetings.the first on 24/01.20.Then through Feb.He wasn't ill then.A British P.M missing COBRA meetings.I can think of no previous P.M who would have done this.
He and some of his cabinet are not up to the job.
Our key workers are "LIONS LED BY DONKEYS"

Right let's get back to this thread - for those interested Number 10 Have now given there side of the storey -

No 10 responds to claims of lack of preparation for coronavirus

In response to a Sunday Times article claiming the Johnson administration dragged its feet in the run-up to the coronavirus outbreak, a Government spokesman said:

"This article contains a series of falsehoods and errors and actively misrepresents the enormous amount of work which was going on in government at the earliest stages of the coronavirus outbreak.

"This is an unprecedented global pandemic and we have taken the right steps at the right time to combat it, guided at all times by the best scientific advice.

"The Government has been working day and night to battle against coronavirus, delivering a strategy designed at all times to protect our NHS and save lives.

"Our response has ensured that the NHS has been given all the support it needs to ensure everyone requiring treatment has received it, as well as providing protection to businesses and reassurance to workers.

"The Prime Minister has been at the helm of the response to this, providing leadership during this hugely challenging period for the whole nation."

There's no denial in this statement that Johnson missed COBRA meetings.the first on 24/01.20.Then through Feb.He wasn't ill then.A British P.M missing COBRA meetings.I can think of no previous P.M who would have done this.
He and some of his cabinet are not up to the job.
Our key workers are "LIONS LED BY DONKEYS"

How would you know if they have or did previously anyway?

It’s COBR. Not COBRA the snake.
It’s been driving me mad. Lol.

It’s COBR. Not COBRA the snake.
It’s been driving me mad. Lol.

Thanks mate. I stand corrected.

Piers Morgan asking the questions again
Govt mismanaged this on a massive scale

Did anyone really think that the virus was not going to cross borders was living in cloud cuckoo land.

For Boris to miss 5 meetings is indefensible.

Matt Hancock in January stated on question time that availability of PPE was no issue and sitting in warehouses.

A shocking lie.

no it wasnt

It’s COBR. Not COBRA the snake.
It’s been driving me mad. Lol.

huh? its COBRA - Cabinet Office Briefing Room A

Matt Hancock Health Secretary admits UK currently let’s in 105,000 people in to the UK by planes, with No checks at all

Right let's get back to this thread - for those interested Number 10 Have now given there side of the storey -

No 10 responds to claims of lack of preparation for coronavirus

In response to a Sunday Times article claiming the Johnson administration dragged its feet in the run-up to the coronavirus outbreak, a Government spokesman said:

"This article contains a series of falsehoods and errors and actively misrepresents the enormous amount of work which was going on in government at the earliest stages of the coronavirus outbreak.

"This is an unprecedented global pandemic and we have taken the right steps at the right time to combat it, guided at all times by the best scientific advice.

"The Government has been working day and night to battle against coronavirus, delivering a strategy designed at all times to protect our NHS and save lives.

"Our response has ensured that the NHS has been given all the support it needs to ensure everyone requiring treatment has received it, as well as providing protection to businesses and reassurance to workers.

"The Prime Minister has been at the helm of the response to this, providing leadership during this hugely challenging period for the whole nation."

There's no denial in this statement that Johnson missed COBRA meetings.the first on 24/01.20.Then through Feb.He wasn't ill then.A British P.M missing COBRA meetings.I can think of no previous P.M who would have done this.
He and some of his cabinet are not up to the job.
Our key workers are "LIONS LED BY DONKEYS"

One thing that is now clear - from both reports the Gov and the scientific people were aware of this from 24/01/20 .
So what's gone wrong - how under prepared have we been - what has happened to following the science ??

The UK Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, has defended Prime Minister Boris Johnson over reports in the Sunday Times that he missed a number of emergency government meetings dealing with Covid-19 at the early stages.

Mr Dowden told the BBC: "I worked for [former PM] David Cameron and was the minister responsible for civil contingencies. It is perfectly normal for other ministers, appropriate secretaries of state, to chair Cobra.

“Cobra is basically a committee that co-ordinates action across Government and, at the early stages, that was chaired by the health secretary. That’s exactly what you would expect.

"That does not mean the prime minister is not engaged. He was being briefed on an hourly and daily basis, took a very close personal interest in this and clearly, as the crisis progressed, he then took over chairing. That’s a normal course of events.”

Matt Hancock Health Secretary admits UK currently let’s in 105,000 people in to the UK by planes, with No checks at all

There is no point in checking them, even if they test positive the advise would be to isolate and keep distance like they should be doing anyway so the advice hardly changes. Imagine the man power and tests used on all those people with such little effect.

I could understand the logic in stopping flights but the virus has spread so much already and the people who dont socially distance etc will probably end up catching it anyway.