Don't like the guy (primarily because of his role in Brexit) but this is terrible news for his family and the country. Having Raab at the helm even for a short time is a recipe for disaster IMO.

Not that suprising given that Cats are known to be able to catch it and develop symptoms (they may even be able to give it to humans).

Dogs and pigs can't though (or at least have a very low viral load)

Yes, I thought it strange that flour supply itself be short so that explains it. Nonetheless, presumably there will be similar bottlenecks across the board so we may find that certain products are in short supply. 

Regarding the queen.

HMG must think we are close to the worst part of the outbreak. Timing is key as they have pointed out so the speech going out now will not be arbitary. Expect the coming week to be bad.

Or perhaps expect it to get bad in 2-3 weeks time if we have hit 'peak infection', then the consequences will be pushed back a few more weeks.

You're right, it was astonishingly bad judgement.

But at a time of crisis is it wise to dispense someone with the required expertise? I'm far from convinced that grand gestures achieve much at the best of times.

I think it was also today because a) people are starting to get bored after 2 weeks and need motivating b) Easter is on the way and keeping people at home will be more difficult. Frankly I thought today's data was awful.

If her expertise is really that integral then keep her on silently and without the title.

But being the CMO is also about the title and being the public figurehead. Kept on in an official capacity threatens to undermine the crucial public messaging at a crucial time.

I'm still holding out hope as it remains consistent with my JFF model that today is the peak and that the biggish rise can be explained by the +3000 tests compared to the previous day.

My gut feeling though is that my model is wrong and we are not yet near the peak.

It sets a piss poor example though. Unless her expertise   is truly irreplaceable then she should be booted out IMHO.  How  can you expect someone in a  tiny flat in Glasgow to stay put when someone like that "swans off"  at the drop of a hat   to her salubrious 2nd house, not once, but twice   !

Updated trajectory keeps the UK on a similar path to Italy whilst Spain and Italy are begging to show signs they may be passing the worst

This is part of what pisses me off though. Is the govt (and the scottish govt) so unimaginative.

It is possible to have your cake and eat it. If she really is irreplaceable (which I doubt, most notably because she isn't just a hypocrite but alao shows poor judement which may also extend to her advice) then she can be kept on silently.

Keep her on the payroll but strip her of her title and official rank and still keep her as some kind of advisor. Promote the deputy to be the official CMO.

Problem sorted.

What is Nicola Sturgeon playing at letting this thing run on? She needs to be decisive and deal with this now.

I'm amazed she didn't resign.

She might just be a psycopath or a narcissist.

Alot of sucessful people are.

And sometimes that's a good thing as they can make cold hearted, rational descisions free of emotional baggage. But other times when your self superiority causes you to undermine your entire message you need to be disposed of.

Looks like we've left France behind and are challenging Italy and Spain but possibly not the USA.  

And she has resigned.

Several hours too late.

The Scottish HMG needs to throw what is left of her under every bus now to get the messaging back on track.

I'd say we are nearer to tracking the US than Italy - this is not good, not good at all

Looks to me we'll surpass Spain and Italy. This could spiral IMO. Things are going downhill fast and news of Boris being admitted to hospital won't help morale.

But could it stop people from being idiots?

Steady on,  no-one resigns these days, they wait to be sacked and negotiate a good severance package.

Agree.

I really hope so. However I think the only way this will happen is with the police becoming more heavy handed with fines and other punishments.

The good thing with police fines is that you can end up with a custodial for non payment.

You may well prove to be right, Q. The more cynical might have taken the view that it was best to use her now while she is still OK and able to do it. The list of possible bad outcomes is a long one. I thought she did it brilliantly, as one would have expected.

Roger

If it's that serious, he is in no position to take major decisions or impose his will on a squabbling cabinet, despite various idiot Tories saying he's totally on top of things. If Coronavirus  is anything like flu, it knocks you sideways. Time for delegation if ever there was, and no discredit to admit it.

I know the press release says it's not an emergency but I regret I'm suspicious that this is an attempt to play the news down. Will other  governments believe it?