Well this is the nub of the problem isn't it. Boris's task was to summarise an incredibly complex scientific and social problem, one which normally involve lots of complicated calculations of R, movement of people, transport loads, mixing in shops, etc etc, and crystallise it into a 400-500 word message that would reassure Trev from Clacton that he wouldn't lose his job whilst showing some possible tentative way out of lockdown.

The previous message was clear, the question has always been what should follow that. No one, including the government or anyone on here has come up with an effective exit plan. Particularly in London it is virtually impossible to co-ordinate a valid response for getting people back to work and maintain distancing whilst not shutting down for probably close to a year at best. I'm not sure anyone else has worked it out in similarly laid out cities either which is why Madrid, Paris etc remain closed. So what is the way out? 

That sums up the mess nicely. 

How exactly do you put simple clear instructions to a complex, intricate gradual lifting of a lockdown of an entire nation? 

As for Ulric’s question, yes but only if you are prepared to travel through France to get here which will stop the majority of “casual” travel.

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So too little detail and things are unclear but too much and people won’t read it?

Precisely!

“There was no detail but people won’t read the details”

There in a nutshell is the problem: there’s a bandwagon rolling to suit every negative interpretation.

It was not a great effort and the timing was abysmal: why a Sunday evening? But there’s no pleasing some folk.

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People have suggested that the correct way of doing things would be to have had debate and questions in parliament, publication of the 50 page document, and then Johnson to do the speech this evening. That would have seemed better to me. Regarding people's reactions, I think part of the problem is that the speech had been built up as the big answer to everyone's questions and it didn't. Also agree with Chidog, acting as normal is easy to understand, lockdown is easy to understand, places in between the two are more complicated but it is an area which you are going to have to venture into at some point.

The problem with the PM is he could actually explain things better if he stopped with the metaphors, platitudes and playing to the crowd.

His desperation to be like Churchill knows no bounds. His speech’s are mostly incoherent waffle.

Matt Lucas did a perfect illustration of how his speech would have been interpreted by millions

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Had Prime Minister Gaze made the speech last night it would have been very short and to the point. Highlights below:

Nothing is changing. Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives. We will review again in 3 weeks time.

The reasons for this are that scaling up contact tracing and antibody testing are both taking longer than we expected. However, progress is being made on both fronts. In addition we will be implementing a national randomised antigen testing programme to establish the current rate of infection.

The number of infections is falling but it is not yet at a manageable level. Therefore, to crush this virus to a level we can control the same rules must continue to apply. The economic cost is huge but it will be even higher if we ease now and have to slam on the brakes again in a few weeks or months.  

 

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People have suggested that the correct way of doing things would be to have had debate and questions in parliament, publication of the 50 page document, and then Johnson to do the speech this evening. That would have seemed better to me. Regarding people's reactions, I think part of the problem is that the speech had been built up as the big answer to everyone's questions and it didn't. Also agree with Chidog, acting as normal is easy to understand, lockdown is easy to understand, places in between the two are more complicated but it is an area which you are going to have to venture into at some point.

Indeed.

The problems  though are apparent contradictions in :-

 

• People who cannot work from home should return to the workplace - but avoid public transport


• People should try to stay at home as much as possible

If Public Transport is your only mode of transport, which takes precedence ?

Additionally, by all accounts even a fully up and running Public Transport system  will only  have circa 10% of its  usual capacity.  In an area like  Greater London (the countries economic power house)  commuting is overwhelmingly by Public Transport.  This implies  some kind of rationing   will have to be implemented but on what basis ?  Economic importance of your activity ?  First come, first served ? 

Walking and bicycle use are all very well, but not practical for a lot of people.

 

 

 

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As I've said on many occasions test results are not coming back quickly. 7 day in some areas and here is proof from Ipswich

People have suggested that the correct way of doing things would be to have had debate and questions in parliament, publication of the 50 page document, and then Johnson to do the speech this evening. That would have seemed better to me. Regarding people's reactions, I think part of the problem is that the speech had been built up as the big answer to everyone's questions and it didn't. Also agree with Chidog, acting as normal is easy to understand, lockdown is easy to understand, places in between the two are more complicated but it is an area which you are going to have to venture into at some point.

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The political divisions of the UK are becoming more apparent . We seem to have a Prime Minister just for England , who of which is leading the country to disaster without justifiable measures of more testing and tracing as the confusing, anxiety inducing steps of a lighter lockdown emerge..brilliant !!!

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Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab tells Sky News pubs and restaurants will be "possibly considered for reopening" at the earliest 4 July

— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) May 11, 2020

Raab falling to pieces on R4 now. Hopeless.

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The political divisions of the UK are becoming more apparent. We seem to have a Prime Minister just for England , who of which is leading the country to disaster without justifiable measures of more testing and tracing as the confusing, anxiety inducing steps of a lighter lockdown emerge..brilliant !!!

Indeed we have a Kingdom in name but one that is not United.

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Indeed.

The problems  though are apparent contradictions in :-

 

• People who cannot work from home should return to the workplace - but avoid public transport


• People should try to stay at home as much as possible

If Public Transport is your only mode of transport, which takes precedence ?

Additionally, by all accounts even a fully up and running Public Transport system  will only  have circa 10% of its  usual capacity.  In an area like  Greater London (the countries economic power house)  commuting is overwhelmingly by Public Transport.  This implies  some kind of rationing   will have to be implemented but on what basis ?  Economic importance of your activity ?  First come, first served ? 

Walking and bicycle use are all very well, but not practical for a lot of people.

Yep, i agree, many people rely on public transport to get to work so avoiding it is not really an option. From my own point of view i would likely walk to work and run home (5 miles) but appreciate that not everyone can do that, especially if living further out. I imagine there will be some pretty crowded tube photos coming up in the coming days.

Raab keeps saying "we've been very clear"!

Mishail Husain eviscerating him 

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People arriving into the UK from the Republic of Ireland will be exempt from the 14-day quarantine measures along with those arriving from France.

Had Prime Minister Gaze made the speech last night it would have been very short and to the point. Highlights below:

Nothing is changing. Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives. We will review again in 3 weeks time.

The reasons for this are that scaling up contact tracing and antibody testing are both taking longer than we expected. However, progress is being made on both fronts. In addition we will be implementing a national randomised antigen testing programme to establish the current rate of infection.

The number of infections is falling but it is not yet at a manageable level. Therefore, to crush this virus to a level we can control the same rules must continue to apply. The economic cost is huge but it will be even higher if we ease now and have to slam on the brakes again in a few weeks or months.  

 

“....and we will continue the furlough scheme and all methods of Government support until the lockdown is eased.”

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When Johnson stated last night:

"I have consulted across the political spectrum, across all four nations of the UK. "

Judging from the bewilderment expressed by leaders of other three nations and other political leaders that I've seen since the speech, then either they are all lying or Johnson is.

 

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Raab spent much of the interview saying that the relaxations announced last night would not come into effect until Wednesday. I suspect a reverse ferret is being prepared.

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Had Prime Minister Gaze made the speech last night it would have been very short and to the point. Highlights below:

Nothing is changing. Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives. We will review again in 3 weeks time.

The reasons for this are that scaling up contact tracing and antibody testing are both taking longer than we expected. However, progress is being made on both fronts. In addition we will be implementing a national randomised antigen testing programme to establish the current rate of infection.

The number of infections is falling but it is not yet at a manageable level. Therefore, to crush this virus to a level we can control the same rules must continue to apply. The economic cost is huge but it will be even higher if we ease now and have to slam on the brakes again in a few weeks or months.  

 

Fwiw agree with all of this but then the same clarity problems with easing the lockdown are revisited in three weeks time. The lockdown message is easy; it's what comes after that is hard

 

Fwiw agree with all of this but then the same clarity problems with easing the lockdown are revisited in three weeks time. The lockdown message is easy; it's what comes after that is hard

I agree. However, the tools to manage the easing need to be in place. 1) More data to determine the current level of infection (randomised antigen and antibody testing) 2) Testing and mass contact tracing. Without them a very difficult task becomes an impossible one. 

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