Forum Topic

Could rumour-mongers stop and think for a minute?

Endless scare-mongering today about London going into 'complete lockdown' tonight has done nothing but create more panic buying.

Susan Kelly ● 2421d20 Comments

And who do you think created this panic? Why do you think there is so much mistrust? Could it be that perhaps Johnson says one thing one day and then panics and U-turns a few days later? He said no lockdown yet 40 stations were closed and now they are saying London is 3 weeks ahead of the country.I think the quicker the Johnson administration refines their messaging and takes some serious direct action the better, I assure you no one has believed that the 'science has moved on' after just a few days.

Matthew Swain ● 2421d

MS, you're wrong. In a situation which has never been experienced before flexibility is important as circumstances change.You criticise the PM but consider the alternative.        Corbyn (who could  notmake a decision regarding the EU) backed up by a Home Secretary who would be responsible for implementing any emergency legislation errrr., Diane Abbott.Forum Home

Jeffrey Cope ● 2421d

MS: "[Johnson] said no lockdown yet 40 stations were closed..."Since when did closing 40 stations out of 280(?) constitute a 'lockdown'?As for "London [being] 3 weeks ahead of the country", that is merely an estimate based on the latest statistics, as compiled by the PM's advisers.Anyone who panics as a result of this sort of information is silly, whilst proceeding from there to panic-buy is both silly and selfish.

Richard Cathcart ● 2421d

but with corbyn we'd all have a pet unicorn :)

Julie Morse ● 2421d

The locals at the Copper Cow are not panicking this evening. What highly infectious disease that is going to overwhelm the NHS if we don’t follow scientific advice?

Paul Campbell ● 2421d

Am I now,  so I am wrong that the science miraculously moved on in a few days or that the Imperial Report which I read cover to cover on Monday night stated that self isolation was the most effective way to flatten the curve.I never said Corbyn would be better, I would not vote for that man ever but I am also not going to refrain from stating the obviuous especially when its based on facts from a modelling report that caused much needed reaction form this administration.

Matthew Swain ● 2421d

Have we sunk so low that we will forever judge the actions of our PM based on how we imagine the most ineffective opposition leader of a generation might have acted if he had been in the hot seat? As for the Home Secretary, PP has not been so visible recently. Could that be because they are having to retrain her face so it doesn’t smirk when she has to make grave announcements?

Paul Campbell ● 2421d

Lockdown comes from the media predicting whats coming next not the PM.Closing 40 stations comes from TFL and city hall,not the PM

Julian Pavey ● 2421d

The 'London lockdown' stories were widely reported as being from 'Whitehall sources'. Then after a period of speculation and confusion we had 'Downing street damps down speculation' until, at his press conference this afternoon, Johnson announced no new restrictions. It's not helpful if the government itself indulges in kite-flying rather than giving clear instructions. And still no practical support for businesses forced to close down and people and families being pushed out of work.

Peter Evans ● 2421d

Will you please illucidate for me?Who reported "stories were widely reported as being Whitehall sources" originally?Who reported "Downing St.damps down speculation" originallyAccepted BJ announced no new restrictions but unless you can prove that the answers to the two questions above were down to Whitehall surely he would not be expected to deny them?

Jeffrey Cope ● 2421d

Who knows whether they were kite-flying or whether the (presumably) lobby journalists they briefed (although there has been a lot of discussion about their changed approach to this)interpreted what they said in their own way?  There is so much ambiguity and Mr Peston hasn't covered himself in glory

Claire Moran ● 2421d

My point exactly Claire. Until the source(s) can be identified it's inaccurate to attribute the statements to BJ and then expect him to refute them. It MAY be the case but there is no substantiation to the original assertions here on the forum.Sorry, missed Preston so can't comment.

Jeffrey Cope ● 2421d

And here we have the beauty of DC’s press strategy: leak everything to the press instead of fronting up and retain full rights to plausible deniability.

Paul Campbell ● 2421d

You haven't answered the questions. All you've done is throw an unsubstantiated name into the pot.

Jeffrey Cope ● 2421d

The implication would seem to be that Downing Street led everyone to expect a lockdown, so that Doris Johnson could then look like a hero by not doing it. Not impossible, if a bit cynical.Perhaps people could stop passing on rumours from unnamed sources?

Susan Kelly ● 2421d

If only we could ask all journalists to come clean about any leaks. Surely no government can be trusted if they ‘leak’ a possible action and wait to see if people would accept it or riot? We seem to be in a grave situation and playing mind games should be stopped.

Vivienne Cox ● 2421d

You are quite entitled aren’t you Jeffrey? Expecting people who comment on threads to respond to any question you might have asked of other contributors. People like you are like lambs to the slaughter.

Paul Campbell ● 2421d

...you can expect the usual denials from those who feel the need to back anything labelled 'Conservative' while taking irrelevant sideswipes at the latest Labour bogey man. I admire those Conservative supporters who speak up about their informed criticism of government policies, like Greg Clark at the moment.

Malcolm Peltu ● 2421d

Here's one from yesterday: 'Whitehall sources today told the Mirror that lockdown-style measures in London...' and you can find several others, plus the scrolling text on Sky News said the same most of last night. So there's no doubt the government is briefing alternative versions, not supported by what Johnson goes on to announce. Odd in this case, as I think the public reaction to the 'London lockdown' kite was actually quite positive and many would have expected and welcomed an official confirmatory announcement. Confusion and lack or clarity like this, and over who's a key worker and how those out of work will be paid, isn't helpful.

Peter Evans ● 2421d

Julie, don't you ever get tired spouting crap?Better have a PM who's a lying piece of trash obviously?

Basil Finnis ● 2421d