Forum Topic

Downing Street Daily Briefings

Anyone else starting to switch off from this? I think there is a lot of repetition in terms of statements and facts which is proving tedious. The preoccupation with journalists quizzing the government about when and under what circumstances the lockdown will end isn't helping anyone. I would prefer if the briefings were held weekly and journalists were limited to one question only. The government, along with the NHS and army should be left to get on with it. Thoughts?

Angus McPhail ● 2387d26 Comments

More like a party political broadcast - hearing Raab wittering on and not giving a straight answer to a straight question, he completely ignored the question from Robert Peston about overseas staff working in the NHS and the 'fees' they are being charged to use the service they are working in!

Vanessa Smith ● 2387d

Left it some time ago, Angus. I decided there was no point watching a daily catalogue of depressing information that I could do nothing about, the main points of which would appear on the news later, anyway.

Colin Jordan ● 2387d

Definitely a party political broadcast, as for the press questions bit, I've been thinking that all the journalists must have a qualification in stupidity. Same old stuff every question and every day. So its goodbye from me and hopefully goodbye from them on this waste of time.

Bob Guyett ● 2387d

I agree. There are depressing similarities on both sides of the Atlantic — administrations which rarely give a straight answer to any question, and journalists who appear to be completely devoid of the skills to hold them to account. At least here we don't have to listen to Trump's paranoid and malevolent rants.

Robert Fish ● 2387d

I no longer believe a word any of them say.

Micki Hawkes ● 2387d

Angus, totally agree I can’t imagine what it must be like to stand there every night delivering bad news to the country. We expect so much to happen in 24 hrs and it’s totally unrealistic. Having said that good to hear from the General who in 40 years hasn’t seen anything like the logistical task the army are supporting. I am sure he has seen a lot during his service life, good to know we do have such wonderful people supporting us all.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2387d

Did Mr Peston get on tonight and did he sneak in 3 questions all about the same as everyone elses questions over the last 5 days,a bit of pick and mix in my own way

Julian Pavey ● 2387d

If there were a variety of questions it might help, having to answer the same question 3 times etc........... Usually turn it off.

Janice Evans ● 2387d

Boo to the journalists. So repetitive

Sean Wales ● 2387d

Beth Rigby asks the same question over and over again.

Claire Moran ● 2387d

General Sir Nick Carter was a revelation: so fluent and reassuring. As Raab said, in many countries having the army on the street is a cause for concern. Not here.

Susan Kelly ● 2387d

Cummings will be thrilled that we are concentrating on the journalists and not the government.

Stewart Jones ● 2387d

Exactly. Free press = fake news. Trump leads the way on dissing the fourth estate. Keep it up chaps. Trash the press. Gosh, unless they are controlled these journalists might suggest that our glorious government is making mistakes.

Alan Clark ● 2387d

Don’t know if it is the journalists or their editors, perhaps hoping for a scoop, but wish that they would get together and ask one question, over and over, until they get something other than the bland sound bites from the ministers.

Vivienne Cox ● 2387d

Absolutely, Vivienne. It needs a collective effort to cut through the fog of evasion. They're letting the politicians off the hook, because there's rarely any follow up to a dodged question or a mendacious answer.

Robert Fish ● 2387d

It seems that these journalists, most of whom are extremely highly paid, have had lobotomies since these Covid press conferences began. Really stupid questions and mostly allowing the government to get away with non answers  to the odd intelligent question.

Steve Taylor ● 2387d

The information we get from the briefings is pretty poor. We all know the number of deaths is inaccurate. Perhaps the questions aren’t that great but  I think that it is so important that a politician stands there and is reminded that  he/she and the government  are accountable for their actions. I’m sure things will liven up again once the PM starts work again.

Stewart Jones ● 2387d

A survey by the Press Gazette published today stated that 70% of respondents said the media was doing a bad job in the crisis - and most of the respondents were journalists!The daily press briefing is appalling in the quality of information supplied. I refer to a post I made previously regarding Governor Cuomo who Sky News only show sparingly now. No doubt they are aware how poor their (particularly Rigby) journalists look.What really got my goat a couple of days ago was the response a 'stand-in' second tier Professor (double barrelled name) I can't recall, who stated in answer to a question about the non control (contacts/testing) of people arriving in the UK that, and I paraphrase, 'as we have so much Covid already here it is not worth making any checks at our borders'. He signally failed to answer the flow up question about the future.So, here we are good folks, following the lockdown and social distancing restrictions to stem the transmission of the virus and the health authorities think it is reasonable to allow anyone unchecked into the country. Examples from many other countries show that second wave infections have been brought in by people returning from outside their territory.Surely now is the time to prepare systems for the 'new normal' at points of entry.I for one will be mightily miffed (OK something much stronger) if I find that all our hard work is being sacrificed by allowing uncontrolled access. The Government needs to get a grip and soon.

David Millar ● 2387d

The other thing that struck me about these briefings is that even the scientists are evasive and defensive, The Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Jenny Harries, seems more of an apologist for the government than a scientific adviser. First, she described the UK's coronavirus preparation as exemplar, and said the existence of a pandemic stockpile was a "very high quality mark" of preparation; then she effectively criticised questions about the inadequacy of PPE supplies by suggesting that "a more adult conversation" could be had about the supply; and finally yesterday she warned against comparisons between the performance of the UK and Germany. 

Robert Fish ● 2386d

We complain when the government updates us, and complain when it doesn't! No win situation! Please, just let them get on with it. Questions from the media e.g. why didn't we sign up to the EU's PPE schemes in January? are pointless. We didn't! Equally, I don't see the media adding that it would not have made any difference if we had, because the EU hasn't actually provided any of its members who did sign up with any PPE... 3 months later!The media is in its own bubble, especially the BBC. It was so obvious the other day when Fiona Bruce was talking to one of the myriad BBC 'experts' on the 6.00 pm News. It was a conversation between themselves with the usual critical narrative, and not meant for those they were meant to be informing.

Lou Valdini ● 2386d

I would like to see members of the public get a chance to ask questions or even MP`s from any party as it is a complete waste of time listening to the media or perhaps these briefings should be held only 2-3 times a week so there are real updates

Paul Fisher ● 2386d

Suggest the Whitehall chorus - try watching Nicola Sturgeon's daily briefings for lessons in how to do it! Like her or loathe her - no double speak no bullsh*t.

Vanessa Smith ● 2386d

The public are quite good at asking direct questions.The journalists, especially Peston, waffle on adding to a question thus giving loads of wriggle room to MP or "expert".  This allows them to pick the easy bits they want to answer and ignore the rest...always!They just don't answer any question properly. If the journalists were half bright they'd notice this and stick to a one topic question at a time.

Sarah Vickers ● 2386d

Why isn't anyone asking why prison officers are getting coronavirus bonus payments of up to £580 a month on top of paid overtime to cover for sick  or self isolating colleagues? Prison 'Operational managers' working overtime are getting an extra £1500 a month.Yet care workers and NHS staff? 'Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he is 'sympathetic'  to pay rises in the future 'now is not the time'.'Prison documents show in return for committing to nine hours a week of paid overtime over four weeks, officers will receive a bonus payment of £500, if they pledge 12 weeks then they get an extra £1750, a bonus payment that alone is nearly double the £8.72 an hour living wage that many carers rely on. Probation staff working in jails qualify for similar bonuses.The prison service has a powerful trade union and a jail workforce of only 34,000 - around a fifth of whom are currently off sick or self-isolating. Rewarding 1.5m care workers and 1.2m health staff would require a much bigger shake of the Treasury money tree'.

Vanessa Smith ● 2386d

Totally given up as the journo's drive me nuts. Think the presenters are always brilliant in keeping their cool with the daft questions from the 'audience'.

Julie Morse ● 2386d

They love daft questions from the "audience", Julie. They then don't have to be put on the spot, and can dissemble to their heart's content.

Roger Talbot ● 2386d