Coronavirus Thread (Off Topic, Politics) (6 Viewers)

[skybluetony176]

Great idea at Morrisons. Although as with everything like this shouldn't overshadow the fact this shouldn't be needed.

Problem is I know someone who works at a Tesco’s DC and she says that the amount of food that they throw away is disgusting and a large percentage of it is still usable and could easily go to food banks. I dare say it’s the same at any supermarkets DC. Then you get all these people going to skips outside of supermarkets retrieving edible food from their skips. Before they start charging the general population for donations to food banks perhaps they could start looking at their own waste and with food banks on this. I appreciate that they do a lot of this anyway but there’s enough evidence around to suggest that they could be doing more.

 

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[speedie87]

whats the general opinion of families been given food vouchers rather than some benefits

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

whats the general opinion of families been given food vouchers rather than some benefits

I’m willing to hear from heads and social workers and adults that experience it but from what I’ve read the best way to ensure kids don’t go hungry in the holidays is to continue with the vouchers

 

[chiefdave]

Problem is I know someone who works at a Tesco’s DC and she says that the amount of food that they throw away is disgusting and a large percentage of it is still usable and could easily go to food banks. I dare say it’s the same at any supermarkets DC. Then you get all these people going to skips outside of supermarkets retrieving edible food from their skips. Before they start charging the general population for donations to food banks perhaps they could start looking at their own waste and with food banks on this. I appreciate that they do a lot of this anyway but there’s enough evidence around to suggest that they could be doing more.

You would think they'd look at something like the below, from 4 years ago, and implement similar here. Again something that seems an easy win that would require minimal effort.

France has become the first country in the world to ban supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food, forcing them instead to donate it to charities and food banks.

Under a law passed unanimously by the French senate, as of Wednesday large shops will no longer bin good quality food approaching its best-before date. Charities will be able to give out millions more free meals each year to people struggling to afford to eat.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Problem is I know someone who works at a Tesco’s DC and she says that the amount of food that they throw away is disgusting and a large percentage of it is still usable and could easily go to food banks. I dare say it’s the same at any supermarkets DC. Then you get all these people going to skips outside of supermarkets retrieving edible food from their skips. Before they start charging the general population for donations to food banks perhaps they could start looking at their own waste and with food banks on this. I appreciate that they do a lot of this anyway but there’s enough evidence around to suggest that they could be doing more.

You'd think there'd be a way to have trucks to take away the unused food to distribute or to homeless shelters etc. or even just attach a food bank to the distribution centre (logistically might not be very useful for those needing the packages). Would sav them money in having to have all the waste removed and destroyed. Less going in incinerators or landfill.

Surely it can't be that difficult to arrange a way for this food to not be wasted. There's a massive PR gain to be had from setting this up.

 

[David O'Day]

So what was different that the people who voted for him two years earlier wouldn't vote for him then?

Other than Brexit policy (which was almost certainly the biggest factor and would've seen them vote that way regardless of the person at the helm) what else had changed?

I reckon it was people had got familiar with him, just like they do everytime. Clegg was a 'breath of fresh air' then people quickly went off him. Same would happen to Starmer. Once the 'new' veneer wears off they'd have the same complaints, as they would with any of the other candidates for the leadership.

one strange thing i noticed was how much the AS claims had an effected in 2019. Being told by folk who relly couldn't give a rats about AS they could vote for him because it was weird

 

[wingy]

I'm fairly sure this has been going on for a while tbf .
Watch charity in hillfields has been taking Gregg's unsold product to distribute lo visitors.
Bigger player's have been redistributing supermarket produce as far as I'm aware.

 

[clint van damme]

He’s being doing the rounds on TV this morning and it’s been an absolute car crash. He’d have been better of just deleting the series of tweets and issuing an apology by way of a statement. When you’re in a hole stop digging.

tried to deny tweeting something that millions of people had read and that thousands had screen shotted.
Then I remembered his boss is a serial liar who tried to deny saying something that he was filmed saying by the UK media so I see where he got his inspiration from.

 

[Skybluefaz]

because people like Cummings etc are actually shit at politics outside of their culture war bubble

That and I suppose flat out lying has worked fine in the past

 

[Ian1779]

Tories... the gift that keeps on giving.

Covid: Laptop allocation for deprived pupils cut at some schools

 

[Skybluefaz]

Tories... the gift that keeps on giving.

Covid: Laptop allocation for deprived pupils cut at some schools

My wife's school only got 2 and I think around 40% of the children are on free school meals.

 

[shmmeee]

So what was different that the people who voted for him two years earlier wouldn't vote for him then?

Other than Brexit policy (which was almost certainly the biggest factor and would've seen them vote that way regardless of the person at the helm) what else had changed?

I reckon it was people had got familiar with him, just like they do everytime. Clegg was a 'breath of fresh air' then people quickly went off him. Same would happen to Starmer. Once the 'new' veneer wears off they'd have the same complaints, as they would with any of the other candidates for the leadership.

The Russia response and antisemitism basically:YouGov: Corbyn popularity plummets after anti-Semitism row

 

[clint van damme]

The Russia response and antisemitism basically:YouGov: Corbyn popularity plummets after anti-Semitism row

so because of that people voted for a fella who's in balls deep with the Council of Europe and the Lebedevs.

Ladies and gentlemen, the British public!!

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Tories... the gift that keeps on giving.

Covid: Laptop allocation for deprived pupils cut at some schools

Is it just incompetence or a move to hinder closing schools for a while?

 

[pipkin73]

Talking of Supermarket food waste, i had the roof down on my Jeep a while back and when i got back to it one of the Hyperdino supermarkets by me had put a sack of food in my back seat (it's was parked on the way to the bins). Shit loads of steaks, pork and Chicken etc.... never found out which one but it fed me and my neighbours for about 2 weeks. Just shows how it can help if they don't dump the food.

 

[chiefdave]

The one thing I am finding a little encouraging is that I've noticed that various experts are increasingly talking about when, not if, we will be rolling out the vaccine. Have also seen several talk about it starting to be rolled out by Xmas. That's a big change from the way they were talking about a potential vaccine at some unspecified point in the future a few weeks ago. Is there something behind that? Probably just wishful thinking.

Seems that staff at George Eliot have received a memo from the chief exec, Glen Burley, regarding vaccinations:

Our Trust, alongside NHS organisations nationally, has been told to be prepared to start a Covid-19 staff vaccine programme in early December.

The latest intelligence states a coronavirus vaccine should be available this year with NHS staff prioritised prior to Christmas.

Fingers crossed there is something to this and not just a case of crossed wires. Think knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel would be great for people. Might also help persuade people to stick to the rules if they know there's an end in sight.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Seems that staff at George Eliot have received a memo from the chief exec, Glen Burley, regarding vaccinations:

Fingers crossed there is something to this and not just a case of crossed wires.

Dr Fauci in the US intimated something similar

 

[fernandopartridge]

Dr Fauci in the US intimated something similar

Aye, saw that in his interview with Andrew Marr.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Aye, saw that in his interview with Andrew Marr.

He did also say it still wouldn’t mean a return to normality for ages

 

[fernandopartridge]

He did also say it still wouldn’t mean a return to normality for ages

Yeah, the NHS vaccine is to avoid killing another 500 staff this winter. Not a silver bullet.

 

[chiefdave]

He did also say it still wouldn’t mean a return to normality for ages

Did he expand on that? Does he just mean because it will take months and months to roll it out to enough people to allow a return to normality or due to a lack of effectiveness?

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Did he expand on that? Does he just mean because it will take months and months to roll it out to enough people to allow a return to normality or due to a lack of effectiveness?

I believe due to supply issues

 

[chiefdave]

I believe due to supply issues

Don't think anyone expected to have it rolled out to everyone by Xmas. Not even Johnson has claimed that has he? If they're planning to start this year I'd take that as good news as I was thinking next spring was looking optimistic.

Would think that if you can cover NHS workers, elderly and vulnerable by the start of the summer then as the percentage of people vaccinated increases things can gradually start opening up and going back to normal.

No doubt there will be an option to queue jump for those with the money. Given that there was talk of tests costing £200 plus when you couldn't get an appointment wouldn't be surprised if queue jumping the vaccine came with a price tag in the thousands.

 

[Kieranp96]

Seems that staff at George Eliot have received a memo from the chief exec, Glen Burley, regarding vaccinations:

Fingers crossed there is something to this and not just a case of crossed wires. Think knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel would be great for people. Might also help persuade people to stick to the rules if they know there's an end in sight.

In Boris Johnsons last press conference they were mentioning People would likely be receiving vaccines by Xmas and then it will be rolled out in bigger numbers in spring.

 

[Skybluefaz]

A working vaccine this side of Xmas would be a real shot in the arm.

 

[Skybluefaz]

Apologies for the shit pun, but I mean it. I do think it would be a huge morale boost to see something so soon. Personally I'd written off the vaccine until next year.

 

[wingy]

Hancock !

 

[David O'Day]

Hancock !

being caught out lying

 

[wingy]

Here he is two months ago.
Also exposes the hypocrisy on t&t when the emphasis on free meals for kids is best served through LA's but t&t nationally through a private body.
Anyhow.

• Georgina Lee
• 3 Sep 2020

There were chaotic scenes at airports and ferry terminals across Europe this summer as Brits rushed to get home before quarantine rules – sometimes announced just hours before taking effect – kicked in.
One group of holidaymakers even chartered a boat across the Channel to beat the deadline for arrivals from France after missing the last ferry.
As it stands, anyone arriving in the UK from overseas must isolate for two weeks when they get here. If you’re symptom-free at the end of that time, you can end isolation – and you don’t need to take a coronavirus test.
Passengers from some countries are exempt, but that list is constantly changing as the government gets new information about local outbreaks overseas.
It was reported in late August that airline bosses had written to the Health Secretary Matt Hancock to say that the current quarantine policy is hampering the economic recovery and “leaves those who have travelled abroad unable to return to work, prevents business travel, and suppresses inbound tourism.” They called instead for a much shorter quarantine period, bookended by testing.
And there is some evidence – including from the government’s own modelling – that shorter isolation periods combined with testing could be just as effective as the current regime.
So why is the government sticking with the 14-day quarantine

 

[wingy]

Here's another one
Missed the prescient part of the other article unfortunately.

Matt Hancock: England in good position to avoid major Covid resurgence

Health secretary hails weekly mass testing programme but admits he is ‘very worried’ about surge in cases

www.theguardian.com

 

[djr8369]

because people like Cummings etc are actually shit at politics outside of their culture war bubble

I think this is a culture war play. Plays into the benefit scrounges and handouts narrative. Look at how many Tory MPs took the same line about FSM vouchers going towards drugs etc. It’s an horrendous, cynical game to drive another wedge in the population.

 

[wingy]

FactCheck: what’s the reason for 14-day travel quarantine?

There's evidence that shorter isolation periods combined with testing could be just as effective as the current regime.

www.channel4.com

 

[David O'Day]

I think this is a culture war play. Plays into the benefit scrounges and handouts narrative. Look at how many Tory MPs took the same line about FSM vouchers going towards drugs etc. It’s an horrendous, cynical game to drive another wedge in the population.

nah kids are a terrible culture war target and it's not driving a wedge anywhere apart from between tories and voters

It's just a government who can't be seen to let Labour win anything even if it will starve kids

 

[shmmeee]

January will be interesting. That 40% Brexit vote has stuck rigidly to the Tories so far. I wonder what will happen when they finally get Brexit done, or if we’ll have perpetual Brexit to keep voters scared and onside

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

January will be interesting. That 40% Brexit vote has stuck rigidly to the Tories so far. I wonder what will happen when they finally get Brexit done, or if we’ll have perpetual Brexit to keep voters scared and onside

The parties have been tied for a while now which tells me a well aimed strike at the right time by Starmer could put Labour ahead, or that a vaccine will put the Tories back ahead. Think Covid trumps Brexit still