Tag Archives: coronavirus

As soon as Boris Johnson started speaking, I was infuriated.

Nicola Sturgeon manages to get a signer there for every briefing. And she does hers live.

Boris’s was pre-recorded. Why not have a signer in the room with him so that, whatever channel you watch, you can understand what is being said?

It’s not the first time I’ve been infuriated by his government over the past week. The misjudged, mixed messaging. One minute people were doing great for obeying the guidance, the next they were getting too lazy at home. Then the briefing that lockdown was going to be lifted on Monday leading to a whole clutch of “we’re being set free” headlines. It’s not what you need in the middle of the greatest crisis we  have faced in generations. People need to understand exactly what they need to do.

That’s why the new slogan is so terrible.  Nobody knows what “stay alert” means in practical terms. Everyone will tell you something different. If you had something like stay 2m apart, wash your hands, wear a mask in confined spaces, you know exactly what to do. Not only that, but when the other UK governments hear about it on in the press, it’s clearly not been well discussed.

So how have senior Liberal Democrats reacted to the PM’s speech?  So far we have been asking careful questions about issues like care homes, PPE and testing. I sense a more critical tone now.

Ed said that the PM’s statement had more confusion that clarity:

.@EdwardJDavey Changing the message at this critical stage "risks what people have fought so hard for. The Prime Minister has not provided the country with any evidence or justification for this change. Instead, he risks creating more confusion than clarity…" pic.twitter.com/4s3V3Iif2m

— Lib Dem Media Team (@LibDemPress) May 10, 2020

What we really needed were tighter instructions and assurances about protecting those who are physically and economically vulnerable, following the lockdown extension

— Layla Moran 🔶🕊️ (@LaylaMoran) May 10, 2020

5 year olds are notoriously great at social distancing… https://t.co/AIufvINGcx

— Tim Farron (@timfarron) May 10, 2020

At the heart of what we should do to move out of #lockdown must be people’s health#economy cannot be seen as separate from health. A second #peak will hurt economy even more

The R number is key, but our failure to test + trace adequately leaves us guessing on a wing and prayer

— Wera Hobhouse MP 🔶 🇺🇦 (@Wera_Hobhouse) May 10, 2020

Confusing change of headline message, launched together with confusing address by the PM. Many people will be wondering if they're meant to go back to work tomorrow and how they'll get there. And when can my mum see my kids? Clear comms essential in a crisis!

— Munira Wilson MP 🇺🇦 (@munirawilson) May 10, 2020

This is the first time we’ve seen divergence between England and the other nation states of the UK.

As liberals, we should welcome this, given that we get what devolution means. We should respect the devolution settlements that give different parts of the UK the powers to do what is right for them.

But that means that all the governments have to clearly show that the decisions they make are governed by the science.

Willie Rennie said tonight: