In the biggest crisis of our time, why has the government’s emergency committee not met since MAY?
Rampant: Covid-19 is multiplying rapidly across the UK, infecting thousand more people every day – and Boris Johnson hasn’t convened his emergency committee to deal with it since May 10.
Is this the reason all the Johnson government’s attempts to handle Covid-19 have fallen apart?
The committee convened by the prime minister to tackle emergencies facing the UK – known as COBRA after its location (Cabinet Office Briefing Room A) – has not met since May 10.
That shocking fact was revealed, not by Boris Johnson, but by London Mayor Sadiq Khan during a phone-in on James O’Brien’s LBC radio talk show.
He said it seemed the Tories in the government don’t like to be challenged:
Sadiq Khan tells LBC that Cobra hasn't met since the 10th May, and he hasn't had any contact with Boris Johnson since. #SpeakToSadiq pic.twitter.com/JGrwCNw5gr
— LBC (@LBC) September 18, 2020
“The government doesn’t like having their policies and their ideas challenged, as often happened at Cobra,” he said.
The caller – Alex – had suggested that the army could help with Covid testing and treatment. Mr Khan said: “You’re right to remind us that the army in the past has come through and saved the bacon of successive governments.
“You remember the Olympics of 2012? Security was a shambles. The army stepped in and sorted out security in the Olympics.
“You remember early on during this pandemic, real problems with the personal protective equipment… The army stepped in and gave us a huge help.
“And you remember the Nightingale hospitals; the army played a huge role in co-ordination.
“I will pass this on – not through Cobra because there is no Cobra.”
There is no Cobra.
Listeners reacted with horror:
COBRA hasnt met since May 10th
?????????????????????????????????????????????????
NO COBRA SINCE 10th MAYNo wonder the Harding/tories are supprised at the increase of infections……
Tories dont like being challenged?
— sue#NHSLove💙💙💙#FBNHS #GeneralElectionNow (@SueSuezep) September 18, 2020
Sadiq Khan "I'll pass it on, not through Cobra because there is no Cobra, but…"
What happened to Cobra?
Not party political enough for these goons? Don't like to be challenged?
Sadiq hasn't spoken to PM since May 10th!#lbc
— Alex S 🇬🇧🚵♂️ #FBPA (@2ears2wheels) September 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/SamanthaMalin/status/1306883912258457601
… and with humour:
https://twitter.com/charliemale/status/1306897039444324354
Khan also mentioned test and trace boss Dido Harding being surprised that an increase in tests was being demanded this month (September): “I’m surprised at her surprise, because it was perfectly predictable – not only because the WHO said six months ago it was important, but back in March… the government stopped community testing… because they hadn’t got enough tests, and that led to the increase in community transmission.
“My worry is that they’ve not learned the lessons of the first six months of this virus.”
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just to remind people:
Dido Harding: ” we never expected anyone would try to hack us” [paraphrased] when talking about the Talktalk hack.
Are we really surprised that she’s actually incompetent?
Don’t worry peasants we can all die because the fascist tories don’t care! They’ll only protect their children who are attending private schools such as Eton and Harrow! Given Italy’s public health minister has been able to reduce number of infections by ensuring real test and trace equipment and staff is available to all its citizens it shows the fascist tories don’t care about us in the UK!!
A private company SERCO is responsible for the fake test and trace which explains why it isn’t working! It was never designed to work for us peasants! The ones who voted tory have now reaped the benefits! Another pandemic happening and fascist tories don’t care!
Can anyone explain why people like Dido Harding and Paula Venells who have clearly let down their customers (TalkTalk) and sub postmasters (Paula Venells at the Post Office) manage to get jobs which they are so evidently not fit for? Venells under whose watch, subpostmasters were wrongly blamed for errors caused by inadequate software with life damaging and even life ending consequences for many sub postmasters, has been made a Dame and also appointed head of my local health trust. Well documented in Private Eye and here https://minhalexander.com/2020/01/11/after-the-post-office-horizon-trial-paula-vennells-mammon-and-the-bishops/. The only explanation I can come up with isthis one from my dear old auntie: people like them who are rubbish at their jobs, or not liked, get good references so that they can be got rid of more quickly.