What is Jenrick really saying by telling us masks may be a ‘personal choice’ after July 19?
Robert Jenrick: he announced the change in policy on Andrew Marr’s BBC show. That look on his face is known as ‘duper’s delight’ and indicates that he thinks he’s making fools of us all.
It seems to me that our slippery Tory government is trying to change the rules of its own lockdown easement – again.
Robert Jenrick has said England is going to move into a period where legal restrictions related to Covid-19 will be relaxed, meaning that decisions on whether to consider following them – like wearing masks – will become a matter of personal choice.
Does that seem like pre-emptive blame-shifting to you?
Boris Johnson is determined to lift social distancing restrictions on July 19 – and to make the changes irrevocable.
Logically, the only time at which such a choice is reasonable would be when the risk of contracting Covid has become negligible.
Jenrick’s comment suggests that this will not be the case. His suggestion that people will exercise “personal responsibility” in their choice of whether to wear a mask or note means the government is passing the buck.
If people remove their masks en masse and the number of Covid cases increases, then he, Johnson and all the other Tories will blame the rest of us, rather than admit that their own decision to lift lockdown was at fault.
It’s a low-down, dirty trick – and they shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it.
If they lift the legal requirement to wear a face mask in public from July 19, then that must only mean that medical evidence dictates it is safe to do so…
… because I, for one, am desperate to get rid of the bloody masks and I know that most people feel the same way. If the government says it’s allowed, they’ll put the rags in the rubbish whether it’s safe or not.
So we need to make it clear:
If the government removes the requirement to wear a mask on July 19, then it must make it perfectly clear that it is because the government considers it safe to do so.
Any rise in Covid infections may then be – correctly – attributed to Tory policy.
Don’t let Jenrick or any other Tory stooge try to push responsibility for the pandemic onto you.
Source: Covid-19: Masks will become personal choice, says Robert Jenrick – BBC News
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If there is another serious spike in a Covid outbreak then this government is responsible and with it a complicit mass media.
I remember before the mask law we were ‘advised’ to wear masks and, when shopping, I noted that about 10% of those present were doing likewise. Not long after, when it was made compulsory, I saw that about 10% weren’t wearing masks, this dropped even lower in the following weeks and months. It’s rare now to see someone without a mask so I’m assuming they really ARE exempt. Only the very youngest children aren’t wearing them – per the law.
To me what this shows is that people won’t do something, even if it protects the lives of their own families, unless it’s made law. Most people are law abiding but sadly most are a bit dim too. Our potential date for the end of restrictions is now August. I really DO hope that masks and social distancing are maintained after this date. This is for two reasons. First we have yet to complete the vaccination programme and we won’t have our maximum protection until we do, this is still about two months off. We could live with masks etc til then. Secondly I have read today that they have discovered yet another variant, the Lambda Variant. This is now the predominant variant in Peru and has already crossed international borders. It is yet more transmissible than any other variant but no information on how deadly it is or whether it can be dealt with by our current crop of vaccines. Even if it can, and even if the CFR is low, if it spreads so rapidly it could cause more deaths in actual numbers than a deadlier variant. This comes at the same time as ‘tourism chiefs’ appeal to the government to open up international travel again. Imagine doing that, ending all the safeguards and letting this variant in BEFORE we finish vaccinating. It reminds me of how Boris failed to deal with the Delta Variant coming from India.
But having to change Health Ministers at a time like this is not helpful either. Hancock, as awful as he was, had (perhaps) gotten his head around the fact that this was serious, by now. Javid comes in fit and fresh to the fight but with his preconceived ideas about ‘opening the country back up’ no matter what. Their ideas on what to do now aren’t driven by science they are driven by ideals. The same ideals that make them victim blamers who despise the poor and disabled are making them despise those who are on furlough for getting ‘free money’ and despising the NHS for daring to ask for more than 1%. Only with that backdrop does the 4% offered to Scots NHS workers look in any way acceptable.
Never has the phrase ‘they’ll be the death of us’ been more appropriate.
Thanks for that Mike. I was having a big problem trying to get my head round this when cases are rising as they are. I know vaccination has made it less severe, but that which is given free rein to replicate could well mutate to evade vaccines. I will continue to cover my face in enclosed spaces such as shops and trains. This is the worst government we have ever had. I can barely believe any of it. When I think of what we could have had… I fail to understand why people vote Tory, and the people of St Austell and Newquay should be ashamed for voting for that useless item, religious hypocrite Steve Double. I do not have an MP.