Government | Buzz Chronicles

@BorisJohnson gaslighting dither & delay Government helped create conditions for the new covid strain to emerge

1/ When it became clear that schoolchildren were likely contributing significantly to the spread of the virus, his Government denied & issued legal threats to schools

2/ Scientists issued repeated warnings that allowing households to mix during Xmas would lead to a surge in cases.

@BorisJohnson Government refused to heed that advice, U-turned predictably days before Xmas, causing chaos to people’s plans, with crowded scenes at train stations.

3/ Viruses mutate & adapt as they multiply and, if we continue to have high levels of transmission in the population i.e. more cases, this provides fertile ground for new mutations to arise.

Sadly, but very avoidably, this is exactly what @BorisJohnson Government has provided.

4/ Too Little Too Late.

Through repeated negligent decisions and consistently late actions, @BorisJohnson Government has not only missed many opportunities to control the virus in the UK but actively worsened it.

5/ In September 2020, when cases were once again rising sharply, was another example of @BorisJohnson Government deciding not to

Sam Lowe
@SamuelMarcLowe

This is the UK’s internal “who won the negotiations scorecard”, apparently. (via

On rules of origin, suggests that compromise found on batteries and electric vehicles (woo!)

But I have questions about the cumulation “Win” ... as the UK opening position was much more expansive than written here, and win looks like what we knew EU was offering.

That’s quite the spin, lads.

Would that win be rejecting be the ‘investor’ category proposed ... in the UK’s draft FTA text?

This is simultaneously both incredibly useful AND hilarious.

Jennifer Pagliaro
@jpags

Hello Toronto! Ford is about to announce new restrictions after we heard from experts about how something has to give to keep hospitals below capacity to provide critical patient care (see buds @jyangstar @katecallen for that). I’ll post here what the changes mean for the city:

These are *current* rules for whole province, including Toronto: https://t.co/xKrVQKwJ2g

It appears we should not expect a full lockdown or curfew. Ford scheduled to speak any minute. I’ll try to make this foolproof but rules are not always clear from initial provincial release

BREAKING: Province now in state of emergency for 28 days. A stay-at-home order is being issued for Thurs. at 12:01AM — everyone must stay home except for essential trips, medical appts. In-person classes in Toronto, several other regions will remain suspended until Feb. 10.

I don’t have full details yet on this order, but stay tuned. Ford calls it a “drastic” measure. “Everyone must stay home to save lives.” He says enforcement and inspections will increase. Workplace inspectors will have powers to disperse people and issue tickets, he says

There will be enforcement blitzes at box-box stores, Ford says.

Mike Pitts
@pittso

An update on my Green Homes Grant odyssey...

**WARNING** contains many hoops...

1/16

Knowing the scheme was coming I used the government website links and started my research in September.

I reckoned solar hot water was the best next step to reduce my carbon footprint.

2/16

I have basic double-glazing that needs upgrading before a new heating system but double glazing was out of scope unless you have single glazing.

I'm adding even more insulation to my loft at my own cost.

3/16

So, anyway, researching 'local' providers for solar water heating installation that are on the website list as allowed to do it under GHG: Three potentials.

First didn't respond and suspect was the wrong contact information was on the website.

4/16

Second couldn't do a quote without a visit and the next time they could would be weeks and weeks after the scheme was meant to open for applications.

5/16

Mark Perryman
@MarkPerryman

Hi @AlanMacDougall by way of a reply thread follows 'cos I think you've confused me with near namesake Kram Namyrrep crazed ultra Leftist and hard left sectarian?

With opposition not offering any opposition whatsoever, it has exempted government from any serious scrutiny.' Not me but
@TomKibasi according to @Gabriel_Pogrund and @patrickkmaguire 's Left Out pp235,237,238 key Starmer leadership campaign adviser. Not noteworthy? 1/11

1988 odd year to choose for when I started getting it wrong. In '88 was working at Marxism Today (MT) year of 'New Times' issue. Key text to understanding modernisation, still central to my politics today. MT analysis was big part of late 80s soft left too but wrong now? 2/11

'96 I edited The Blair Agenda which recognised both radical potential of Blairism and political limitations. Was I wrong to have such a balanced view? 3/11

'98 I co-edited The Moderniser's Dilemma both recognising Blair's achievement of the '97 landslide but rising trepidation where this might end up. Have those trepidations been proved wrong? 4/11

AndyHS
@AndyHS

Welcome back to Fresno County Board of Supervisors: 2021 version! Today's meeting will only consist of Oath of Office for re-elected Supervisors Steve Brandau, Sal Quintero and Nathan Magsig as well as designation of Officers. #fresno @uSparkValley Video

Supervisors are moving to 10 AM start time rather than the previous 9 AM. Pre-Covid the parking was tough to find even at 9 AM . I imagine 10 AM will be even harder for the public to engage (if) and when we can meet in person again.

Meeting begins. Sal Quintero is on phone. Rest are present in person. Brandau has Rev. Jim Franklin give invocation. Administering of the Oath of Office to Supervisors Steve Brandau, Sal Quintero, and Nathan
Magsig

Brandau comes down first along with "these old people" (He gets a playful whack from an old lady I assume a relative). Rev. Franklin gives Oath to Brandau.

Quintero is having his administered by Sheriff Mims in an office somewhere. @LincolnSeward Nathan Magisg is having his administered by County Clerk Bernice Seidel.

Office for National St...
@ONS

We’ve released our latest bulletin for deaths registered in England and Wales for week ending 1 January 2021.

These data have been affected by the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day bank holidays, and do not represent year-to-date

The provisional number of deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending 1 January 2021 (Week 53) was 10,069.

This was 1,451 less than Week 52 https://t.co/YOyHMfbDYM

In the week ending 1 January, the provisional number of deaths registered was 26.6% (2,115 deaths) above the five-year average.

This increase should be treated with caution due to the bank holidays

Of the 10,069 deaths registered in Week 53, 3,144 mentioned #COVID19 on the death certificate (31.2% of all deaths).

This has risen by 232 #COVID19 deaths since the previous week https://t.co/KtySaidOd4

Of the 3,144 deaths involving #COVID19, 87.2% had this recorded as the underlying cause of death.

Of the 2,494 deaths involving influenza and pneumonia, 7.5% had these as the underlying cause