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1. Boris Johnson nominated Chris Grayling to chair the Intelligence Committee
2. Yes. Chris Grayling.
3. Matt Hancock said “I'm really pleased that the Domestic Abuse Bill has been passed” 12 hours after he voted against it, so maybe it's catching
1. Boris Johnson nominated Chris Grayling to chair the Intelligence Committee
2. Yes. Chris Grayling.
3. Matt Hancock said “I'm really pleased that the Domestic Abuse Bill has been passed” 12 hours after he voted against it, so maybe it's catching
4. A Sage official govt scientific report said test and trace must be improved before schools were re-opened
5. The following day the Education Minister said he would fine parents who didn’t send kids to schools. Test and Trace is still not working.
5. The following day the Education Minister said he would fine parents who didn’t send kids to schools. Test and Trace is still not working.
6. In March, Govt advice said we must “urgently discharge all hospital in-patients who are medically fit to leave”, including elderly patients returning to care homes
7. As a result, 25,000 patients were discharged into care homes without a coronavirus test
7. As a result, 25,000 patients were discharged into care homes without a coronavirus test
8. Which is why, as of June 20, there were 19,394 deaths in care homes
9. Deaths in UK care homes are 13x higher than those in German care homes
10. So - quelle surprise - this week Boris Johnson blamed those deaths on care home workers. Charmer, isn't he?
9. Deaths in UK care homes are 13x higher than those in German care homes
10. So - quelle surprise - this week Boris Johnson blamed those deaths on care home workers. Charmer, isn't he?
11. Boris Johnson attempted to explain this by saying nobody knew about asymptomatic infections
12. But on 11th March (before govt advice about discharging to care homes) Matt Hancock said scientific evidence showed the amount of asymptomatic infection was “very significant”
12. But on 11th March (before govt advice about discharging to care homes) Matt Hancock said scientific evidence showed the amount of asymptomatic infection was “very significant”
13. So they knew. And they did it anyway.
14. And now they’ve moved onto pubs
15. Senior police officers warned govt lifting the lockdown was “total madness”
16. The chairman of the Police Federation said “it is crystal clear that drunk people won’t socially distance”
14. And now they’ve moved onto pubs
15. Senior police officers warned govt lifting the lockdown was “total madness”
16. The chairman of the Police Federation said “it is crystal clear that drunk people won’t socially distance”
17. The Texas Medical Assoc published a table of the 47 riskiest activities – the most high-risk was “going to a bar”
18. So the govt tweeted “Grab a drink and raise a glass, the pubs are opening” on the day figures showed we had the 3rd highest confirmed death-toll in the world
18. So the govt tweeted “Grab a drink and raise a glass, the pubs are opening” on the day figures showed we had the 3rd highest confirmed death-toll in the world
19. Boris Johnson said “Anyone who flouts Covid rules isn’t just putting us all at risk, but letting down the rest of us”
20. And then Boris Johnson’s father broke the rules to go to his villa in Greece
21. And I’m sure I don’t need to mention Dominic Cummings
20. And then Boris Johnson’s father broke the rules to go to his villa in Greece
21. And I’m sure I don’t need to mention Dominic Cummings
22. But it's OK, Mark Francois mentioned Dominic Cummings for you, warning a giggling General that "Cummings is going to come down and sort you out”
23. That’s the Dominic Cummings who is an unelected bureaucrat, and and ran a Brexit campaign against unelected bureaucrats
23. That’s the Dominic Cummings who is an unelected bureaucrat, and and ran a Brexit campaign against unelected bureaucrats
24. Brexit also promised an end to red tape, and Boris Johnson insisted “emphatically” that border checks in the Irish Sea would not happen
25. So imagine my surprise when, this week, the details of the additional red tape and Irish Sea border checks were revealed
25. So imagine my surprise when, this week, the details of the additional red tape and Irish Sea border checks were revealed
26. The International Trade Secretary said the plans “risk smuggling, damage to the UK’s international reputation and legal challenge from the WTO”
27. And then she said we aren’t ready for Brexit
28. So the govt let the deadline for extending Brexit slip past. Oh good.
27. And then she said we aren’t ready for Brexit
28. So the govt let the deadline for extending Brexit slip past. Oh good.
29. Boris Johnson denied No Deal, but said we would have an “Australian-style” deal
30. The EU coughed and said “We do not have a deal with Australia”
31. ONS figures showed No Deal will cut UK economy by 9.3%
32. That’s on top of the predicted 14% slump caused by Covid 19
30. The EU coughed and said “We do not have a deal with Australia”
31. ONS figures showed No Deal will cut UK economy by 9.3%
32. That’s on top of the predicted 14% slump caused by Covid 19
33. To save money the govt announced it would stop free parking for NHS staff, which annoyed NHS staff and saved almost nothing
34. Hours later the govt unannounced that particular idea, and denied it had ever said it. Reassuringly competent, isn’t it?
34. Hours later the govt unannounced that particular idea, and denied it had ever said it. Reassuringly competent, isn’t it?
35. More competence: the govt announced a new policy of sanctions against regimes engaged in Human Rights violations
36. Literally the following day, the govt announced it would resume arms sales to Saudi Arabia despite acknowledging Saudi war crimes in the Yemen
36. Literally the following day, the govt announced it would resume arms sales to Saudi Arabia despite acknowledging Saudi war crimes in the Yemen
37. But at least they’re on the ball about PPE we need to, yknow, stay alive
38. Except the govt is facing a string of legal challenges about why it awarded multimillion-pound PPE contracts to, let’s say, strange choices, which I list below:
38. Except the govt is facing a string of legal challenges about why it awarded multimillion-pound PPE contracts to, let’s say, strange choices, which I list below:
39. A £108m contract awarded to a sweet wholesaler with no experience of PPE and total assets of £18000 (about the price of a mid-range Kia Stonic)
40. An £18m contract for PPE awarded to an employment agency with total assets of £332. Not a typo. A company worth £332 got £18m
40. An £18m contract for PPE awarded to an employment agency with total assets of £332. Not a typo. A company worth £332 got £18m
41. A £24m contract for PPE awarded (and paid upfront!) to a pest-control company with no experience of PPE
42. A £250m contract to a “a London-based family office” involved in “offshore property” and “currency trading”, and which shares an advisor with Tory Minister Liz Truss
42. A £250m contract to a “a London-based family office” involved in “offshore property” and “currency trading”, and which shares an advisor with Tory Minister Liz Truss
43. And in every case: no bidding process
44. And finally, having come into office promising 50,000 new nurses, this week it was revealed nursing recruitment is down 5%. There are already more than 40,000 UK vacancies for nurses, and WHO is warning Covid has “only just started”
44. And finally, having come into office promising 50,000 new nurses, this week it was revealed nursing recruitment is down 5%. There are already more than 40,000 UK vacancies for nurses, and WHO is warning Covid has “only just started”
45. Don't be too downhearted. It's only Thursday. They could turn it all around in the next 24 hours. You wait and see, it'll be amazing.
Use #TheWeekInTory to find previous reassuring installments
Use #TheWeekInTory to find previous reassuring installments