https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-he...-idUSKBN27H1BD
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https://twitter.com/RCunningham_MMM/...697347072?s=19
trouble brewing
I don't think the rest of us should pay for the consequences of different arrangements in Scotland if they choose to go a different way when the money for furlough comes from UK coffers and costs the Scottish government nothing. The question here is whether Wales will follow the arrangements in England by extending their firebreak which is due to end next week.
Drakeford has just announced on Sky news the Welsh firebreak will end on 9 November and won't be extended. There you have it.
Yes he was just on 5 live - the "firebreak" will be over, but I'd imagine there will still be some restrictions.
Shops will open up though I'm sure.
There was a guy on before him saying that these things would be more effective if the whole country were doing the same thing, which they put to Mark Drakeford.
His response was quite telling:
They received advice to go into a lockdown in a COBRA meeting - he repeatedly asked for another COBRA meeting to discuss and coordinate a lockdown, but was repeatedly denied, so they had to make the decision alone.
When we went into the lockdown it was promised to be 17 days, and people have put up with very severe restrictions on the understanding that it would be a short time. So they aren't going to go back on their word and extend it.
I tkink that's fair enough really.
Of course there should have been a coordinated lockdown to tie in with the half term break.
Boris and co insisted they were not going to do that though.
Drakeford has always said 17 days with tight restrictions.
Would he have made it longer and maybe agreed to the 4 weeks with the lesser restrictions and knowing furlough would be extended.?
Having the lockdown tieing in with half term was absolutely rignt though.
The point I'm making is that if political decisions are taken in Scotland then the rest of us shouldn't have to pay for it. Of course if the Scots and Welsh took a coordinated line, as I believe they should, then they should be entitled to receive furlough money. We are not going to agree but that's my opinion if I'm allowed that on here although I accept it is becoming difficult to express counter views.
In terms of the Welsh 'firebreak' lockdown, has anyone not done something they were intending to do or done anything differently as a result of the WAG's new restrictions? I'm genuinely interested to know if that's the case.
On a personal level, absolutely nothing has changed. Until today, when I began my first proper break since this all began, I've been working in the office as usual. The handful of colleagues who have been working from the office in recent months have been doing likewise. My partner's unable to go to the gym, which is a big miss for her as she's unable to follow a regular exercise routine recommended by her NHS physiotherapist to alleviate a back problem, but apart from that nothing has changed.
The pubs, restaurants and shops being closed hasn't affected me at all, but I'm sure that's different for plenty of people. That's the only real difference I can think of by comparison to recent months apart from the restriction on visits from friends and relatives, but in my experience people aren't abiding by that rule to any great degree.
OH and I couldn't take the kids trick or treating
I would have gone to the pub.
Gone to a cafe.
Ive wanted a pair of walking boots so would have gone to the shop just to check fit. However bought online instead ( not Amazon)
I would have gone into the office for one day and again this week.
Gone to get my Daughters Ipad fixed.