But isn't Drakeford proposing to make a further announcement in view of Johnson's statement last Monday? Why make an announcement if the view in Wales remains the same?
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It might have played a role in changing content of announcement but it hasn't created a further announcement from what I can tell. I say that because a lot easier to slow easing of lockdown if England has already done so due to lack of public and press backlash and size/closeness of border, but likely that that was the desired plan for all nations regardless of what England did.
Imo, since schools went back for one day in England after Christmas Westminster has become a lot more cautious - waiting 5 weeks between stages is cautious even if shouting "freedom day" and whispering "no earlier than" was a gamble which hasn't paid off - and I think that's so most people forget how reckless Boris and his government was before that moment. Drakeford has been largely cautious throughout, sometimes painfully so, which overall means spirit of Boris' behaviour has moved to be more like Drakeford.
I see what Boris did on the 14th largely similar to what Drakeford did on the 4th and looks like any outstanding differences will be removed by Drakeford's expected announcement tomorrow. Therefore I disagree with your statement that it's simply Wales copying England, but it is probably a case of when the reviews fell in the calendar now that Delta Variant in the news.
I can say that final point because Boris has moved much closer to caution employed by devolved nations since 6th of January 2021 and, imo, that's partly because no one can criticise him for being reckless, and make it stick, if he's been so slow and cautious in recent memory. Although if things get worse (obviously I don't want them to) using "terminus date" to describe 19th of July will make people see him as reckless again.
I’m having my 25th CPR test on Monday, despite having had Covid, been vaccinated, had 2 Anti-bodies tests and numerous LFTs, another 5 due in July! Thank goodness the company is paying.
With the Delta variant now spreading thanks to yet another balls up and no doubt being convinced by the likes of Vallance and Whitty the bufoon had little choice than follow Drakeford's cautious approach.
Several people have said Drakeford follows a cautious approach and that England are following Wales. People were not saying that when Drakeford ended his unilateral firebreak last year before reinstating it as cases rose sharply. Then we saw people queuing up outside shops with no social distancing; pubs were open; places of worship were able to hold services etc while England was in lockdown. The results of Drakeford's actions were catastrophic with the Welsh figures rising rapidly. I would hardly describe that as cautious.
Now turning to the point that Wales are leading England I wonder if people on here understand how things work. I'll tell you. What happens is that Wales receives all the technical advice from England. All the individual papers to the groups affected by the lockdown such as the hospitality industry and sports venues are produced in England. All that Wales does is get a very minor civil servant to amend the documentation to include the word "Wales" where England is mentioned. There is a bit more to it than that but you get the gist. Then the hierarchy in the Welsh government decide what to do next. That is where they have a real roll but they are heavily influenced by what happens in England and I can't help concluding that the main motivation is to do things differently in order to exert their independence.
Clearly this tactic has duped the voting public but I find the conclusion reached by those on here is based more on anti Tory rhetoric than fact.
Several people have implied it's slightly more complex than that and treating it as "who is following who?" is a simplistic analysis. You've said the gist of it is that Wales changes name on document and whacks it out.
What is happening in England does have an influence partly because of size of border and how close people live to border - this makes us different to Scotland - but clearly different decisions have been made at different times. After the initial shared approach regarding potentially ill people into care homes different decisions became more clear and now they're more aligned again.
I was merely replying to the post I linked where it was stated the buffoon was following Drakeford's cautious approach. As for your comments they are more balanced than some but I don't entirely agree with them. Where we do agree is that the matter is complex. Let's face it whoever is in charge is likely to be criticised as we are all looking at this through our retrospective scope and it is so easy to criticise after the event. I don't think any politician, be it Drakeford or Johnson, should be blamed for taking action in order to save lives.
Latest from BBC's Ros Atkins which is really worth a watch. "We're talking about Delta and India now but in 6 months it will be a different variant" was one comment highlighted in this fantastically presented summary.Quote:
The delay in the easing of COVID restrictions in England has raised questions about government decisions in April as cases surged in India. This is the story of the Delta variant. In 7 mins.
https://twitter.com/BBCRosAtkins/sta...15466844983298
Regarding vaccines, Wales has first jabbed 88.3% of population over 18 as of 17th of June (1st, Scotland is second with 81%) and second jabbed 58.4% (2nd, England is first with 59%). It's not a race and dependent on people coming forward especially if they think they've been missed.
There is less and less justification for the continuation of lockdowns and restrictions and generally people are getting pissed off with it.
Other than people on here no one I talk to believes any of the numbers quoted to justify it. Its easy to say thing like "Infections have risen 60%" without pointing out that the actual numbers are 80 rising from 50.
I looked at the comments on the BBC report earlier and as surprised by the number of people saying it is just Drakeford
being determined to cling to control of the population. some believe it is his natural wish springing from his extreme left wing communist inspired inclination that the masses must be kept under control.
But here is the question. In Parliament the act which gives the government the powers it needs to continue lockdowns and the like is finite, and to continue it the government needs to go to parliament to get the law extended. It would have lost this latest vote had it not been supported by labour.
But in Wales we never hear anything about the Senedd having a debate on extending lockdown powers. It seems that the laws passed in Wales have no time limit on them, and I believe we passed for more things into actual laws than parliament have.
so does anyone know what the limitations are or can he keep doing this for as long as he thinks he will get away with it?
It reminds me of the Plaid member who complained last years about the Senedd not being given the opportunities to debate and vote on restrictions. She said then it was 'rule by dictat' and it seems to be still the same.
New cases have doubled to 484 in Wales with the main concentration still being in the north,, but up to 77 in Cardiff.
https://public.tableau.com/views/Rap...Amobile=true#2
Need those 2nd jabs in arms. I had mine a couple of hours ago.
Wise decision to delay lifting restrictions.
If only the bufoon had acted and closed the border with India sooner.
Wales has now first jabbed 88.7% and second jabbed 60.2% of people aged 18 as of 20th of June.
At some point the focus will switch again to asking why 11.3% haven't accessed their first jab and if there is anything that can be done to make any of them feel more confident about it.
Amongst that will be people who've yet to have their jab but still intend to get one. For instance though all young people have been offered one their jab appointment may not have come around yet
I think 90%+ uptake would be great and probably better than the government expected.
Stuff like why they waited so long really makes you wonder about how much they love imposing control over our lives, it begs belief they had flights just coming in with no restrictions….Drakeford obv loves the control too and throws messages of doom out there every few weeks, helped by the ineptitude of the Westminster clowns of course.
I think this highlights the issue with politicians "following the science" rather than accurately anticipating what's going to happen next and acting accordingly, at least in situations where once the data is showing something happening it's already too late.
I wonder if the Government let this variant in just to make more people take up the vaccine quicker, look at the queues yesterday for example…..we know the vaccine works still which is very fortunate
Totally hopeless.
https://news-sky-com.cdn.ampproject....-says-12333915
In which case I feel there are several times where politicians have ignored "the science" and focused on the "follow" part of the phrase. Some things which could/should have been anticipated weren't - it's very unpopular to take action unless data to back you up, at times anticipatory moves were made (Portugal travel restrictions during Gamma Variant) and were criticised - and action only being taken after clear data had come to light even if that meant action only much after it was needed.
Too many inconsistencies to produce a catch-all statement but I feel "follow" has had emphasis during spread of Alpha and Delta Variant - though I accept that may be outcome bias as "follow" or "the science" may have been used throughout and those two are where it went wrong.
Thread showing how much of a fiasco PPE procurement turned out to be.
https://twitter.com/allthecitizens/s...340039681?s=20
All the numbers are good, no deaths for 2 weeks, hospitals underwhelmed butbstill we are oppressed.
It really is time it stopped.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52380643
The original 'need' to lock down was to protect the NHS. Covid is now having a marginal impact on the NHS.
It is rising but it is less of a threat against people who have been vaccinated, and it is supressed by the vaccine from passing. If we work as you say we will be locked down for ever, as 1 variant after another comes along. Soon it will be winter and they'll be telling us the weather is to bad to open up.
Covid is now the 31st highest cause of death in Wales. No deaths for 2 weeks.it is becoming stupid.