Quote Originally Posted by the other bob wilson View Post
The problem with this subject is that I can't help thinking that the arguments would be reversed by some people on both sides if exactly the same thing happened and it was a Labour Government. I tend to agree with Matt, the method by which the 100,000 figure was arrived may be a bit dubious, but it's obvious that there are far more tests being carried out than there were and that was what many, myself included, wanted a month ago. There are plenty of things the Government can be criticised for in this crisis, but I'm not going to get too worked up about this.
Bob,

I sort of agree. Targets, particularly ones that politicians associate themselves with can be galvanising and purposeful in pushing and mobilising effort. Where they are dangerous is when they become more important than the outcome. I think there is a bit of the latter here.

If the aim is to manage the best outcome for the UK from where we are then in the absence of a vaccine testing and tracing is the best way out. Increasing targeted testing at those most at risk or most vulnerable aligned to a tracing capability for those who have come in contact with them with all those elements in place or being put in place seems to be the right way forward with the capacity to manage what the results are telling you.

I don't get the sense that was the driver here, More once the target was set how can we engineer an outcome that meets it. If it means a bit of smoke and mirrors on the numbers then there should be a bit of shame on shoulders rather than laurel leaves but is less important to me than if what was done diverted resources away from the test/trace/test strategy.