Opinion: Johnson’s train-wreck address

“Is ours a government of the people, by the people, for the people, or a kakistocracy rather, for the benefit of knaves at the cost of fools?”Thomas Love Peacock

Yesterday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Tried to give solitude or enlighten the masses. We can say that ship sailed and the ship got lost in the storm. In the hours after, there been weird things happening. While newspapers was profession beautiful headlines of a positive future. While, the “Stay Alert” memo didn’t catch the deer’s in the headlights.

The PM could have chose another avenue and another way of addressing the measures. He could have done a proper job and actually been coherent in-front of the public. A man who said “Brexit is Brexit” and no “if’s and but’s” clearly couldn’t manage to spell it out. Only create more uncertainty.

Like my favourite from yesterday:

So work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home” (Johnson, 10.05.2020).

It’s like saying,f please be fish in water, but if you can’t try to swim on land. Fish on land is usually dying. It is not like the government are giving water in bags like to Goldfishes. They are just sending the masses out blindly after months of uncertainty. While UK has the worst statistics in concern to COVID-19. They have beaten Italy, but only United States beat them now. That is because both governments are wacky and incompetent. The UK haven’t done their mission or sufficient

We have made fast progress on testing – but there is so much more to do now, and we can. When this began, we hadn’t seen this disease before, and we didn’t fully understand its effects” (Johnson, 10.05.2020).

Well, there wasn’t fast progress it was stagnated and lacked work on it. It has been revamped of late. However, the promises of the amount of testing has never really been met in time. Neither, the amount of PPE or other equipment. Your were self in trouble and in treatment when the state was lacking and lack-luster work on helping the NMS. So, we cannot blame you there. But, the government was warned and you skipped COBRA meetings with warnings in January. So, PM you could have done more, but you didn’t take it serious.

You do now, that your have been infected yourself and that’s fine. Well, I wish nobody to get this, but you should not brag about the work when it’s not true.

Because although we have a plan, it is a conditional plan” (Johnson, 10.05.2020).

Well, I know that the day after a page plan was released, but that is hours after this speech. The “Stay Alert”, the mixed messages to the press isn’t any good. The PM should have had streamlined the operation and information. That is why all the confusion.

They might had it in the bag yesterday, but the speech never proven it. The PM didn’t secure that… The UK and HM government now have to back-peddle and also ensure a coherent message coming across. That should be difficult for the ones governing. However, in London that is hectic, they neither talking directly to Northern Ireland, Scotland nor Wales.

London is calling. PM needs to be consistent. That should be expected, but in the midsts of the pandemic. Its maybe to much to ask. Peace.

United Kingdom: Leader of the Opposition Keir Stramer MP letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson (25.04.2020)

United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office – EU Ventilator Procurement Scheme (21.04.2020)

United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson letter to the Opposition Leaders (04.04.2020)

Brexit: European Commission – Statement by the European Commission following the first meeting of the EU-UK Joint Committee (30.03.2020)

United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson letter to every household urging them to stay home (28.03.2020)

Labour MPs letter to Prime Minster Boris Johnson – *COVID-19: Urgent UK action needed to save lives* (23.03.2020)

Brexit: EU’s mandate on negotiations shatters some Brexiteers dreams…

Today the European Commission (EC) of the European Union (EU) gave Michael Barnier a mandate to negotiate with the United Kingdom. As they are in the temporary state until the final break with the European Union, the transition period last until 31st December 2020. This means, this will last until 1st January 2021. That is the time table for this and the mandate giving today from the European Commission, which sets the standards for what to come.

The key things for me was these highlights, which really shows that the United Kingdom is really losing. There is nothing in the mandate, which gives the UK any edge. Only shows what the EU is considering important. While the UK will have to negotiate hard to get things better out of this. Especially considering they only have a taskforce within Downing Street Number 10. They don’t even have a unit fixing this anymore.

Just take a look!

ANNEX to COUNCIL DECISION authorising the opening of negotiations with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for a new partnership agreement” (25.02.2020)

reflect the United Kingdom’s status as a non-Schengen third country, and that a nonmember of the Union, that is not subject to the same obligations as a member, cannot have the same rights and enjoy the same benefits as a member” (EU, 25.02.2020).

Free Trade Area:

The envisaged partnership should include appropriate rules of origin based on the standard preferential rules of origin of the Union and taking into account the Union’s interest” (EU, 25.02.2020).

Road transport:

As third country operators, United Kingdom road haulage operators should not be granted the same level of rights and benefits as those enjoyed by Union road haulage operators in respect of road freight transport operations from one Union Member State to another (“grand cabotage”) and road freight transport operations within the territory of one Union Member State (“cabotage”)” (EU, 25.02.2020).

Fisheries:

Besides the cooperation on conservation, management and regulation, the objective of the provisions on fisheries should be to uphold Union fishing activities. In particular, it should aim to avoid economic dislocation for Union fishermen that have been engaged in fishing activities in the United Kingdom waters” (EU, 25.02.2020).

Gibraltar:

Any agreement between the Union and the United Kingdom negotiated on the basis of these negotiating directives will not include Gibraltar” (EU, 25.02.2020).

First things first. The EU shows a sign, which the UK haven’t understood or neglect to understand. It is that it will not have the benefits of the EU nor the previous membership as a nonmember, even if the politicians and Tories have acted like that since day one.

Secondly, the EU will work in its own interest, even with their paradigm Free-Trading Area, also making the cargo trade on the roads harder for British exporters from United Kingdom into the European Union. While also, trying to ensure the EU fishing boats access to UK seas. This is all clearly hitting the demands, but also the promises made from the Tories in the UK. They are not shielding the fisheries, they are making it harder for the exporters. Because, they cannot get the access and the mobility, which it has today.

Third, the EU has no concern about Gibraltar. That is really stuffing the faces of London, as they have promised Gibraltar safety and a secure future. However, this is the EU showing a shift in focus on this and putting a hard stance. As this has to be negotiated separately, by this mandates concern. This is surely done to please the Spanish in the EU.

However, what we are seeing, that the mandate isn’t that friendly, the direct approach sets the stakes and also doesn’t give way. As the EU needs to set the foot down and show there is a difference being on the outside, then being inside. Which is the wish of the UK. That is why it got to cost to become a nonmember. Peace.

Welsh MPs letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson – Re: Flooding Relief across South Wales (24.02.2020)

Opinion: Priti Patel is celebrating mediocrity

The Home Secretary Priti Patel yesterday (22.02.2020) launched the Blue Passport with the ‘Iconic blue passports return next month’. It is hard to see what there is to celebrate. Other than its an imported Polish passport, which has the colour blue. Like the colour gives the passport unique power.

It is like the United Kingdom is okay with mediocrity. Because of Brexit, they are okay with symbolism. They are okay with a colour scheme on a official travel document over the value it actually has. The UK are losing a lot with the withdrawal of the membership in the European Union. They are losing rights to reside, work and being part of customs unions for the trading of goods too.

Therefore, the whole idea of celebrating that with the temporary status and saying its a victory to get it blue. Is really naive, if not foolish, unless you want propaganda brownie points. Like its a big deal to change the colour of the passport.

The passport only has value as long as it opens up to visa and travelling opportunities. By the ranking of the Passport Index its at the 28h placed. It is also in the Power Rank of the 5th, meaning it is ranking behind plenty of states. This means the colour isn’t all that important.

The Home Secretary should look into why there are 27 passports ahead of the UK and why the citizens of the United Kingdom doesn’t have the ability for mobility like the ones above it. This is the key thing for this sort of thing.

If the Home Secretary doesn’t see that, she is either delusional or not configured her job. However this is how proud she was and it doesn’t make sense.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

Leaving the European Union gave us a unique opportunity to restore our national identity and forge a new path in the world. By returning to the iconic blue and gold design, the British passport will once again be entwined with our national identity and I cannot wait to travel on one” (UK, 22.02.2020).

What would be unique would be to enter new visa agreements and give an edge for the citizens mobility. So, that the Passport Index would be better. Like think about getting it up one Power Rank even.

The Home Secretary Patel seemingly more into symbolism, than actual significant change.

Roses are red,

Tories are blue,

and they screwed you”

Peace.