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Preparing to do the @TimesRadio paper review at 10.30am, and working my way through Boris Johnson's back catalogue of over-promises on coronavirus. It's crazy. The PM is pathologically addicted to making big stupid promises he can't keep.
March 2020 - We can "turn the tide" in 12 weeks. Well, it's Christmas, we're in lockdown, and there are hundreds of people dying every day https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-uk-can-turn-tide-in-next-12-weeks-boris-johnson-says-11960443
May 2020 - We'll have a "world-beating" test and trace system up and running by the end of the month. (It was not world-beating, and it was not up and running by the end of the month.) https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-world-beating-track-and-trace-system-ready-for-schools-to-reopen-pm-promises-11991606
July 2020 - We'll be "back to normality" by Christmas. Yeah, right https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/17/boris-johnson-unveils-next-steps-in-englands-coronavirus-response
Also July 2020 - We won;t need another national lockdown. (We did, indeed, need another national lockdown) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/07/18/boris-johnson-exclusive-interview-will-not-need-another-national/
October 2020 - Says another national lockdown would be a "disaster", and mocks Keir Starmer at PMQs for suggesting one. (Two weeks later later, announces another national lockdown.) https://www.itv.com/news/2020-10-14/pmqs-boris-johnson-and-keir-starmer-do-battle-as-calls-for-circuit-break-lockdown-intensify
December 2020 - Says it would be "inhuman" to cancel Christmas at the last minute, and mocks Keir Starmer at PMQs for suggesting it. (Four days later, he cancels Christmas.) https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2020/dec/16/boris-johnson-it-would-be-inhuman-to-cancel-christmas-video
I think most people get that it's a fast-moving situation, and policies have to evolve rapidly to meet the circumstances. So why keep on making these big, stupid promises you can't keep? It honestly makes no sense.
