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Part 2 of #TheWeekInTory (Wed to Sun)
1. The actual Paymaster General suggested we spend the International Aid budget on a new yacht for the Queen
2. And the actual Foreign Secretary said “taking the knee” was an act of subjugation, and was taken from Game Of Thrones
1. The actual Paymaster General suggested we spend the International Aid budget on a new yacht for the Queen
2. And the actual Foreign Secretary said “taking the knee” was an act of subjugation, and was taken from Game Of Thrones
3. And then actual Health Minister was filmed breaking social distancing rules in Parliament
4. And then the actual Care Minister said student nurses didn’t need financial aid as they volunteered to fight Covid 19 as they “are not deemed to be providing a service”
4. And then the actual Care Minister said student nurses didn’t need financial aid as they volunteered to fight Covid 19 as they “are not deemed to be providing a service”
5. And then the actual Culture Secretary said theatres could reopen if we had musicals in which nobody was allowed to sing
6. Sub-thread of quotes from anonymous Tory MPs and Ministers this week:
6. Sub-thread of quotes from anonymous Tory MPs and Ministers this week:
a. “If we were in normal times you would be hearing talk by now about removing the prime minister. It is that bad”
b. “Boris may have to go”
c. “It’s all gone for a ball of chalk”
d. Gavin Williamson deserves to be sacked and the No 10 operation is “totally dysfunctional”
b. “Boris may have to go”
c. “It’s all gone for a ball of chalk”
d. Gavin Williamson deserves to be sacked and the No 10 operation is “totally dysfunctional”
e. “There’s a feeling the basic level of competence isn’t there in No 10”
f. “Cummings is the only thing they’ve actually dug in over. Everyone and everything else is expendable”
g. “Boris and Cummings are great at campaigning but rubbish at governing”
f. “Cummings is the only thing they’ve actually dug in over. Everyone and everything else is expendable”
g. “Boris and Cummings are great at campaigning but rubbish at governing”
h. “[Boris] is not a politician, he’s a brand, and one day he’ll just walk. He’ll just get up one morning and take the brand somewhere else”
i. “Public will conclude [will] that we are a useless shower of incompetents who were asleep at the wheel”
i. “Public will conclude [will] that we are a useless shower of incompetents who were asleep at the wheel”
j. The cabinet are “nodding dogs”
k. “No one seriously thinks that this cabinet is the first 11”
l. Boris Johnson’s absence due to illness made “To be honest, not much [difference]”
And now onto App news...
k. “No one seriously thinks that this cabinet is the first 11”
l. Boris Johnson’s absence due to illness made “To be honest, not much [difference]”
And now onto App news...
7. In March the WHO recommended all countries launch a Track and Trace app
8. Apple and Google developed one and made it freely available to any country. Dozens of countries use it without any issues
9. But the UK decided to build its own “world beating system”
8. Apple and Google developed one and made it freely available to any country. Dozens of countries use it without any issues
9. But the UK decided to build its own “world beating system”
10. Apple and Google said the UK’s approach was impossible
11. 300 app and technology experts condemned the UK plans
12. But the govt ignored that, put the wife of a Tory MP in charge and gave her £11m, almost 3x the average budget for any Track and Trace app worldwide
11. 300 app and technology experts condemned the UK plans
12. But the govt ignored that, put the wife of a Tory MP in charge and gave her £11m, almost 3x the average budget for any Track and Trace app worldwide
13. The UK app planned to collect your data, which could be sold to any private business for 20 years
14. The govt promised the App by mid-April
15. Then the govt promised it by Jun 1
16. Then the govt promised it by Sept
17. Then the govt promised it “for the winter”
14. The govt promised the App by mid-April
15. Then the govt promised it by Jun 1
16. Then the govt promised it by Sept
17. Then the govt promised it “for the winter”
18. Then it was revealed the govt had asked Apple for access to their proprietary code, to which Apple said no, because the app breached international privacy laws
19. Then the WHO said lock-down measures should not be relaxed until Track and Trace were in place
19. Then the WHO said lock-down measures should not be relaxed until Track and Trace were in place
20. But the UK govt replied that manual track and trace would work fine
21. And then it was revealed the UK's manual track and trace service missed between 30% and 80% of contacts
21. And then it was revealed the UK's manual track and trace service missed between 30% and 80% of contacts
22. After a trial of the App, a report showed it worked just 4% of the time on Apple devices and missed 25% of connections on Android
23. And then, finally, the govt announced it was abandoning its “world beating system”
23. And then, finally, the govt announced it was abandoning its “world beating system”
24. Matt Hancock said he had long been aware of “technical blocks” in the UK app
25. Then Matt Hancock said we had long been working on both Apps, but didn’t explain why we only tested the one he "knew wouldn’t work" on the Isle of White
25. Then Matt Hancock said we had long been working on both Apps, but didn’t explain why we only tested the one he "knew wouldn’t work" on the Isle of White
26. Matt Hancock said he would now create a “hybrid system”, and had spoken to Apple about it
27. Apple and Google said nobody had spoken to them, and it was still impossible
28. It was reported the UK app developers had tried to block rival apps, and called them “the enemy”
27. Apple and Google said nobody had spoken to them, and it was still impossible
28. It was reported the UK app developers had tried to block rival apps, and called them “the enemy”
29. It was reported the scripts given to manual contract tracers didn't even match the app
30. MIT Technology Review described the UK’s contact tracing and app development as a "fiasco" and “a masterclass in mismanagement”
30. MIT Technology Review described the UK’s contact tracing and app development as a "fiasco" and “a masterclass in mismanagement”
32. The Welsh govt released a report saying systemic racism is amongst the reasons BAME people have a higher Covid death-toll
33. The UK govt continues to refuse to release its own report, or implement more than 600 recommendations from previous reports into systemic racism
33. The UK govt continues to refuse to release its own report, or implement more than 600 recommendations from previous reports into systemic racism
34. It was reported the govt strategy on BlackLivesMatter is to “declare a war on 'woke'”
35. It was reported Boris Johnson wanted Chris Grayling on the Intelligence Committee. I've checked. There's only one Chris Grayling, so they must mean him.
35. It was reported Boris Johnson wanted Chris Grayling on the Intelligence Committee. I've checked. There's only one Chris Grayling, so they must mean him.
36. MPs condemned an “utterly reprehensible” delay in releasing the Russia Electoral Interference Report
37. Dominic Raab said he hadn’t read it, but he knew it exonerated the govt
38. Nobody had formally accused the govt of anything that needed exoneration
37. Dominic Raab said he hadn’t read it, but he knew it exonerated the govt
38. Nobody had formally accused the govt of anything that needed exoneration
39. A report showed 26,000 patients were released from hospital into care homes without testing, leading to at least 16,000 deaths from Covid19
40. The govt defended this by saying it “wasn’t illegal” to negligently spread a pandemic in care homes
40. The govt defended this by saying it “wasn’t illegal” to negligently spread a pandemic in care homes
41. WHO reported a record 24-hour increase in Covid19 cases
42. German reported the R-level increased from 1 to 1.8
43. The largest ever study found cutting social distancing 1m doubled the rate of infection
44. The UK continues to press for relaxation of social distancing
42. German reported the R-level increased from 1 to 1.8
43. The largest ever study found cutting social distancing 1m doubled the rate of infection
44. The UK continues to press for relaxation of social distancing
45. After one of last week's best u-turns, free school meal vouchers are to be distributed for poor children
46. But they can’t be spent at Aldi, Lidl or Co-Op, the 3 cheapest supermarkets, so they don’t offer good benefits to poorer families
46. But they can’t be spent at Aldi, Lidl or Co-Op, the 3 cheapest supermarkets, so they don’t offer good benefits to poorer families
47. In May 2019 the UK declared a "Climate Emergency" and said we must reduce travel and trade closer to home
48. In June 2020 the UK announced it would stop negotiating deals with the country next-door, and trade with Australia and New Zealand instead
48. In June 2020 the UK announced it would stop negotiating deals with the country next-door, and trade with Australia and New Zealand instead
49. So Boris Johnson announced a great new trade deal with New Zealand
50. Immediately afterwards the govt issued a statement saying it will have “close to zero” benefit to the UK
51. Michael Gove said border controls Boris Johnson agreed “should not be implemented”
50. Immediately afterwards the govt issued a statement saying it will have “close to zero” benefit to the UK
51. Michael Gove said border controls Boris Johnson agreed “should not be implemented”
52. It was reported Boris Johnson signed the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement without having read it, or understanding what it meant
53. Boris Johnson said Brexit discussions would go “to the wire” of the December deadline
53. Boris Johnson said Brexit discussions would go “to the wire” of the December deadline
54. The next day Boris Johnson said there was “No sense” dragging trade talks on beyond the summer
55. Boris Johnson claimed in Parliament that child poverty had fallen and “400,000 fewer families living in poverty now than there were in 2010”
55. Boris Johnson claimed in Parliament that child poverty had fallen and “400,000 fewer families living in poverty now than there were in 2010”
56. In fact there are at least 800,000 more families in poverty, a rise of 38%
57. Boris Johnson’s car was in an actual car-crash in Downing Street. Metaphor.
58. And that's edited highlights. I genuinely had to remove half a dozen things cos I reached the thread limit.
57. Boris Johnson’s car was in an actual car-crash in Downing Street. Metaphor.
58. And that's edited highlights. I genuinely had to remove half a dozen things cos I reached the thread limit.
If you think this thread shows the govt can't cope, please sign this petition to extend the transition period and give us a chance to get Brexit right.
Doesn't matter if you wanted to Leave or Remain: we still have to do it right. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300412
Doesn't matter if you wanted to Leave or Remain: we still have to do it right. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300412
