en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/5371521 Comments by Fernando_Hobbs https://www.conservativehome.com/highlights/2021/02/oborne-condemns-johnson-as-a-liar-and-cannot-understand-why-many-voters-believe-the-pm-is-telling-the-truth.html#IDComment1097342663 This is a period when the chances of a politician telling lies and not having this discovered, is less than almost any time previously. There are "fact checkers" and internet websites which almost instantly check and comment upon what a politician says. We had a good example of that this week with Starmer's gaffe about is never advocating our remaining in the EMA. Within a few minutes past speeches when he had said the opposite were being played by sites like Guido Fawkes. Voters IMO discount most of what politicians say and judge them by their actions and the results of their policies. Sat, 6 Feb 2021 22:21:51 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/highlights/2021/02/oborne-condemns-johnson-as-a-liar-and-cannot-understand-why-many-voters-believe-the-pm-is-telling-the-truth.html#IDComment1097342663 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/our-survey-johnsons-vaccine-bounce-three-in-five-party-members-believe-hes-handling-covid-well.html#IDComment1097155892 You are correct, Jonathan. "Scatter-brained" was a clumsy word to use. Sun, 31 Jan 2021 16:27:18 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/our-survey-johnsons-vaccine-bounce-three-in-five-party-members-believe-hes-handling-covid-well.html#IDComment1097155892 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/our-survey-johnsons-vaccine-bounce-three-in-five-party-members-believe-hes-handling-covid-well.html#IDComment1097154472 Jonathan, you rightly mentioned that the choice of Kate Bingham to lead the team procuring the vaccines was significant. She was not an obvious choice and reports directly to him. I've criticised Johnson in the past but I have to admit that he is good at choosing people. We are used to fluent leaders who attempt to master all aspects of policy. Johnson is not like that. He is scatter-brained, inventive and with an artistic temperment. This is one reason why he struggles under the forensic questioning of someone like Starmer. This ability to pick the right people is quite critical in a leader. Frost leading the Brexit negotiations was crucial in that area. In Truss and her team he has a good group looking for new trade opportunities. Sunak is the right person to head up the Treasury and he's a fluent defender of government policy. Sun, 31 Jan 2021 15:15:52 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/our-survey-johnsons-vaccine-bounce-three-in-five-party-members-believe-hes-handling-covid-well.html#IDComment1097154472 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/01/john-redwood-lets-hear-more-debate-about-how-the-church-of-england-enjoys-its-privileges.html#IDComment1097154002 The bishops always sit on the government benches,not the cross-benches, nor the opposition side. The political colour of the government is irrelevant. Almost all the bishops opposed the 1832 Reform Act. Indeed, with Peel in the Commons and Whig leader. Lord Grey, in the upper house, some of the most spirited debates were between Bishop Philpott of Exeter and the Whig leaders in the Lords. Since that date I think the Church has been wise not to commit itself to specific partisan policies and risk being on the wrong side of history. Sun, 31 Jan 2021 14:48:17 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/01/john-redwood-lets-hear-more-debate-about-how-the-church-of-england-enjoys-its-privileges.html#IDComment1097154002 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/01/alistair-lexden-the-conservatives-and-the-carlton-club-in-partnership-for-nearly-200-years.html#IDComment1097135093 A fascinating essay. It may be fortuitous that the records of the club's Political Committee for the nineteenth century are lost, else the covert payments and bribes, which no doubt happened, would have damaged our reputation even to the present day. The role of the club is more social than political today.You made a big point about the club raising £50,000 for the 1983 election, which was lauded as the club's return as a "strong political force" , but grateful though the party must have been, the sum was insignificant in the total spend in that election of over £4 million. Sat, 30 Jan 2021 19:50:04 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/01/alistair-lexden-the-conservatives-and-the-carlton-club-in-partnership-for-nearly-200-years.html#IDComment1097135093 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/as-the-treasury-digs-in-on-eat-out-to-help-out-its-critics-are-fighting-an-uphill-battle.html#IDComment1097131839 Not sure any country has achieved zero Covid. Even where the infections and deaths are low the virus springs up periodically. We are not remote like New Zealand or Australia. The authoritarian discipline of some eastern societies has no appeal. Our experience is not dissimilar to that of the rest of western Europe. The onus needs to be on those advocating lockdowns and curtailing our freedoms to show that this prevents our health system being overwhelmed. Demonstrably, that is the case now. It was not in July and August. Sat, 30 Jan 2021 16:46:55 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/as-the-treasury-digs-in-on-eat-out-to-help-out-its-critics-are-fighting-an-uphill-battle.html#IDComment1097131839 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/as-the-treasury-digs-in-on-eat-out-to-help-out-its-critics-are-fighting-an-uphill-battle.html#IDComment1097131480 Even if the Warwick university study is correct, is that a reason to close restaurants when cases are low and there is no pressure on the health system? A winter surge has happened in most of western Europe. We would not have escaped. Many businesses here in Cornwall are facing a desperate winter. The income they earned in the summer months is needed to tide them over the lean period. You need to factor in the economic impact of these severe lockdowns. We can't lockdown continually. Nor should we. IMO the onus is on those wishing to curtail our legitimate freedoms to show that it prevents the health system being overwhelmed. I have no problem with arguing that now. The situation in the Summer was entirely different. Sat, 30 Jan 2021 16:32:21 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/as-the-treasury-digs-in-on-eat-out-to-help-out-its-critics-are-fighting-an-uphill-battle.html#IDComment1097131480 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/as-the-treasury-digs-in-on-eat-out-to-help-out-its-critics-are-fighting-an-uphill-battle.html#IDComment1097131113 I agree with your last paragraph but I would rephrase it: I personally would not restrict the normal pleasures of life unless those pleasures had significant side effects when dealing with the pandemic as a whole. The significant side effects would be deaths of those vulnerable and infirm and the pressure on the health system. Those in the first category should be self-isolating and not going to restaurants. The pressure on the health system re-emerged in the Autumn. Why persist with a lockdown when it was not required. We have thousands of lorries coming in and out the country daily. We are a crowded island with congested terraces in most cities. The prospect of suppressing the virus permanently is untested and debatable in a society like ours. Why not enjoy yourself when the cases are low and the hospital wards not over-stretched. Sat, 30 Jan 2021 16:08:20 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/as-the-treasury-digs-in-on-eat-out-to-help-out-its-critics-are-fighting-an-uphill-battle.html#IDComment1097131113 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/as-the-treasury-digs-in-on-eat-out-to-help-out-its-critics-are-fighting-an-uphill-battle.html#IDComment1097129986 I thought the evidence of for a spike in infections related mainly to bars and pubs, which was why those venues where treated more harshly than restaurants at different stages in the restrictions relating to tiers The eat-out-to-help-out .scheme ran during August when cases were low. In many cases we could eat outside when the weather allowed. Cases started to rise to worrying levels during the autumn. You are assuming that the virus can be suppressed permanently and that the summer was a missed opportunity to eradicate it completely. I see little evidence that this was practical in a western European society. It declines and surges and mutates. Taking the opportunity to enjoys the normal pleasures of life when there is no risk of overwhelming the NHS seems quite reasonable and sensible. Sat, 30 Jan 2021 14:57:54 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/as-the-treasury-digs-in-on-eat-out-to-help-out-its-critics-are-fighting-an-uphill-battle.html#IDComment1097129986 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/as-the-treasury-digs-in-on-eat-out-to-help-out-its-critics-are-fighting-an-uphill-battle.html#IDComment1097129532 You don't give any evidence that EOtHO drove infections up. It isn't a "solid given." Given the decline in cases in the Summer the impact must have been marginal in the worst case. However, as the main aim of the lockdowns was to protect the NHS and avoid the hospitals being overwhelmed, did the opening of restaurants really matter as long as cases were low and hospitals functioning normally. There is no evidence that the virus can be eradicated in western European societies - it seems to reappear when the conditions are favourable - so the only salvation is herd immunity, either naturally or by mass vaccination. Denying ourselves the normal pleasures of life when the situation permits seems unduly masochistic. Sat, 30 Jan 2021 14:27:09 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/as-the-treasury-digs-in-on-eat-out-to-help-out-its-critics-are-fighting-an-uphill-battle.html#IDComment1097129532 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/01/david-gauke-the-uk-the-eu-vaccines-and-future-relations-here-jingoistic-politicians-there-trumpian-ones-bodes-badly.html#IDComment1097128879 Like David I supported and argued for Remaining in 2016. I would also have backed EEA membership or May's deal. However, I can see another sea-change in the public attitude to the EU. The first occurred in the financial crisis of 2007/8 when voters realised that having our own currency gave us the flexibility to manage interest rates and exchange rates denied to members of the eurozone. We recovered more quickly and created more jobs. That experience silenced calls for adoption of the euro.Even the Libdems accepted that it was a dead duck. The vaccine experience is a similar event. It was not just the speed with which we could act and place orders. Other lessons have been learned. The cost of the vaccines was miniscule compared with the economic damage being wrought by the lockdowns, so delays and haggles over price were an expensive irrelevance. The EMA took even longer than the FDA to approve vaccines and acted far slower than equivalent bodies in the UK. The UK also worked towards ensuring we developed the manufacturing capacity to produce the vaccines. The EU Commission seemed unaware that producing vaccines was risky and time-consuming. The prospect of our rejoining the EU is a dead duck now, David. Sat, 30 Jan 2021 13:53:15 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/01/david-gauke-the-uk-the-eu-vaccines-and-future-relations-here-jingoistic-politicians-there-trumpian-ones-bodes-badly.html#IDComment1097128879 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/01/iain-dale-johnson-can-say-all-the-right-words-but-not-in-a-way-the-public-related-to-as-blair-and-cameron-could.html#IDComment1097095194 I agree with much of what you say. Our covid experience has not been that dissimilar to nearby countries like Belgium, France, Spain and Italy. Not that this is any source of comfort. There are a number of issues which need to be addressed in the future. Do we need more hospital beds, as the number has been falling? Are vast hospitals a liability with highly infectious viruses and should we have smaller, more numerous sites? Also, should we be investing more in virus research and virus manufacturing capacity? Fri, 29 Jan 2021 13:05:55 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/01/iain-dale-johnson-can-say-all-the-right-words-but-not-in-a-way-the-public-related-to-as-blair-and-cameron-could.html#IDComment1097095194 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/01/iain-dale-johnson-can-say-all-the-right-words-but-not-in-a-way-the-public-related-to-as-blair-and-cameron-could.html#IDComment1097094753 It is hardly right to laud Cameron and Blair for their ability to find the most persuasive words when Cameron put himself in front of the Remain cause in the Brexit referendum and lost the vote. Blair's honeyed words could not carry the 'dodgy dossier' and the reasons for the Iraq invasion. It is actions not words that people notice. Blair's early years were blessed with a relatively benign economic legacy and increased spending on public services. Cameron's government bounced back from the 2007/8 financial crisis better than most of Europe and he reaped the benefit in the 2015 election. Johnson has delivered Brexit, which nearly half the country still regrets. Our sufferings during the pandemic have been no better and in many respects worse than other similar countries. However, these are early days. Growth may take off after Brexit. He may be praised for the vaccine role out. By 2024 we may be talking about his foresight and concentration on the key issues. Fri, 29 Jan 2021 12:47:51 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/01/iain-dale-johnson-can-say-all-the-right-words-but-not-in-a-way-the-public-related-to-as-blair-and-cameron-could.html#IDComment1097094753 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/01/richard-ekins-how-to-reform-our-supreme-court.html#IDComment1096954693 Judicial activism is also highly contentious and can make differences more bitter. It would be far better for reform of the abortion laws to happen as a result of decision by elected representatives at state or federal level, rather than be decided by the judges. Sun, 24 Jan 2021 16:14:57 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/01/richard-ekins-how-to-reform-our-supreme-court.html#IDComment1096954693 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2021/01/watch-it-is-very-disappointing-to-see-talk-of-constitutional-politics-during-a-time-of-national-crisis-says-foster.html#IDComment1096954584 No doubt, they expected to lose. Sun, 24 Jan 2021 16:06:10 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2021/01/watch-it-is-very-disappointing-to-see-talk-of-constitutional-politics-during-a-time-of-national-crisis-says-foster.html#IDComment1096954584 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2021/01/watch-it-is-very-disappointing-to-see-talk-of-constitutional-politics-during-a-time-of-national-crisis-says-foster.html#IDComment1096954472 What would change as a result of referendum? Whatever the outcome the Belfast Agreement (GFA) would still exist. Citizens in NI could chose Irish or British citizenship or both. Stormont would still exist as would the powers that it has The British/Irish council would still exist Irish citizens could, as now, serve in our armed forces. NI would cease to send MPs to Westminster and pay any taxes to Dublin. Sun, 24 Jan 2021 15:56:56 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2021/01/watch-it-is-very-disappointing-to-see-talk-of-constitutional-politics-during-a-time-of-national-crisis-says-foster.html#IDComment1096954472 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/01/the-covid-paradox-for-johnson-the-nearer-to-normality-we-get-the-more-difficulties-hell-have.html#IDComment1096747666 David is too superficial and too short-term when listing Johnson's future challenges. The NHS has been shown to be inadequate to the Covid crisis and needs urgent re-organisation and increased funding. Crucial will not be the politician put in charge but the team assembled to devise the changes and then implement them. SAGE needs to be revamped and its remit extended. Lives need to be saved but the cost, upheaval and disruption inflicted on the economy, education of the young and basic freedoms is out of all proportion to the 100k of lives saved. There has to be a better way and this needs to be considered urgently, as 'experts' like Witty are already talking about lockdowns next year. I'm not gloomy about Johnson meeting the challenge. A good feature is his willingness to pick people who can do the heavy lifting he is unable to undertake himself. The choice of Lord Frost to negotiate the trade agreement is a good example. Truss seems to have assembled a good team around herself. The Treasury is always strong and Sunak is fluent in explaining his policies. There are significant gaps, however, notably health as already mentioned but also education where Williamson is a complete lightweight. Sat, 16 Jan 2021 22:38:21 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/01/the-covid-paradox-for-johnson-the-nearer-to-normality-we-get-the-more-difficulties-hell-have.html#IDComment1096747666 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2020/12/watch-may-i-will-take-no-lectures-on-the-deal-from-starmer-who-failed-to-vote-for-her-alternative.html#IDComment1096288348 May's intervention is a timely reminder of Starmer's bad judgement. By thinking he could reverse the 2016 referendum result he not only paralysed the Labour Party response to Brexit and antagonised the voters in the old "red wall" seats, but he forfeited the opportunity to keep us in the single market by accepting her deal or even EEA membership. His misjudgment is compounded because his support would have probably split our party and delivered electoral benefits to Labour. He is a much over-rated politician and his defects become ever more obvious. Wed, 30 Dec 2020 14:00:09 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2020/12/watch-may-i-will-take-no-lectures-on-the-deal-from-starmer-who-failed-to-vote-for-her-alternative.html#IDComment1096288348 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/12/speech-of-the-year-kemi-badenoch-on-critical-race-theory.html#IDComment1096263635 I have no idea of the situation in America but this division of society into black victims and white oppressors is completely out of date over here. One of my grandchildren has a British and Kenyan heritage. On what side is he supposed to identify. The young should be helped to develop their characters and taught to aspire; not be held down by stories of oppression. My grandson will be taught that if he meets prejudice that is only the ignorance of one person and that the vast majority in this country are fair-mined and on his side. Tue, 29 Dec 2020 14:57:11 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/12/speech-of-the-year-kemi-badenoch-on-critical-race-theory.html#IDComment1096263635 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2020/11/alistair-burt-global-britain-can-also-be-european-britain.html#IDComment1095202262 Sam, your reply merely strengthens my case. If Corbyn was so dire it should have opened the way for the Libdems, who were brandishing their pro-EU credentials as if they thought it a vote winner. They had good precedents: an unpopular government was defeated in 2010 but the Libdems won 23% of the vote, over 50 seats and emerged as the power-brokers. They did well in the euro elections when few bother to vote. They had won over highly-regarded defectors from Labour and the Conservatives. But, as I pointed out, they got nowhere. Re-joining the EU was not a vote winner then and it is not now. Wed, 11 Nov 2020 15:36:17 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2020/11/alistair-burt-global-britain-can-also-be-european-britain.html#IDComment1095202262