en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/24294104 Comments by NorthernTory2 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/garvan-walshe-we-can-be-sure-that-those-who-have-been-vaccinated-wont-die-of-covid-so-the-case-for-lockdowns-is-vanishing-fast.html#IDComment1097656485 If only that were true. Most of the time it would appear that SAGE are dictating Policy to our Govt and whenever the Govt chooses to prioritise something that SAGE disagrees with - the members of SAGE are very quick to get themselves in front of the media to complain. But they are also very reluctant to have any accountability themselves for any of their policies Thu, 18 Feb 2021 12:33:46 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/garvan-walshe-we-can-be-sure-that-those-who-have-been-vaccinated-wont-die-of-covid-so-the-case-for-lockdowns-is-vanishing-fast.html#IDComment1097656485 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/garvan-walshe-we-can-be-sure-that-those-who-have-been-vaccinated-wont-die-of-covid-so-the-case-for-lockdowns-is-vanishing-fast.html#IDComment1097654984 Totally agree. And given that our own death "stats" are not really recording Covid deaths - but are recording people who died who also happened to have tested positive for Covid within 28 days - the true mortality rate for Covid is obscured. Thu, 18 Feb 2021 11:24:41 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/garvan-walshe-we-can-be-sure-that-those-who-have-been-vaccinated-wont-die-of-covid-so-the-case-for-lockdowns-is-vanishing-fast.html#IDComment1097654984 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/garvan-walshe-we-can-be-sure-that-those-who-have-been-vaccinated-wont-die-of-covid-so-the-case-for-lockdowns-is-vanishing-fast.html#IDComment1097654946 The case for lockdown is vanishing - but those SAGE people will not cede control lightly. We have created a monster that enjoys the power and control and is not going to go away merely because of some unhelpful facts. Not when they have a data model that can pretty much throw up any picture they want... Thu, 18 Feb 2021 11:21:32 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/garvan-walshe-we-can-be-sure-that-those-who-have-been-vaccinated-wont-die-of-covid-so-the-case-for-lockdowns-is-vanishing-fast.html#IDComment1097654946 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/frosts-appointment-chills-the-temperature-for-the-eu.html#IDComment1097653781 Great appointment. We need to stop being so pathetic with the EU. Thu, 18 Feb 2021 10:28:51 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/frosts-appointment-chills-the-temperature-for-the-eu.html#IDComment1097653781 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/frosts-appointment-chills-the-temperature-for-the-eu.html#IDComment1097653742 Agreed ! Thu, 18 Feb 2021 10:28:22 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/frosts-appointment-chills-the-temperature-for-the-eu.html#IDComment1097653742 https://www.conservativehome.com/public-appointments/2021/02/calling-conservatives-new-public-appointments-announced-non-executive-director-of-hs2-ltd-and-more.html#IDComment1097653710 HS2 Non Exec - truly - one for the lovers of Gravy Trains.... Thu, 18 Feb 2021 10:27:19 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/public-appointments/2021/02/calling-conservatives-new-public-appointments-announced-non-executive-director-of-hs2-ltd-and-more.html#IDComment1097653710 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/conservative-mps-on-when-lockdown-should-end-we-should-start-on-march-8.html#IDComment1097529900 March 8 would be great. But I fear the pro-Lockdowners in SAGE will be moving goalposts again. The Christmas lockdown was all about not seeing the NHS (bless them) overwhelmed. Vaccines rolling out, vulnerable prioritised, hospitals getting emptier. But it won't be good enough. You can hear the subtle shifting of agendas even now. Sat, 13 Feb 2021 07:53:37 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/conservative-mps-on-when-lockdown-should-end-we-should-start-on-march-8.html#IDComment1097529900 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/kevin-hollinrake-time-for-an-honest-conversation-about-taxation-here-are-seven-practical-reforms.html#IDComment1097480705 All very sensible. Business rates have been outdated for some time given the advent of online commerce. Its sad that it has taken the pandemic to actually generate any kind of focus on such an anachronism. Even now its still just lots of humming and hahing and "possible" and "consideration of options". They need to actually act now. Thu, 11 Feb 2021 14:30:30 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/kevin-hollinrake-time-for-an-honest-conversation-about-taxation-here-are-seven-practical-reforms.html#IDComment1097480705 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/the-great-reset-of-property.html#IDComment1097475705 Proper investment in the North and the regions should be done because its what the Country needs. Sticking a bunch of lefty civil servants in Manchester is hardly going to move the swing-o-meter. But the economic benefits and the sight of our Party actually delivering hard action on the back of plenty of hot air might just result in the loan of the red wall votes being extended further.... Thu, 11 Feb 2021 09:50:38 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/the-great-reset-of-property.html#IDComment1097475705 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/the-great-reset-of-property.html#IDComment1097475657 Ah yes the brain drain argument. That is exactly the excuse the BBC made. So "levelling Up" is actually about re-distributing some crumbs of varying sizes.....not really "Levelling Up" which was meant to see genuine economic and public administration investment to challenge the agglomerative effects of what London had become. A never ending self fulfilling prophecy of "only invest in London because the returns / side effects of investing elsewhere are not as attractive as following the norm". On this basis nothing will change. Thu, 11 Feb 2021 09:47:32 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/the-great-reset-of-property.html#IDComment1097475657 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/the-great-reset-of-property.html#IDComment1097475453 You are so right ! Thu, 11 Feb 2021 09:31:44 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/the-great-reset-of-property.html#IDComment1097475453 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/the-great-reset-of-property.html#IDComment1097475441 Spot on. Thu, 11 Feb 2021 09:31:09 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/the-great-reset-of-property.html#IDComment1097475441 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/the-great-reset-of-property.html#IDComment1097474123 Moving Whitehall into the regions would be a very good step. Sadly all that ever happens is that it is talked about and nothing really gets enacted bar the odd minor sub-team being shuffled or merged within the regions from place to another. Wholesale major relocation is what is required and it needs senior Civil Servants (I can hear them gasping now) to be part of that move. I recall chatting to someone who knew Sir Howard Bernstein well who told me that when Manchester was pitching for the BBC against Salford - the BBC were making all sorts of outrageous demands of the developers. Sir Howard accepted them all but asked in return for the names of all of the Heads for those Departments that were being relocated and insisted that they and their families moved permanently to commuting distance of Manchester. Mark Thompson at the Beeb baulked at this. As they left the BBC Sir Howard told his team to stop the effort to land them. "Its not worth it as its merely window dressing and back office people. All the creativity and decision making is staying in London. You won't create a new media revolution in Manchester off the back of that" A wise man. So if they ever do finally actually get around to moving some civil servants - look carefully at the detail and not just the headline numbers..... Thu, 11 Feb 2021 08:11:46 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/the-great-reset-of-property.html#IDComment1097474123 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/obrien-and-his-critics-covid-sceptics-covid-believers-covid-deniers-cool-it.html#IDComment1097307499 +1 Fri, 5 Feb 2021 17:16:40 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/obrien-and-his-critics-covid-sceptics-covid-believers-covid-deniers-cool-it.html#IDComment1097307499 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/instead-of-the-eus-vaccine-nationalism-lets-have-uk-vaccine-internationalism.html#IDComment1097179602 Nice one Tony !! Mon, 1 Feb 2021 13:08:12 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/instead-of-the-eus-vaccine-nationalism-lets-have-uk-vaccine-internationalism.html#IDComment1097179602 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/instead-of-the-eus-vaccine-nationalism-lets-have-uk-vaccine-internationalism.html#IDComment1097179579 Spot on. I could not agree more !! Mon, 1 Feb 2021 13:07:22 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/instead-of-the-eus-vaccine-nationalism-lets-have-uk-vaccine-internationalism.html#IDComment1097179579 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/richard-holden-here-in-county-durham-my-sense-is-that-moderate-remainers-are-now-saying-im-glad-were-out.html#IDComment1097179568 Totally agree ! Mon, 1 Feb 2021 13:06:27 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/richard-holden-here-in-county-durham-my-sense-is-that-moderate-remainers-are-now-saying-im-glad-were-out.html#IDComment1097179568 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/richard-holden-here-in-county-durham-my-sense-is-that-moderate-remainers-are-now-saying-im-glad-were-out.html#IDComment1097174480 The problem Labour have is that they wanted to pretend that their issue was entirely Jeremy Corbyn. It wasn't but that narrative suited Keir Starmer as the true architect of Labour's 2nd Ref policy. It was the position they took on Brexit and continue to take over issues like identity politics and welfare that turn off traditional socially conservative Labour voters. They are not the Party of the north any longer and they haven't been the defender of workers for some considerable period. They are the Party of the trendy media Islington set. That being said our position in the hearts of northern voters is a long way from being set in concrete. Mon, 1 Feb 2021 08:57:47 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/richard-holden-here-in-county-durham-my-sense-is-that-moderate-remainers-are-now-saying-im-glad-were-out.html#IDComment1097174480 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2021/01/watch-pmqs-i-and-the-government-take-full-responsibility-for-all-the-actions-during-the-pandemic-says-johnson.html#IDComment1097132757 I won't be nostalgic about its disappearance (if we ever get that). I pay my eye watering 2 lots of Corporation tax and income tax that fund this broken model and then out of that net income pay for my private healthcare and private GP (not to mention my private school fees) so there will be no misty eyed nostalgia from me. Sat, 30 Jan 2021 17:44:20 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2021/01/watch-pmqs-i-and-the-government-take-full-responsibility-for-all-the-actions-during-the-pandemic-says-johnson.html#IDComment1097132757 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#IDComment1097122651 As always Gauke the Con Home correspondent for the LibDems is (like all EU fanatics) happy to play down, ignore and act as an apologist for any EU hostility and hypocrisy. There is nothing the EU does that they cannot explain away. I always maintained that the first entity to try and erect a Border in Ireland would be the EU becuase they do not care one iota for the Good Friday Agreement - they care about themselves. They do not seek to act as a force for good in the world on vaccines they adopt a strong policy of vaccine nationalism. We should be generous with vaccines. To Countries that need that generosity, not to an actively hostile bloc that is in a mess because of its own arrogance and hubris and that has spent 4 years directing bile and antagonism in our direction. As ye sow so shall ye reap. Sat, 30 Jan 2021 08:14:30 +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#IDComment1097122651