Thread by @mdbuckley

Grant Shapps this morning on @BBCr4today said the 'UK is testing more people than any country other than China & Italy'. It isn't true. We're not testing anywhere near the numbers of other countries. Even NHS staff can't get tested. If they're going to lie what chance do we have.

In the same interview he said that testing kits aren't available in the UK - undermining his own argument. And NHS staff are making a noise about the fact that even they can't get tested - endangering more lives (see link below at 9.49am).

theguardian.com/world/live/202…

The Govt is currently failing in its response as compared to other countries, and lives are at stake. If they add blatant untruth into the mix - which I realise after Brexit may have become a habit - then we're in real trouble.

Contrast this with the reasoned, well intentioned and thoughtful responses from supermarket staff, manufacturers, NHS staff, bankers and more on the same programme. We have a governance problem, and it is being highlighted at the most awful time.

Meanwhile scientists and medical experts are urging the Govt to test more people, in line with WHO guidelines.

The Govt needs to act on testing - not pretend that we're 'ahead of the curve', to use Shapps' phrase, when we're clearly far, far behind.

ft.com/content/6c5fad…

Also on this - a frontline NHS doctor has had to resort to *starting a petition* to get NHS staff tested for #COVID19. This is in itself appalling - but to have Shapps pretend on national radio that we're testing heroes is no more than propaganda.

change.org/p/the-nhs-test…

It feels ludicrous that we have to sign a petition to get our own healthcare staff tested for a global pandemic that other countries are throwing the kitchen sink at, but what the hell, sign the petition:

change.org/p/the-nhs-test…