📣@Ianblackford_MP at #PMQs: "Last night, the Prime Minister claimed 'we truly did everything we could' to avoid the deaths of 100,000 people across the UK from COVID-19.
But we all know that’s simply not true."
A thread on the UK government's serial dither, delay and failure👇
But we all know that’s simply not true."
A thread on the UK government's serial dither, delay and failure👇
❌ 100,000+ deaths
❌ Highest total deaths in Europe
❌ Higher per-million death rate than anywhere in the world
❌ Scientists said the UK government is responsible for “legacy of poor decisions”
This isn't political point-scoring - it's about holding Boris Johnson to account.
❌ Highest total deaths in Europe
❌ Higher per-million death rate than anywhere in the world
❌ Scientists said the UK government is responsible for “legacy of poor decisions”
This isn't political point-scoring - it's about holding Boris Johnson to account.
From the start, the UK government has been too slow, too late and too indecisive with its COVID response.
This caused the tragedy of unnecessary deaths that could have been avoided with better leadership and a better strategy.
Here's a brief timeline 👇
This caused the tragedy of unnecessary deaths that could have been avoided with better leadership and a better strategy.
Here's a brief timeline 👇
🗓️8 March 2020:
As Italy was locking down to suppress COVID-19, UK government sources were briefing the media saying the Italian approach was based on “populist, non-science based measures that aren’t any use".
As Italy was locking down to suppress COVID-19, UK government sources were briefing the media saying the Italian approach was based on “populist, non-science based measures that aren’t any use".
🗓️March 2020:
Boris Johnson boasts of "shaking hands with everybody" in a hospital COVID ward and plays down the seriousness of the virus.
Boris Johnson boasts of "shaking hands with everybody" in a hospital COVID ward and plays down the seriousness of the virus.
🗓️March 2020:
As hundreds of COVID cases were already detected in the UK, and Italy was locking down, the UK government's health advice was limited to "washing hands to the national anthem".
As hundreds of COVID cases were already detected in the UK, and Italy was locking down, the UK government's health advice was limited to "washing hands to the national anthem".
🗓️23 March 2020:
Following days of pressure, Boris Johnson announces the first national lockdown - but according to scientists, announcing it a week earlier could have halved COVID deaths.
reuters.com/article/health…
Following days of pressure, Boris Johnson announces the first national lockdown - but according to scientists, announcing it a week earlier could have halved COVID deaths.
reuters.com/article/health…
🗓️April 2020:
UK government ministers had "underestimated the threat of importing the virus from Europe as opposed to Asia" by failing to implement border measures.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politi…
UK government ministers had "underestimated the threat of importing the virus from Europe as opposed to Asia" by failing to implement border measures.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politi…
🗓️8 July 2020:
Rishi Sunak announces the "Eat Out To Help Out" scheme, encouraging people to flock to restaurants, bars and pubs.
Research later found the scheme contributed to around a 10% rise in COVID cases.
warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/econom…
Rishi Sunak announces the "Eat Out To Help Out" scheme, encouraging people to flock to restaurants, bars and pubs.
Research later found the scheme contributed to around a 10% rise in COVID cases.
warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/econom…
🗓️August 2020:
Rishi Sunak urges people to go back to offices, and UK government sources brief newspapers that people should "go back to work or risk losing their job".
telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/2…
Rishi Sunak urges people to go back to offices, and UK government sources brief newspapers that people should "go back to work or risk losing their job".
telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/2…
🗓️21 September 2020:
COVID infections are on the rise, and SAGE urges Boris Johnson to impose a short "circuit break" lockdown.
Boris Johnson rejects the advice - directly going against 'the science' and causing a further, sharper COVID spike.
metro.co.uk/2020/10/14/bor…
COVID infections are on the rise, and SAGE urges Boris Johnson to impose a short "circuit break" lockdown.
Boris Johnson rejects the advice - directly going against 'the science' and causing a further, sharper COVID spike.
metro.co.uk/2020/10/14/bor…
🗓️12 October 2020:
Over 3 weeks after ignoring SAGE advice, Boris Johnson implements the 'tiers' system - which falls short of what most experts call for.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-544999…
Over 3 weeks after ignoring SAGE advice, Boris Johnson implements the 'tiers' system - which falls short of what most experts call for.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-544999…
🗓️31 October 2020:
Six weeks after SAGE advice for a "circuit breaker", with the virus spiralling out of control, Boris Johnson announces a month-long lockdown.
theguardian.com/world/live/202…
Six weeks after SAGE advice for a "circuit breaker", with the virus spiralling out of control, Boris Johnson announces a month-long lockdown.
theguardian.com/world/live/202…
The list goes on and on and on...
In between and throughout, the UK government's COVID response has been laced with inaction, dithering, lack of leadership - and Tory cronyism thrown into the mix.
Read the damning exposé from the NYT here 👇
nytimes.com/interactive/20…
In between and throughout, the UK government's COVID response has been laced with inaction, dithering, lack of leadership - and Tory cronyism thrown into the mix.
Read the damning exposé from the NYT here 👇
nytimes.com/interactive/20…
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