This point was emphasised multiple times in today's press conference. It's an extremely bad road for the government to go down. They're saying it to ensure people keep following the rules; but the way they're starting to talk abt jabs undermines the miracle we're pulling off! 1/
Nobody thought we'd get vaccines that are 100% effective. That we have multiple jabs estimated to have over 90% efficacy (and evidence so far suggesting nearly 100% effective at preventing hospitalisation and death) is truly miraculous. 2/
It's important to explain to people what their level of jab protection is - but the answer, so far, is very good! Yet today vaccine efficacy was discussed like it should worry us, or was somehow disappointing. It's not hard to imagine the countless ways this could backfire. 3/
If they're worried abt compliance as more people get protected, level with the public: we're being *extremely* cautious, we want more real-world data re transmission, we don't want to create a tiered society where some people can hug & others can't, depending on jab status. 4/
But what government should not do, under any circumstances, is downplay how successful these vaccines have so far proved to be. An extremely short-term tactic with long-term consequences. 5/5
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The government's promised analysis of the economic effects of the tier system is, in fact, an explanation as to why they are still not estimating the impact of specific restrictions. V difficult to see how this appeases the economic rebels: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
'Any attempt to estimate specific economic impacts of precise changes to individual restrictions for a defined period of time would be subject to such wide uncertainty as to not be meaningful for precise policy making'
...surely the same is true of Covid modeling, which we do...
This is remarkable. The 'economic assessment' is posing questions MPs were expecting to have answered by this document. 'Impact of the tier will depend on a range of things' - that's what this analysis was supposed to take a stab at!
Chancellor announces an incredible £330bn pounds of guarantees - so businesses can take out loans to support themselves and employees. Says he will go further if required.
Business rates holiday announcement from last week extended - Chancellor announces all businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are exempt from business rates for 12 months.
Chancellor announces 3 month mortgage repayment holiday for those who need it.
Will raise questions about rents - in places like London (highlighted as particular Covid-19 concern in yesterday's press conference), rent can be over 50 per cent of a person's income.
Today when debating @DrTonyOSullivan on @SkyNews, he said 3 things about the NHS that were explicitly not true, re NHS spending, historical outcomes on the NHS, and privatisation within the NHS. Evidence to counter his claims below:
@DrTonyOSullivan@SkyNews 1) Dr O'Sullivan claimed all countries I listed, which get better patient outcomes, spend lots more on healthcare than UK. When I pushed him on Australia, which is one of the best to compare re population, etc, he doubled down. But this isn't the case. data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.X…
@DrTonyOSullivan@SkyNews On his claim that when the NHS had more investment, it was the best healthcare system in the world...not remotely the case. If anything, things have relatively improved re outcomes over the past 15 years. NHS was an international laggard then, and now: iea.org.uk/publications/u…
The substantial changes to the #BrexitDeal Johnson has secured make it significantly better than the deal before.
In fact, I’d say it’s a good deal outright, regardless of previous versions. It unlocks the opportunities that Brexit creates. 1/10
The backstop is gone. The UK is out of the Customs Union. This means all parts of the UK, including NI, can strike free trade deals around the world. Virtually all economists agree free trade boosts prosperity. Win/win for everyone. 2/10
Related, the Political Declaration has been rewritten re future relationship; no longer aiming for a customs-style arrangement, but rather a free trade deal with the EU. The UK will be autonomous in its decision-making; the EU will not be setting the UK’s taxes (ie tariffs)! 3/10
So far I've found 14 egregious errors in @carolecadwalla's thread about @iealondon and me. Sadly she doesn’t seem interested in correcting them. Strange, when your ‘thing’ is tackling disinformation. She's right about one thing though. @iealondon had a fantastic week. 1/4
.@iealondon is a relatively small charity (in terms of staff & turnover), but my colleagues are great. They punch above their weight. People like Carole may not like our message of liberty (and will say & do anything to avoid debating the actual issues) but so many people do. 2/4
To the horror of some leftist glitterati, our message resonates with ppl who feel the consequences of the tax burden being at a 50-year high & ppl who don't think government is helping them by threatening to ban 2-for-1 pizzas. In short, people value their freedoms! 3/4
The claim that the #NHS could be 'sold off' in a US/UK trade deal is ridiculous - a political storm in a tea cup.
But the storm has moved into #PMQs today. So here we go - 3 reasons why this is about political posturing and nothing else (thread).
1) Shock, horror: American companies can already bid, and win, NHS contracts. American companies own NHS hospitals (@GuidoFawkes thread below). People may not like this, but let’s stop treating it like breaking news.
2) As @jameskirkup highlights, US is not really interested in providing NHS services. Makes sense - it’s a monopoly provider. It wants more access to drugs market, which could translate into more available drugs and treatments in the UK.