It is vital for @Peston to reveal who was his senior Downing St source that told him UK strategy was “allowing #COVID19 to spread through the population”
These were the identical words @BorisJohnson used in his #TakeItOnTheChin interview
It is in the public interest we know.
These were the identical words @BorisJohnson used in his #TakeItOnTheChin interview
It is in the public interest we know.
https://twitter.com/stefsimanowitz/status/1298294731445866498
Every virologist will tell you that herd immunity without a vaccine is - by definition - not a preventative measure
The govt knew this
The No.10 press office has never attempted to correct @Peston’s story & yet govt ministers claim that #HerdImmunity was never their “strategy”!
The govt knew this
The No.10 press office has never attempted to correct @Peston’s story & yet govt ministers claim that #HerdImmunity was never their “strategy”!
https://twitter.com/stefsimanowitz/status/1370281854067179521
Contrast No.10’s reaction to the @Peston story with their reaction to the @thetimes story that #Cummings had said the govt strategy was #HerdImmunity “& if that means some pensioners die, too bad”
They claimed it was “a defamatory fabrication”
No action for defamation was taken
They claimed it was “a defamatory fabrication”
No action for defamation was taken
https://twitter.com/stefsimanowitz/status/1241639089700569089
Anonymous sources are an essential part of journalism
It’s a crucial means by which scandals are exposed & the powerful held to account
For govts to abuse the practice by revealing potentially unpopular policies via friendly journalists & then denying the policy = unacceptable!
It’s a crucial means by which scandals are exposed & the powerful held to account
For govts to abuse the practice by revealing potentially unpopular policies via friendly journalists & then denying the policy = unacceptable!
https://twitter.com/stefsimanowitz/status/1378817281174691852
Surely a senior govt source who plants a story that the govt then tries to deny, loses their right to anonymity
In addition, the huge death toll resulting from the #HerdImmunityScandal means that finding out the full truth - in all its ugliness - is hugely in the public interest
In addition, the huge death toll resulting from the #HerdImmunityScandal means that finding out the full truth - in all its ugliness - is hugely in the public interest
https://twitter.com/stefsimanowitz/status/1320313815502884866
Do we have to wait until @Peston writes a book about #COVID19 to find out for sure who briefed him on #HerdImmunity
Some say “it will all come out in the Inquiry”
Really?
In 2024?
“Mistakes were made, lessons will be leaned”?
Memory loss is already affecting the key players
Some say “it will all come out in the Inquiry”
Really?
In 2024?
“Mistakes were made, lessons will be leaned”?
Memory loss is already affecting the key players
https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1341094416887521280
Do @itvnews & @spectator know the identity of the source?
Journalists should ask
They should also challenge ministers who claim they didn’t know about asymptomatic spread or where behavioural fatigue came
They should ask about #Palantir & #GenomeUK & the #HerdImmunityScandal.
Journalists should ask
They should also challenge ministers who claim they didn’t know about asymptomatic spread or where behavioural fatigue came
They should ask about #Palantir & #GenomeUK & the #HerdImmunityScandal.
https://twitter.com/stefsimanowitz/status/1372460227619135493
On 13/3/20, a day after @Peston’s article, @Telegraph ran a piece headlined: “Those questioning the govt’s #COVID19 strategy are not only wrong, they’re a danger to us all”
In reality, the failure to properly question govt strategy & misleading science, was what proved dangerous
In reality, the failure to properly question govt strategy & misleading science, was what proved dangerous
https://twitter.com/stefsimanowitz/status/1298350985203654657
“There was a fear in every newsroom. A fear of losing your job...the fear of being labelled unpatriotic." Dan Rather on Iraq
At times of national crisis, it is vital that misleading info isn't disseminated
But scrutinizing govt action remains essential.
At times of national crisis, it is vital that misleading info isn't disseminated
But scrutinizing govt action remains essential.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
