Thread by @WillHayCardiff

There are two immensely frustrating and annoying issues with Mark Drakeford's latest press conference and announcement.

Namely, a lack of data and misleading statements.

Let me explain:

[Thread]

First let's talk about his speech and the statement put out by the Welsh Government, especially regarding meeting people indoors.

In the statement, repeated by the First Minister, the WG say:
"The Welsh Government will not be making new rules about mixing in people’s private homes, including gardens, in holiday accommodation or meeting outdoors.
"Instead guidance will be issued to help people stay safe."

If you read this statement you would be under the impression that there will be no new laws about meeting people within your own home.

But this simply isn't true.

The FM and WG both went on to say: "There will be a separate offence for large gatherings – more than 30 people indoors or 50 people outdoors – in private homes and gardens."

By any definition these are "new rules about mixing in people’s private homes".

Clearly these rules are not meant to target people's intimate family Christmas gatherings but instead target NYE house parties.

And the Welsh Government are perfectly untitled to make those laws to protect public health, but it is then outrageous pretend you are not imposing restrictions on what people can do in their own homes and their on their own property - you clearly are doing just that.

The other big issue comes around the publication of scientific advice the Welsh Government receives.

When you are taking away people's liberties on the back of scientific advice it is vital you publish that advice so you can be scrutinised.

This is particularly when you are diverging from what other UK nations are doing. People deserve to know what is underpinning you taking away their rights.

But the Welsh Government are being woefully slow at publishing this advice and showing their workings.

A huge amount of the Welsh specific advice the Welsh Gov gets is from the Technical Advisory Cell.

However the latest advice from TAC dates from December 10th!!

The situation is moving so fast, this is now totally out of date.
You can see it here:
gov.wales/sites/default/…

Mark Drakeford was even asked about the late publishing of advice in the press conference today and he pretended it wasn't an issue.

"We put into the public domain, everything that we see, when we review the regulations".

This missed a crucial work - "EVENTUALLY"

How can the public, the media, and opposition parties scrutinise the democratically elected government which is taking away our liberty if they can't see the data that underpins these decisions at the time those decisions are been made?

It is vital in a pandemic to take the public with you. Simply saying "trust us on this" is not enough.

Publish the data and prove your huge impositions on people's lives stand up to scrutiny.

Rant over. You can see the latest Covid rules in Wales here.
walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/…