Thread from another planet:
This is an extract from today’s Daily Mail leader, which is headlined “PM can bounce back from this humbling”.
First it describes his remorse as “sincere”, then congratulates his “masterstrokes”... 1/
...Then it says that if he lifts remaining restrictions we will be 1st developed country to exit pandemic - and he will be a "hero".
Exit the pandemic?
2/
The official Covid death figure yesterday was 398, the highest for a year. The day before it was 379.
The rolling weekly toll is 1,724, up 44% on last week. 3/
The total number of people who have died after catching the virus passed (virtually unremarked) 150k over the weekend, almost exactly a year after going through the 100k barrier.
And back then we hadn’t had the “world-beating” vaccination programme.
4/
Fewer people may be dying *of* covid than *with* covid. And many die of something completely unrelated a month after a + test (including one of my own family).
But official stats don’t include covid-related deaths of people die more than a month after testing +ve
5/
And there are more of those, as @whippletom explained in this admirable Times anti-vax debunker on New Year's Day. 6/
@whippletom Incidentally, the Times is the only paper still publishing detailed daily stats. Almost everyone else pretends it’s all over. For the Mail, the 398 dead were a subordinate clause on the 7th of its 8 Covid pages - on a story headlined “At last! Isolation set to be cut..." 7/
@whippletom Everyone wants to get back to normal. We do need to take responsibility for our own health and well-being. But to use words like “masterstrokes” and “hero” about Boris Johnson, today of all days, beggars belief.
Rant over. Have a nice afternoon
Incidentally, if by chance you're in the mood for more #GameOldRanting, you might like to look back at this, written the week after that Downing St "work event" last spring. theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news-uk…
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Please correct me if I’m wrong. I often am.
I seem to recall that Russian people donated millions to various political people. There was evidence that they sought to influence the outcomes of the Scottish referendum and the US presidential election.
1/
There was so much concern about possible interference in our democracy that our Intelligence Select committee conducted an inquiry, under the chairmanship of Dominic Grieve.
2/
For some inexplicable reason, the Government seemed nervous of publishing its conclusions. Certainly it didn’t want it out before the 2019 general election.
3/
OK, I’m going to regret this. But I’m going to throw this at you anyway.
I haven’t listened to the news for 24 hours. I haven’t watched live TV. I haven’t opened this morning’s papers.
(1/zillions)
The Duke of Edinburgh died yesterday. He was 99. Outlived by Captain Tom. I’m sure the Queen will find it odd not to have him around after three-quarters of a century. But most of us will manage.
(2/)
I’m an old white biddy, exactly the sort of person the Press and broadcasters assume will be most interested in this national tragedy.
But I’m not. And people even older than me aren’t distraught with grief either. It’s of passing interest. But it’s a fact of life.
(3/)
Always a challenge to strike the right note on the front with a story like #Philip. Not least the choice of picture - the way most think of him or a man in his prime?
ICYMI a few thoughts on today's offering.
First, it's not about *you* and *your* grief.
(1/)
Yes, you want to tell people what's inside. But try to dial down the self-promotion. A "magical" supplement? And "historic *144* pages? That screams "don't buy me"
...and do we need to be told about a Monday supplement on today's front page?
(2/)
It's good to recognise that not *all* your readers may be completely obsessed by the royals. They might like to know you're offering something else.
There are ways to do it....and, perhaps, ways not to do it...
(3/)
A thread...
The “we’re not racist” drums are beating loudly and proudly today. If we’re truly making progress, that’s great.(1)
I’m particularly struck by what has been identified as the key cause for this celebration:
'Education is the single most emphatic success story of the British ethnic minority experience'
(2)
'The Commission notes that the average GCSE attainment score for Indian, Bangladeshi and Black African pupils was above the White British average.'
(3)
This govt is busy pretending its #policing bill is about making people, esp women, safer.
That is why there is a whole section on protecting monuments, a whole section on shutting up Steve Bray, a whole section on protecting Parliament.
And nothing about women.
(1/2)
Be in no doubt. From removing the whip from Remainer MPs to cowing the BBC to giving Priti Patel and police a free hand ban "noisy" protests they don't like, this Government is openly making it clear that dissent will not be tolerated.
(2/3)
All this talk of "cancel culture" and protecting the free press is a smokescreen. They are cancelling all sorts of cultures faster than any "woke warrior" and, far from holding the powerful to account, the Press is not just colluding with them, but cheering them on.
(3/4)
Mini thread....
Here are the first editions of today's papers. Royals heavy...perhaps as you'd expect as it's their first go after that interview. Kate obligingly provides a royal angle to the #SarahEverard vigil. Because the story on its own? Pah!
(1/?)
The tabs are renowned for being nimble between editions. So let's have a look at what they did for their finals. Ah, The Mirror changed one of its sub-heads. The Express replaced the index with a bit about Priti Patel...
(2/?)
The Sun and Mail left their fronts exactly as they were. It was all about Kate (and dissing Meghan).
The People is a one-edition paper.
(3/?)