The FT has reported that the Biden administration is going to go for a $2tn infrastructure programme in order to reshape and stimulate the US economy. This, it is suggested is: …the biggest public investment programme since the creation of the interstate highway system and the Space Race of the 1960s. And including some green… Read more
Category:
Covid-19
The Covid Unemployment Tracker
Would appear to show that urban areas are the most seriously hit by unemployment – and thereafter the tourist areas of the UK. This looks to me to that the university students’ lifeline has perished – that is most of the decline in jobs are in hospitality. Once more, I fear, our youth, who are,… Read more
Losing the youth of the country
For this is what I think the UK government has now done. Of course there are others among us who do not see that countries can lose their youth and thus their futures. Thus, for those who see it – and particularly those that don’t, I think this short summary from the Turkish journalist, Ece… Read more
Astra Zenica could end up proving that there are other ways to do business…
There is little doubt that Public Relations is not Astra Zenica’s strongest point. But is their undertaking (via Oxford University) to sell at cost while the pandemic lasts actually a substantial threat to other vaccine originators? Estimates would appear to suggest appear that Pfizer and Moderna are likely to make $16-17 billion out of their… Read more
Still world beating
This table from Bloomberg appears to show that unfortunately Johnson has still contrived to achieve UK Covid deaths that are, as he would doubtless put it, ‘world-beating’ (click to enlarge): The chart not only shows that the UK still holds the world record for deaths per head, but also has fewer hospital beds per head… Read more
Chaos, democracy and policing by consent
It was reported that Sunday’s protestors in Bristol even graffitied Police riot shields – perhaps. But the only evidence I can find is that they actually sprayed hearts on them. Criminal damage for sure, but someone was having a bit of a laugh and hardly a heinous crime. Of course I’m not in favour of… Read more
Police Bill and power
Rebecca Long-Bailey gives two and a half minutes or so of heartfelt opposition to the Police Bill now going through Parliament – amazingly without a single Conservative MP voting against. This Bill not only infringes everyone’s right to free expression, it neatly entails the everyday politicisation of the Police, which as we have seen during… Read more
Johnson and Patel’s Poll Tax moment?
When even a Police (or at least ex Police) Chief Constable are against the recent Police and Crime Bill, we have the government’s real attitude displayed. This is from ex Tory MP and lawyer: @Anna_Soubry who says, “Spot on Nick Robinson & no surprise Home Office Minister (Kit Malthouse) has no answer – maximum sentence… Read more
Government hung Police out to dry in Clapham
It is interesting that the most egregious strong arm tactics by a largely male police force on women conducting a vigil in Clapham are being defended by two other women, both of whom are their superiors and so presumably authorised the tactics in the first place. One was Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Helen… Read more
A properly resourced health service would not need lockdown
And while almost all the people who have died of covid have died in rich countries and been old, the vast majority of people who have died of lockdown have died in poor countries and been young. This means that the number of years of life lost to lockdown is many times greater than the… Read more