Pm's briefing - 5pm

[zefarelly]

In my professional life, if there's one word that pisses me off more than any other it's 'fluctuating'. I work in performance marketing, a world whereby the quality of the work that you do is very tangible and measurable - it is every bit a results-based business. We're good at what we do, and so fortunately most of the time when reporting back to clients the story is positive; as with any business however there are of course moments when things aren't going entirely to plan.

The biggest rookie mistake I see people make is saying that things have 'fluctuated' when something has moved in a negative direction. In nearly 20 years of the business, I have never heard the word used in a positive context.

My advice to these young people who are often very talented but nervous of pissing a client off is always the same; don't try to obscure a problem with fluffy language but rather own it instead. Be the first to raise it, explain clearly what the problem is, why it is happening, what the fúck you're doing about it and when it will be resolved. People can handle bad news if they have trust and confidence in you to address it robustly.

I just feel that this cabinet is consciously guilty of this rookie error, time and time again. Most people aren't idiots and are capable of reading the sub-text. Just explain what's going on and what you're doing to fix it FFS. What they are doing is deceitful, and it's this fact that is the reason that the public have no trust or confidence in them to fall back on, in turn worsening the vicious circle caused by their bullshít and bluster.

Absolute shysters.

Aside the fact I think there are more idiots than sensible people, you are spot on. Could you have a word with DA/TB & GP about fluctuations as well please.

 

[maltaseagull]

Don't forget, 'significant return to normality by Christmas.'

The Christmas thing is a fiasco, he should never have announced a loosening of restrictions at the point he did. Anyone with half a brain cell and an eye on the figures knew this u-turn was going to happen. I feel so sorry for people who have made plans and had to now change them last minute causing upset and as I've seen first hand, arguments in families.

It's just bullshit after bullshit. He opens his mouth and more crap falls out. He is a disgrace. No one wonder no one knows what to think or do. And then when cases go up, you can be sure that he and his corrupt bunch of cronies will indirectly blame the public.

What gets me is the amount of people who I speak to or see on social media who forgive him for absolutely everything and all of the false, unrealistic promises. I hear so much 'poor Boris, no one could do any better' or 'this has never happened before, how could anyone know what to do' or 'he's trying is best'. These are quite often decent people with what I thought was some intelligence. How has he pulled the wool over so many eyes?!

Bit of an insult to anyone who made plans and had to cancel them?

Just out of interest, do you believe only Tory MPs are corrupt And ALL of them?

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Yes, fair comment. Stupid all round.

Good example though (even if inadvertent) of many people’s desire to use Covid as a way of extracting some revenge for the Brexit vote and Tory election victory. Somebody further up the thread wonders why the Tories still lead the opinion polls and concludes with the classic theme of ‘anybody who disagrees with me is an idiot.’ Perhaps the answer is that people are not conned by the relentless anti Johnson propaganda. Anyway, it has been good to see the leaders of the four nations working and taking responsibility together even if it doesn’t suit the narrative.

 

[beorhthelm]

Fixed for you.

and most of Europe, before rowing back as rates changed.

 

[sparkie]

Good example though (even if inadvertent) of many people’s desire to use Covid as a way of extracting some revenge for the Brexit vote and Tory election victory. Somebody further up the thread wonders why the Tories still lead the opinion polls and concludes with the classic theme of ‘anybody who disagrees with me is an idiot.’ Perhaps the answer is that people are not conned by the relentless anti Johnson propaganda. Anyway, it has been good to see the leaders of the four nations working and taking responsibility together even if it doesn’t suit the narrative.

Perhaps May ( and Johnson ) should have brought the country together and worked with citizens assemblies to determine what type of Brexit would be most acceptable instead of charging forwards with a the hardest red white and blue soundbite Brexit possible.

They didn't bring enough of the people with them and they reap what they have sown.

They can own it.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Perhaps May ( and Johnson ) should have brought the country together and worked with citizens assemblies to determine what type of Brexit would be most acceptable instead of charging forwards with a the hardest red white and blue soundbite Brexit possible.

They didn't bring enough of the people with them and they reap what they have sown.

They can own it.

We aren’t here to discuss Brexit. This thread should be about Covid but the sub text clearly isn’t. That’s my point.

 

[Farehamseagull]

Bit of an insult to anyone who made plans and had to cancel them?

Just out of interest, do you believe only Tory MPs are corrupt And ALL of them?

Not meant as an insult but I actually do think people who made plans to have family gatherings at Christmas, including my own family, were naive and set for disappointment but I can't blame them as they were told they could do this. I never thought it was a good idea and made no plans myself. I accept that possibly because I had the virus at the start of November, it made me look at it in a different way to others.

No I don't believe that only Tory MP's are corrupt or that they are all are, show me where I said that? Off the top of my head, I happen to think Ken Clarke and Mark Hoban in recent years for example are two of the most decent and hard working MP's we've ever had but I do believe that some are though as well as being totally morally bankrupt and unfortunately some of these are in positions of significant power.

 

[Bozza]

and most of Europe, before rowing back as rates changed.

Well, yes, that too.

I was looking at a few other nations yesterday as it happens.

In September, Merkel essentially said "we need to get to grips with this or we could have 19,200 infections a day by Christmas". They've been posting infection numbers well in excess of 30,000/day well before that.

In November, when imposing restrictions, she stated the aim of returning to normal (or a Covid-normal, anyway) in December. That's all turned to shit too.

And, as you say, Christmas rules have been tightened considerably.

On top of that, Germany's contact tracing is reported to be struggling to keep up - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...e-lost-control-of-tracing-as-infections-surge - and a security vulnerability has been discovered in Germany's official tracing app - https://securityboulevard.com/2020/...ontact-tracing-app-more-viral-than-the-virus/.

I can guess with some certainty how a large group of people on here would be responding if (hopefully not when) the same was discovered in our similar app.

 

[highflyer]

Can I suggest that this (and possibly the 'elite sport' thread as well) gets moved to the coronavirus sub-section.

There is some useful discussion, but also some...less so.

I don't know about others, but my head is not at it's best right now and I suspect I am not alone. Now is probably a good time to re-instate the original principal of that sub-forum being there if you want it, but making the main forum an easier place for people wanting the distraction of slagging off/defending Solly March (I'm a staunch defender for the record) while trying to manage their wider news consumption.

 

[golddene]

the govt. are ****ed no matter what , this virus is here to stay , what you have to do is decide with your loved ones if you are going to take being locked up for christmas and possibly never seeing some of your nearest and dearest ever again .....it has to be your choice , wear a mask , social distance , wash your hands , if you feel ill stay in bed away from everyone , but if you are fit and healthy and you want to go out .....just do it...!!

Absolutely, then again you may have an asymptomatic infection in which case you chance infecting all you are in close contact with but never mind eh !! Win some, lose some, but as long as it ain't you so what?

 

[sydney]

Absolutely, then again you may have an asymptomatic infection in which case you chance infecting all you are in close contact with but never mind eh !! Win some, lose some, but as long as it ain't you so what?

thats why i said wear a mask.....!!!

 

[MattBackHome]

Can I suggest that this (and possibly the 'elite sport' thread as well) gets moved to the coronavirus sub-section.

There is some useful discussion, but also some...less so.

I don't know about others, but my head is not at it's best right now and I suspect I am not alone. Now is probably a good time to re-instate the original principal of that sub-forum being there if you want it, but making the main forum an easier place for people wanting the distraction of slagging off/defending Solly March (I'm a staunch defender for the record) while trying to manage their wider news consumption.

Agreed. Mods please move

 

[GT49er]

Perhaps May ( and Johnson ) should have brought the country together and worked with citizens assemblies to determine what type of Brexit would be most acceptable instead of charging forwards with a the hardest red white and blue soundbite Brexit possible.

Maybe if all the anti-Brexit lot - Labour and Lib Dem - in Parliament hadn't based their policies on hindering May's government in the forlorn hope that somehow they could pretend the referendum never happened and Brexit would go away they could have had the much softer Brexit deal they are now wishing for.
They too are the ones who can reap what they have sown.
They can own it too (but they won't).

 

[golddene]

thats why i said wear a mask.....!!!

Our Governments latest advice according to the chief scientific officer is to assume you carry the virus and to act accordingly i.e. Keep away from everyone as much as is practical, space, face, wash your hands etc.it's not rocket science and is easily carried out with a little personal disciplin, I know from experience as have done all these things since February/ March before any lockdown was introduced whilst shielding a very vulnerable wife. Yet this effing virus is more and more prevalent !! What do YOU think is the reason eh?

 

[Bold Seagull]

Our Governments latest advice according to the chief scientific officer is to assume you carry the virus and to act accordingly i.e. Keep away from everyone as much as is practical, space, face, wash your hands etc.it's not rocket science and is easily carried out with a little personal disciplin, I know from experience as have done all these things since February/ March before any lockdown was introduced whilst shielding a very vulnerable wife. Yet this effing virus is more and more prevalent !! What do YOU think is the reason eh?

...wrong post to reply to....

 

[Notters]

Maybe if all the anti-Brexit lot - Labour and Lib Dem - in Parliament hadn't based their policies on hindering May's government in the forlorn hope that somehow they could pretend the referendum never happened and Brexit would go away they could have had the much softer Brexit deal they are now wishing for.
They too are the ones who can reap what they have sown.
They can own it too (but they won't).

Or if we had a democratic parliamentary system fit for the 21st Century.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Maybe if all the anti-Brexit lot - Labour and Lib Dem - in Parliament hadn't based their policies on hindering May's government in the forlorn hope that somehow they could pretend the referendum never happened and Brexit would go away they could have had the much softer Brexit deal they are now wishing for.
They too are the ones who can reap what they have sown.
They can own it too (but they won't).

I don’t want to derail the thread, but May formed a government on the basis of a working majority - so shouldn’t have mattered how the other party MPs voted - she also had a chunk of Labour MPs backing her don’t forget. People do form these strange narratives - the main split was her own party.

 

[sydney]

Our Governments latest advice according to the chief scientific officer is to assume you carry the virus and to act accordingly i.e. Keep away from everyone as much as is practical, space, face, wash your hands etc.it's not rocket science and is easily carried out with a little personal disciplin, I know from experience as have done all these things since February/ March before any lockdown was introduced whilst shielding a very vulnerable wife. Yet this effing virus is more and more prevalent !! What do YOU think is the reason eh?

um .....it's a bad virus and it's not going away , your predicament is different re your wife , i wish you well ...............they are now saying it has mutated to be more virulent and more damaging to the young but they are not sure ......wtf... have a look at the demographic of where the virus has flared up , it's plain that lots of people are ignoring direct instructions either through belligerence or ignorance ........we had our xmas golf day last tuesday , some of the blokes were unaware of the track and trace app or the necessity to sign in to pubs, restaurants etc..... it's like they have been living under a rock .

 

[GT49er]

Or if we had a democratic parliamentary system fit for the 21st Century.

I suspect that many would be quite happy that we had just that, had they managed to vote out Brexit! Although eventually of course our bungling Parliament did come down on the side of democracy by reluctantly accepting the referendum vote.
And never mind PR and all that on this case - there never was an option for being 52% out of the EU and 48% in!

 

[CHAPPERS]

there never was an option for being 52% out of the EU and 48% in!

Though, of course, you could argue that we were more than 52% out, whilst being members, with all of our opt outs.