Current Affairs

[Ray B]

Whilst I agree this vigil shouldn’t have taken place, I can fully understand the frustration they and many other women must feel when they themselves have to choose a self-imposed night time curfew in order to feel safe out on the streets.

Sorry Onelife, I can not believe that many if any woman feels they have to go into curfew at night.
It does look like last nights gathering was an orchestrated attempt to provoke the police.
They must all be in contempt of a court ruling saying it was not allowed plus breaking lock down rules.
Any gathering is a slap in the face for all of us following the rules, trying to get our lives back.
Well done the Met Police, now we wait while they have to reply to criticism of the way they handled the gathering whilst trying to protect the rest of us.

[Ray B]

When, after Princess Diana died in that fatal car crash in France, the nation was in shock. Soon, flowers were laid at Buckingham Palace and Althorpe Hall by the thousands of bunches, from members of the public who felt close and had an affinity with her. I think at the time we could understand the feelings of people with the outpouring of sadness.
Now we have this phenomenon of laying flowers by the hundreds for people who have died, to whom the person was a complete stranger, never heard of before, not known by the giver of the flowers.
O K, the site of all those flowers looks very nice, flower retailers have done a nice trade, but it beats me as to why this phenomenon has caught on so much.
People are free to express their feelings in what ever way they feel, but I still can not understand it.
.

[Onelife]

When, after Princess Diana died in that fatal car crash in France, the nation was in shock. Soon, flowers were laid at Buckingham Palace and Althorpe Hall by the thousands of bunches, from members of the public who felt close and had an affinity with her. I think at the time we could understand the feelings of people with the outpouring of sadness.
Now we have this phenomenon of laying flowers by the hundreds for people who have died, to whom the person was a complete stranger, never heard of before, not known by the giver of the flowers.
O K, the site of all those flowers looks very nice, flower retailers have done a nice trade, but it beats me as to why this phenomenon has caught on so much.
People are free to express their feelings in what ever way they feel, but I still can not understand it.
.

The floral tributes laid for Sarah have similarities to that of why people laid flower for Diana…they were both abused by men. The out pouring of grief doesn’t have its roots in personally having known the person it is that they can empathise with the tragedy of their deaths.

[oldbluefox]

I wonder why all the emotional debate about Sarah when others have gone missing and yet no great attention has been paid eg Suzy Lamplugh and Claudia Lawrence. I noticed Claudia's father dies recently, never knowing where his daughter was, whether she was alive or dead. I find that equally as sad and distressing.

[Stephen]

As an aside

Good news that Prince Philip is finally leaving hospital.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56413762

[oldbluefox]

Some good news at last for Her Majesty.

[Bensham33]

The old boy keeps going. Must admit, to my shame I didn't think he was going to make it back to the Palace this time. I'm really pleased that he has.

[Onelife]

I wonder why all the emotional debate about Sarah when others have gone missing and yet no great attention has been paid eg Suzy Lamplugh and Claudia Lawrence. I noticed Claudia's father dies recently, never knowing where his daughter was, whether she was alive or dead. I find that equally as sad and distressing.

I’m not sure what, if any floral tributes were laid for these two young ladies but I’m pretty sure the country was emotionally upset by the circumstance surrounding their disappearance.

[Gill W]

When, after Princess Diana died in that fatal car crash in France, the nation was in shock. Soon, flowers were laid at Buckingham Palace and Althorpe Hall by the thousands of bunches, from members of the public who felt close and had an affinity with her. I think at the time we could understand the feelings of people with the outpouring of sadness.
Now we have this phenomenon of laying flowers by the hundreds for people who have died, to whom the person was a complete stranger, never heard of before, not known by the giver of the flowers.
O K, the site of all those flowers looks very nice, flower retailers have done a nice trade, but it beats me as to why this phenomenon has caught on so much.
People are free to express their feelings in what ever way they feel, but I still can not understand it.
.

The floral tributes laid for Sarah have similarities to that of why people laid flower for Diana…they were both abused by men. The out pouring of grief doesn’t have its roots in personally having known the person it is that they can empathise with the tragedy of their deaths.

That’s exactly it, the empathy is a big motivation for people to show how they feel. Many of the women laying flowers were young women just like Sarah. They know that what happened to Sarah could have just as easily happened to them.

The disappearance of Suzi Lamplugh was something that had great personal resonance with me, She was about the same age as me, and worked in an estate agents. I worked in mortgage lending, so I personally knew many young estates agents just like her.

I think Suzi disappeared in 1986 a time before flowers were laid - and nobody has ever known her fate - but it was a huge news story at the time, and the empathy was strong amongst young women who felt a kinship with her.

[Gill W]

The old boy keeps going. Must admit, to my shame I didn't think he was going to make it back to the Palace this time. I'm really pleased that he has.

I was so pleased to hear he was out of hospital.

Hope he makes it to 100 in June

[Bensham33]

I think he's 99 on June 10th Gill. It's another year before he gets his birthday card from the Queen.

[Jan Rosser]

I think he's 99 on June 10th Gill. It's another year before he gets his birthday card from the Queen.

No he’s 100 in June - he was born in 1921 .

[Bensham33]

Yes you are right my apologies

[Jan Rosser]

Yes you are right my apologies

[Mervyn and Trish]

Am I being myopic and selective again or did anyone else hear the EU President on the main TV news tonight threatening to block vaccine exports to countries ahead of the EU in vaccinating their population? That is code for the UK. Less than two weeks after an EU official accused the UK (falsely it turns out) of blocking vaccine exports and threatened legal action.

And in the same bulletin hearing that the EU is actually wasting Astra Zeneca vaccine, the very one all the fuss is about, because they've stopped using it in various countries.

They don't want it but noone else can have it. Apologies in advance if I misheard any part of that without my glasses on.

[screwy]

Nope,you were right. She also said the UK needed to give them more Vaccines.

Hancock told LKuensberg that the AZ research was funded by the UK government and had a contract for the first 100 m doses.

[Ray B]

Merv, Screwy, correct both of you, may I also add that he said that that vaccine may be manufactured around the world at cost price.
The EU give the impression of running around like headless chickens at the same time the virus is taking hold in some EU countries again.

[Onelife]

Am I being myopic and selective again or did anyone else hear the EU President on the main TV news tonight threatening to block vaccine exports to countries ahead of the EU in vaccinating their population? That is code for the UK. Less than two weeks after an EU official accused the UK (falsely it turns out) of blocking vaccine exports and threatened legal action.

And in the same bulletin hearing that the EU is actually wasting Astra Zeneca vaccine, the very one all the fuss is about, because they've stopped using it in various countries.

They don't want it but noone else can have it. Apologies in advance if I misheard any part of that without my glasses on.

Hi Sir Merv…I didn’t hear the EU President say that but I read a caption under today’s Covid briefing meeting which amounted to the same.
I think the underlying message here is that they think the Pfizer vaccine is a better at tackling the Brazilian variant and because of this they have put in motion plans to discredit the Astra Zeneca vaccine in order that they can keep all the Pfizer vaccines for EU member states. Hence the reason they want to stop Pfizer exports to this country.

I also heard Matt Hancock mention the words “contractually obliged” in a very concerning manner so I think there is some truth in it.

[oldbluefox]

I read yesterday that many countries in the EU were suspending vaccinations of Oxford Astrazenica. The comments of a certain Mr Macron and Mrs Merkel are well documented as they sought to discredit it.

https://www.ft.com/content/334abab8-bf2 ... s/45877605

Today we hear that Mrs van der Leyen is threatening exports to the UK because we have had such a successful rollout of the vaccine.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/45877605

She says the EU is still waiting for exports from the UK, and it wants reciprocity. The response to vaccination has been pretty diabolical and it looks like she is trying to deflect the blame. Basically I think they are in a bit of a mess with a poor vaccination rate, the threat of going into a third lockdown and a population which is not happy with them.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I think a difference may be that the UK government is leaving AZ to sort out their contractual responsibilities to all parties. The EU was slow off the mark and is now interfering to dictate what the company does. It is certainly true they have serious screwed up their vaccine programme. I also read today a number of stories of anti EU rumblings in various countries. I think having responsibility for what has become the biggest cock up in EU history the bureaucrats are now fighting for their careers.

[oldbluefox]

I read there are one or two elections coming up and opposition parties are looking at holding referenda to leave the EU. I suspect a lot of them are looking closely at the UK and how we are managing.

I also read that VW are looking to shed 5000 jobs over the coming years. That's worrying considering what a strong economy Germany has always been. I suppose they are struggling much as the rest of us are.

[towny44]

Am I being myopic and selective again or did anyone else hear the EU President on the main TV news tonight threatening to block vaccine exports to countries ahead of the EU in vaccinating their population? That is code for the UK. Less than two weeks after an EU official accused the UK (falsely it turns out) of blocking vaccine exports and threatened legal action.

And in the same bulletin hearing that the EU is actually wasting Astra Zeneca vaccine, the very one all the fuss is about, because they've stopped using it in various countries.

They don't want it but noone else can have it. Apologies in advance if I misheard any part of that without my glasses on.

But you have to accept Merv that it must rankle the bolshi Brussels bureaucrats that the UK is doing so much better than they are with the vaccine rollout. So you have to allow them a bit of a paddy, especially today, and let them throw their toys out of the pram, and stamp their feet.

[oldbluefox]

Am I being myopic and selective again or did anyone else hear the EU President on the main TV news tonight threatening to block vaccine exports to countries ahead of the EU in vaccinating their population? That is code for the UK. Less than two weeks after an EU official accused the UK (falsely it turns out) of blocking vaccine exports and threatened legal action.

And in the same bulletin hearing that the EU is actually wasting Astra Zeneca vaccine, the very one all the fuss is about, because they've stopped using it in various countries.

They don't want it but noone else can have it. Apologies in advance if I misheard any part of that without my glasses on.

But you have to accept Merv that it must rankle the bolshi Brussels bureaucrats that the UK is doing so much better than they are with the vaccine rollout. So you have to allow them a bit of a paddy, especially today, and let them throw their toys out of the pram, and stamp their feet.

Oh I don't think that can be true................

[Mervyn and Trish]

Having spent a while on some research I think I have a good understanding of the various vaccines issues. Most importantly Astra Zeneca and Pfizer are multinational companies and it is they rather than governments who manage the logistics of how they meet their various orders and commitments.

The AZ vaccine was developed at Oxford University with backing from the UK government. It was also the government that encouraged the manufacturing partnership with AZ with an undertaking to provide worldwide. The original idea had been to partner with a US company but there were fears supplies wouldn't get beyond US borders. That worry was probably well founded as many of the supply issues we are seeing are a result of the US blocking export of materials needed in vaccine manufacture. AZ have production facilities in many countries and have licensed others elsewhere.

The Pfifer jab was developed in Germany and is produced at their factories and licensees worldwide but significantly they do not have a plant in the UK.

So under our contracts with both companies the vaccines could come from anywhere the companies decided. In reality the majority of UK's AZ supply has been produced in the UK, with some coming from India. It is that source that will fall short for a while. Our Pfizer jabs have always come from their plant in the EU because they do not have a factory here. That is the only imports we have received from within the EU.

The EU have received their jabs largely from EU based facilities. They could never receive Pfizer from us because we don't make it. They haven't received AZ from us because they never needed to. They were late licensing it for use and, since then have stopped using it in several countries for various seemingly inaccurate pseudo scientific reasons and have now generated such an anti vaccine feeling against it, they can't use what they've got. They are threatening us with legal action because AZ are not sending vaccine from the UK that they don't need, in return for the Pfizer jabs sent here.

In a nutshell both we and the EU have supply contracts with multinational companies. There was never a government level deal between us and the EU on import/export so we have breached nothing. We have placed contracts and left the companies to handle the logistics. The EU in their usual manner are trying to micromanage and getting themselves in a knot. To the extent they are now talking about taking direct control of manufacture and delivery.

Based on my research, but of course my opinion only.

[Onelife]

Having spent a while on some research I think I have a good understanding of the various vaccines issues. Most importantly Astra Zeneca and Pfizer are multinational companies and it is they rather than governments who manage the logistics of how they meet their various orders and commitments.

The AZ vaccine was developed at Oxford University with backing from the UK government. It was also the government that encouraged the manufacturing partnership with AZ with an undertaking to provide worldwide. The original idea had been to partner with a US company but there were fears supplies wouldn't get beyond US borders. That worry was probably well founded as many of the supply issues we are seeing are a result of the US blocking export of materials needed in vaccine manufacture. AZ have production facilities in many countries and have licensed others elsewhere.

The Pfifer jab was developed in Germany and is produced at their factories and licensees worldwide but significantly they do not have a plant in the UK.

So under our contracts with both companies the vaccines could come from anywhere the companies decided. In reality the majority of UK's AZ supply has been produced in the UK, with some coming from India. It is that source that will fall short for a while. Our Pfizer jabs have always come from their plant in the EU because they do not have a factory here. That is the only imports we have received from within the EU.

The EU have received their jabs largely from EU based facilities. They could never receive Pfizer from us because we don't make it. They haven't received AZ from us because they never needed to. They were late licensing it for use and, since then have stopped using it in several countries for various seemingly inaccurate pseudo scientific reasons and have now generated such an anti vaccine feeling against it, they can't use what they've got. They are threatening us with legal action because AZ are not sending vaccine from the UK that they don't need, in return for the Pfizer jabs sent here.

In a nutshell both we and the EU have supply contracts with multinational companies. There was never a government level deal between us and the EU on import/export so we have breached nothing. We have placed contracts and left the companies to handle the logistics. The EU in their usual manner are trying to micromanage and getting themselves in a knot. To the extent they are now talking about taking direct control of manufacture and delivery.

Based on my research, but of course my opinion only.

It reads like good research to me Sir Merv

I’m wondering if the threats coming out of the EU will escalate to a point where any remaining Pfizer vaccine we have will be saved and used only for the delivery of second jabs?