Forum Topic

#ResignBorisJohnson

It is a glaring understatement that the UK, and most of the world, is facing a serious peacetime crisis.The UK has a clown in charge, surrounded by sycophants and unelected advisors. He appears to ignore experts' opinions and treats serious issues as a joke (put 'Operation Last Gasp (16 March 2020)' in your search engine).There are better people out there to steer us through this challenge.

Paul Cronshaw ● 2058d11 Comments

Good posts, love sharing views.  👍

Rosco White ● 2057d

He clearly isn't the first choice for the person to be in charge during a crisis but we are were we are.Some damage may have been done by his initial preference for intellectually clever solutions from 'out-of-the-box' thinkers over the relatively dull advice of experts with years of experience in the field but the impression coming out of Whitehall at the moment is that the adults are back in charge.Johnson's tenure as London Mayor has shown us that despite his unsuitability for high office he does relatively little damage when he is there. He is lazy and uninterested in detail and will spend most of his time on self-aggrandising projects. The coronavirus crisis will give him an opportunity to make Churchillian statements and pose as the nation's saviour but, as long as he has little or no involvement in policy formation, I don't see a need to replace him.

Mark Evans ● 2057d

A small clarification, if needed:Politics does not prompt these posts. If Johnson wore a red or yellow rosette on his lapel the same comments and observations would apply.Some of our politicians, whether local, regional or national seem to have too many flaws (we all do, but we're not all politicans) that make them liabilities when making decisions that affect our well-being and daily lives.Somebody on one of these forums, after wiping the speckled spit from their screen, asked who'd be doing a better job at the moment.Not wanting to raise levels of indignation and blood pressure any further, there are dozens of more level-headed, serious and hard-working folk out there. Weeks ago I would never have written this, but hand this crisis over to Jeremy Hunt. Or one of the other recent leadership candidates. Just not Johnson. If change happens, it has to happen very soon. Johnson will not endorse "deus vult".Stay well all.

Paul Cronshaw ● 2057d

Ah, but I didn't claim immigration per se was part of the NHS problem.What I DID say was that people arriving and immediately using the NHS when they have not paid for is part of the problem.AND, I suggested a possible and IMHO quite reasonable part solution!

Rosco White ● 2058d

I know you said previously that you didn't have a subscription to the FT but it might be worth you getting one. Read this article which make the real situation very clear https://www.ft.com/content/a8f92292-2e06-11e6-bf8d-26294ad519fc The issue with the NHS is very much to do with age demographics. The article states: "Hospital care for the average 89-year-old man costs the National Health Service nine times more each year than for the average 50-year-old man — and 18 times more than for the average 30-year-old man." As immigrants tend to be younger they are relatively light users of the NHS and will overall contribute far more in taxes not to mention helping us avoid skill shortages in the service. The problem we have is that the key 25-64 age range which provides the funding for the service is shrinking compared to the +75 age group which provides most of the demand. To claim immigration is part of the problem rather than part of the solution suggests a profound misunderstanding of what is actually happening.

Gordon Southwell ● 2058d

"The reason is rising demand but this is not coming from overseas "Errrr, really?!!!    AFAIK it's been Millions arriving over the last 20 years? :-According to the latest estimatesby the Office for National Statistics (ONS), net migration from overseas to the UK in the year ending September 2019 totalled 240,000.The level of non-British net migration into the UK is at its highest level – 313,000 – since 2016.Net migration from the EU has fallen, from 165,000 in the year to September 2016 to 64,000 in the most recent year.Net migration from outside the EU has risen gradually since 2013, and is now at its highest level – 250,000 - since 2004. Gross inflow from outside the EU is the highest on record – 379,000. Non-EU emigration has remained at roughly similar levels.And MORE at:-https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/statistics-net-migration-statistics

Rosco White ● 2058d

The estimate cost of treating those not eligible for treatment on the NHS is a miniscule proportion of its total budget so it is completely wrong to suggest it makes a material difference to the quality of service.Some attempts are made to recover costs but it is nothing to do with PC zealots that the portion recovered is small. People who are desperate enough to come to this country for free treatment generally don't have funds to cover the cost.Nurses and doctors don't like policing eligibility for treatment so the service has been provided before it is determined payment is due.Basically there is no getting round that the NHS is underfunded despite the extra money successive governments have poured into it. The reason is rising demand but this is not coming from overseas - our aging population means that provision needs to rise even faster that the rate of population growth which it has not been doing. Demographically this challenge presents itself for at least another ten years.

Mark Evans ● 2058d

And, arguably, Enhanced NHS Contributions on an increasing sliding scale if you have more than, say, two children?

Rosco White ● 2058d

Interesting thing the NHS.If you let everyone and their dog in who hasn't paid for it (and their wife/ves and several kids), what do you expect?The NHS tried the common sense approach of not providing free medical care to people who didn't "qualify" but got beaten down by and acquiesced to The PC Zealots.I am not saying the NHS hasn't been allowed to deteriorate but it IS a business, and unless people are willing to pay FAR more for it and/or *restrict those who haven't paid for it, it will continue to decline.As is oft repeated, it is not the International Health Service.* It is not for me to provide a solution, but one might be that New Arrivees pay Enhanced NHS Contributions in the first year which tapers down to "normal" NHS Contributions after, say, five years?

Rosco White ● 2058d

‘President Trump and Prime Minister Johnson have been conferring by phone about Coronavirus.’ Perhaps the most terrifying words in the English language.That our fate should for one single second be at the mercy of these mendacious clowns, both of whom would be out of their depth in a puddle, is beyond parody. Worse, ten years of grotesque misgovernment means the NHS is plunged into a huge crisis with no spare capacity. Correction. There are, or were, spare beds. 15 of them. For the entire country.Italy, Spain, Germany have 50 per cent more doctors than the UK. Even Russia has more.Germany has four times as many hospital beds as the UK.For this (literally) sickening mess, Cameron, May and Bozo, we thank you. Ever so ‘umbly, we grovel, tug forelock, and thank you. Is there a silver lining? Yes, thanks to Arthur Breens and his magnificent campaigners we at least still have some hospitals in West London. Deepest respect, admiration and gratitude to those who staff them.

Anthony Warwick-Ching ● 2058d

Disagree, he is following ADVICE from highly qualified and experienced medical people, he is NOT making the decisions on his own.Be fair.And accurate.

Rosco White ● 2058d