Just Watched Car Crash Downing Street Daily Briefing.

[needawin]

Today's daily briefing was worse than the normal.
We had Dominic Rabb standing in and Professor Angela Mc Lean as a back up to agree with all he said.
It started with the usual time wasting repetition of the 5 conditions that must be met.
This is the norm every night to run down the clock. Everyone can repeat by heart at this stage.
Tonight Rabb went through them without the data graphs.
When finished he handed the Mike to Professor Mc Lean who repeated the 5 conditions but this time with the graphs.
Stuttering and stumbling and at one stage explaining how the graph showed a measurement from Feb 10th or thereabouts when it actually showed only from May 16.
After this it was downhill all the way as one backed the other.
At one stage Rabb was asked about a report that Germany would not consider football matches till at least September. Was it true that UK was actually considering allowing football matches, albeit behind closed doors.
Rabbs response. Well it would life our spirits!
Then he did not accept that the uk death toll was highest in Europe.
Then the testing had reached its target when clearly it hasn't.
From that it went to Brexit and how it must happen on the planned date regardless of the seriousness of the virus situation as it would be good for morale. God help us.
Another important item. Can we not have Professor Witty on every night.
He is the only believable one there.

[Bobbisox1]

I don’t want graphs and stats, I want plain talking and transparency

[retrocop]

Perhaps you should do as I do.No longer bother watching it and wait for when your time will come as it surely will enventually. :-)

[douglas9401]

Plain talking and transparency have no place in politics, Bobbisox.

You might as well ask for three wishes.

[tiggerblue10]

I like JVT as well.

[jim360]

Graphs and stats help plain talking and transparency, at least if you use them properly.

[Apc2604]

Agreed Jim.

[Peter Pedant]

I suppose they ( no one ) didnt want to give the bad news
altho I think we all know they arent in control
with no real treatment, once it is in a home it will run wild

as with the standard poncy non numerate ( cabinet member) not every statistic has meaning - delivering a billion left handed gloves has no significance

even the Beeb tired of the run of figures which seemed to used as camouflage for a cover up

with no treatment how many die is by an large irrelevant to those remaining - we may all be NEEEEEXT !

[Peter Pedant]

oh
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information - tufte
is the text that is widely used

I mean you know, you can do courses in this stuff

[tiggerblue10]

I thought that the testing issue was covered by 'capacity to test up to 108k' rather than actual tests done. Or have I misunderstood that?

I like the graphs and stats too. Probably because my work involves producing and analysing them.

[Theland]

My number is up somewhere in the plan.
Can't stop it.
Won't fear it.
Will try to avoid it.
Try to enjoy every day.

[fiction-factory]

>Stuttering and stumbling and at one stage explaining how the graph showed a measurement from Feb 10th or thereabouts when it actually showed only from May 16.

May16th last year? Or March 16th?
The graph started in March but I took it she meant he 100% figures were based on February since some of the chart lines started in March at say 60% of normal level

I agree about the 5 tests but maybe not everyone watches everyday. I nip out to put the oven on when they recap on the tests

[fiction-factory]

I didn't get the point of the question about the language or tone of the briefings not being appropriate for the Welsh viewers. I know Nicola does a separate one for Scotland. Does the Welsh minister do a specific welsh one?

[New Judge]

The briefings are well past their sell-by date. They should be held once a week, with anything important in the meantime being announced on the news. The news, BTW, is cheap copy. It largely repeats what's just been announced at the briefing. All people want to know is when the restrictions that are blighting their lives will be lifted. And since nobody is able to say, the rest is a waste of time.

[albaqwerty]

I don't know about the Welsh one either, but if they don't, they should.
If they do, then heaven knows how intelligent that questioner thinks the Welsh are if they get confused when watching no. 10 briefings.

Must have missed the bit when Mr Raab said getting on with Brexit would be good for morale. I heard him say getting on with it would help both sides in the negotiations on building respective economies.

[THECORBYLOON]

Professor McLean spoke about transport use and how it's changed since February, she mentioned no specific date.

The slide showed, "Transport use is down by at least 65% for all transport types since February"

It showed data from March 16th, not May 16th.

[jno]

Neil Ferguson has stepped down, apparently because he thought sex was more important than lockdown.

He's right. People are throwing tantrums because news reporters leave their houses, or protesters gather sparsely in a town centre. And yet there's no evidence that they were endangering themselves or anyone else. I suspect more and more people will be saying "Is this really dangerous behaviour? Why shouldn't my girlfriend visit me? This isn't behaviour that kills people."

[jourdain2]

Didn't see it. Haven't watched it for quite a few days now and before that I flicked in and out. Easy to pick-up later-on when I didn't have to sit down to spend time with it. A rather embarrassing procedure really - and please get rid of the slogan on the podium. A 5-min up-date would do and could be shown on the news on all channels.

[jourdain2]

^^^ I find myself agreeing with jno. Why, if one isn't contacting other people, shouldn't you travel to see someone? It will be my granddaughter's 9th birthday soon (11th) and I can't for the life of me see how I am endangering anyone if I get in my car, drive to her house (OK, it's 57 miles, but I'm not seeing anyone) put her present and card on the garden table, stand well back and see her enjoyment when she opens it. Then I'll drive home - again not contacting anyone. Can anyone enlighten me as to why I should not do this? I am more or less set on doing it and I really don't feel that I should be put in the position of feeling a bit guilty.
I left a bit of cake at next door's step for their kids the other day. What's the difference?

[jim360]

I don't see any objection to doing it as long as you make a point of not telling anyone at all about your plans beforehand...

Also, Neil Ferguson is an absolute moron and I can't believe he has been so stupid. Doubly so as not only has he broken the rules imposed because of his own guidance but he's also gone and ruined a family into the bargain.

[jourdain2]

I certainly agree about that Jim. I hesitate to cite names and figures 'cos they don't stick with me, but I have read of many academic scientists who are appalled by Dr. Ferguson's postulations. One was a Nobel laureate.