23,000 Lives Lost Due to Boris Johnson's Reluctance to Lock Down the Country
The COVID inquiry has revealed that during the height of the pandemic, when Italy was struggling with temporary morgues in tents and the NHS was bracing for a major crisis, Prime Minister Boris Johnson went on holiday, took no calls, and rode his new motorbike. This decision came at an enormous cost, as the country struggled to cope with the virus.
Johnson's actions are not surprising, given his history of partying, lying to parliament, and being ejected from Downing Street. However, this is not just about one individual; it's about a broader right-wing ideology that rejects science-backed measures to save lives, including vaccination, seatbelts, smoking restrictions, and even the NHS itself.
This toxic culture has been perpetuated by Johnson's friends and allies in the media, who have consistently promoted anti-science views. The Sunday Times, under Andrew Neil, published pieces suggesting that AIDS was not caused by HIV, and that it was almost impossible for heterosexual people to contract it.
Today, this ideology is alive and well, with lockdown skeptics dismissing the latest COVID report as "hopelessly incoherent." They claim that interventions were too little, too late, and that Sweden's approach of relying on voluntary advice rather than compulsory lockdowns was more effective. However, research has shown that Norway implemented lockdowns while Sweden refused, resulting in significantly fewer deaths per million people.
The right-wing media outlets have launched a vicious attack on the COVID inquiry, contesting its numbers and reasoning. Toby Young, a prominent lockdown skeptic, claimed to be one of the first journalists to oppose lockdown policies. The Daily Mail, Telegraph, Sun, Express, and Spectator have all been vocal opponents of restrictions, with some even rebranding their Brexit party as Reform UK to campaign against all restrictions.
The inquiry's chair, Heather Hallett, has been particularly targeted by the right-wing media. Johnson himself smeared the inquiry, calling it "hopelessly incoherent," and claiming that lockdowns were pointless. However, his own words have revealed a flippant attitude towards death, as he suggested that "the bodies pile high" if people were to die from COVID.
The question remains: was the cost of lockdowns worth the number of lives saved? The estimated cost of lockdowns has been significant, ranging from £310bn to £410bn. Bereaved families are clear in their view that lockdowns saved countless lives, but the difficult trade-offs between life and death, health and happiness, need to be seriously considered.
The COVID inquiry will look at the harm caused by keeping children out of school for extended periods, leaving old people to die alone, domestic violence, loneliness, and the crippling blow to the economy. However, the right-wing media's obsession with "freedom" over basic health and safety measures needs to be addressed.
Ultimately, this is not just about one politician or ideology; it's about the willingness of some to put politics over people's lives. The COVID inquiry provides a valuable opportunity to confront these difficult questions and ensure that future pandemics are met with a more measured approach.
The COVID inquiry has revealed that during the height of the pandemic, when Italy was struggling with temporary morgues in tents and the NHS was bracing for a major crisis, Prime Minister Boris Johnson went on holiday, took no calls, and rode his new motorbike. This decision came at an enormous cost, as the country struggled to cope with the virus.
Johnson's actions are not surprising, given his history of partying, lying to parliament, and being ejected from Downing Street. However, this is not just about one individual; it's about a broader right-wing ideology that rejects science-backed measures to save lives, including vaccination, seatbelts, smoking restrictions, and even the NHS itself.
This toxic culture has been perpetuated by Johnson's friends and allies in the media, who have consistently promoted anti-science views. The Sunday Times, under Andrew Neil, published pieces suggesting that AIDS was not caused by HIV, and that it was almost impossible for heterosexual people to contract it.
Today, this ideology is alive and well, with lockdown skeptics dismissing the latest COVID report as "hopelessly incoherent." They claim that interventions were too little, too late, and that Sweden's approach of relying on voluntary advice rather than compulsory lockdowns was more effective. However, research has shown that Norway implemented lockdowns while Sweden refused, resulting in significantly fewer deaths per million people.
The right-wing media outlets have launched a vicious attack on the COVID inquiry, contesting its numbers and reasoning. Toby Young, a prominent lockdown skeptic, claimed to be one of the first journalists to oppose lockdown policies. The Daily Mail, Telegraph, Sun, Express, and Spectator have all been vocal opponents of restrictions, with some even rebranding their Brexit party as Reform UK to campaign against all restrictions.
The inquiry's chair, Heather Hallett, has been particularly targeted by the right-wing media. Johnson himself smeared the inquiry, calling it "hopelessly incoherent," and claiming that lockdowns were pointless. However, his own words have revealed a flippant attitude towards death, as he suggested that "the bodies pile high" if people were to die from COVID.
The question remains: was the cost of lockdowns worth the number of lives saved? The estimated cost of lockdowns has been significant, ranging from £310bn to £410bn. Bereaved families are clear in their view that lockdowns saved countless lives, but the difficult trade-offs between life and death, health and happiness, need to be seriously considered.
The COVID inquiry will look at the harm caused by keeping children out of school for extended periods, leaving old people to die alone, domestic violence, loneliness, and the crippling blow to the economy. However, the right-wing media's obsession with "freedom" over basic health and safety measures needs to be addressed.
Ultimately, this is not just about one politician or ideology; it's about the willingness of some to put politics over people's lives. The COVID inquiry provides a valuable opportunity to confront these difficult questions and ensure that future pandemics are met with a more measured approach.
I think it's wild that Boris Johnson got to go on holiday while Italy was struggling and the NHS was getting ready for a major crisis 
. Like, what were they even thinking? The fact that lockdowns saved thousands of lives is pretty clear, but you've got these right-wing ideologues trying to downplay the impact or say it's not worth it 
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. That's some messed up stuff. The COVID inquiry is doing its thing, and let's hope they get to the bottom of what really went down 
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. Like, just because you disagree with the numbers or reasoning doesn't mean you have to be vicious about it 
. We need more constructive conversations about how we can balance our desire for freedom with our need for basic health and safety measures 
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. Fingers crossed that we'll come out the other side with a better understanding of how to handle pandemics in the future 
I'm so disappointed in what we've learned from the COVID inquiry 
. I mean, who takes a holiday while the country is struggling with a pandemic? Not cool, mate 
. Newsflash: you can't have freedom if you're dying left and right 
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. It feels like they're more interested in spreading misinformation than telling the truth 
. The numbers don't add up, folks! 
. And let's not forget about the human cost – families losing loved ones, communities suffering from loneliness and isolation 
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, like, people were literally dyin' and he's out ridin' his motorbike? 
meanwhile our NHS is gettin' slammed and we gotta deal with all that grief afterwards... lockdowns are a tough call but you can't just dismiss the science & all that, especially when it comes to savin lives 
they're still saying lockdowns were pointless even with all the research showing otherwise 
this right-wing media outlet is getting outta control Toby Young and Andrew Neil promoting anti-science views is wild 
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. "The bodies will pile high" comment from Johnson is just outrageous 
. The COVID inquiry is a crucial step in getting to the bottom of this, but we need to be honest about what went wrong and how we can do better next time 
they just dont care about ppl's lives, its all about partying & having fun while the rest of us suffer. and what really gets me is that he's got the nerve to say lockdowns were pointless when people are still dyin' because of it 
like come on boris, can't you even be honest with yourself? 
they're just trying to protect their own freedom & interests at the expense of everyone else's health & safety. newsflash: we need to prioritize ppl's lives over our freedoms, especially when it comes to something as deadly as a pandemic.
like what was he thinking riding his motorbike on holiday while people were dying left and right? it's not just about him tho, the whole right-wing ideology thing is super toxic and they're still out here spreading anti-science views and denying facts 
lockdowns might not have been perfect but come on ppl diddnt die because they had to stay home 
they died because they got sick and needed help 
like that just makes it even worse 
the media outlets are just piling on too 
reform uk? more like die uk lol 
. It's not just about one guy's bad decision, it's like how many times have governments ignored scientific advice before? Like what happened with asbestos or tobacco, they knew the risks but didn't act fast enough... 
. Anyway, lockdowns are a big deal, and it's crazy how some ppl think science doesn't matter when it comes to saving lives #COVID19 #LockdownSavetheLives #ScienceMatters 
and btw theres no such thing as "freedom" if it means sacrificing basic human life 
. Like, how do you even make a choice between partying and saving lives? The fact that he took calls only from his wife, Carrie, while the rest of us were fighting for our lives is just insane 
. And don't even get me started on his "flippant" attitude towards death... 
it's like, hello, people are dying! 
. It's like, we get it, you want to protect individual freedoms, but at what cost?