Whilst the pandemic is not a competition, it’s interesting
to look at the responses from different governments. There are two clear
instances of decisive action by leaders of integrity and principle (Jacinda
Ardern in New Zealand, and Mette Frederiksen
in Denmark) resulting in astonishingly few deaths from the virus. There are
also two clear instances of indecisive action by leaders wholly devoid of
integrity and principle resulting in the devastating opposite (#JohnsonTrump).
The ineptitude, fudging and lack of honesty
from the UK government about PPE continues to beggar belief. Cruella Patel was
pushed out into Downing Street on Good Friday to be asked if she would
apologise for the inadequate provision of PPE, for the fact that some NHS staff
had been forced to purchase their own protective equipment, and for the fact
that staff were dying because a bin liner & pair of Marigolds was proving
to be insufficient protection. The best that Ms Patel could say, grudgingly,
was “I’m sorry if people feel that there have been
failings, I will be very, very clear about that.”
Meanwhile Westminster MP’s each have access to
an additional £10k of expenses for the added cost of working from home because,
obviously, they & their assistants won’t have computers or telephones
there, and, somehow, not commuting to Parliament is an additional expense,
which can’t be met by their recent 3.1% pay rise.
Which brings us back to differing responses.
In Bulgaria, MPs, ministers and heads of public agencies have agreed to donate
their entire salaries to public health services for the duration of their
confinement. Game, set & match to Bulgaria.
Oh, and Johnson has risen from his hospital bed, it being Easter Sunday and all.
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