Boris Johnson suggests distancing rules should be enforced "Covid Marshalls" in towns and city centres as seen on “twitter”

[C J Snarzell]

I understand some local councils have employed compliance officers to ensure businesses are complying the Covid measures.

Covid Marshall's would be a step too far. I can just imagine the they would become despised workers who would get plenty of abuse from the public. I would hazard a guess they would probably be assaulted twice as much as cops and paramedics.

CJ

 

[Ianigsy]

If it turns into anything concrete, I suspect it'll be funding so that people like the City Centre Enforcement Officers in Leeds can be kept on or deployed where they don't already exist.

 

[Darandio]

I might volunteer to do it here. Rest assured if you are passing i'll let you crack on with whatever you need to do, mask or no mask.

 

[43066]

To be honest I’d be tempted to go round being rude to any marshals. I really don’t like doing that with figures in these sort of positions, however for this I’d make an exception. It’s something we could well do without, and the only way of ridding ourselves is a dose of “direct democracy”.

I suppose the lilac brigade are there because they are being paid. It’s not a job I’d choose to do but they may well have no choice.

These people will be a different kettle of fish altogether, and will be volunteering for these posts presumably because they enjoy pushing people around. I’d have no qualms in telling them to do one, in just the same way as I would to any interfering member of the public, who started trying to order me about.

I suspect anyone volunteering for these posts will be in for a deeply unpleasant time of it, and they’ll only have themselves to thank for that.

 

[bramling]

I suppose the lilac brigade are there because they are being paid. It’s not a job I’d choose to do but they may well have no choice.

These people will be a different kettle of fish altogether, and will be volunteering for these posts presumably because they enjoy pushing people around. I’d have no qualms in telling them to do one, in just the same way as I would to any interfering member of the public, who started trying to order me about.

I suspect anyone volunteering for these posts will be in for a deeply unpleasant time of it, and they’ll only have themselves to thank for that.

Absolutely, it would be an act of madness to take on such a role, especially if it’s essentially voluntary. Except of course for that special sort of person who gets a buzz out of interfering with others.

I suspect you’re right about the lilacs, certainly the Euston ones don’t appear particularly enthusiastic.

 

[stevetay3]

The trouble is there is no longer any long serving statesmen on either side of the house.This rabble we are left with are a bunch of ignorant ex public schoolboys and act as if thay are still at ETON. All the experienced senior MPs walked over Johnson’s Brexit stance, and any Tom Dick or Harry was to hastily appointed as no one else wanted the job, thay mostly know next to nothing about the positions which thay preside over. Hancock previously a banker I believe nothing to do with health, Williamson a salesman and Johnson a failed Foreign Secretary and Professional Buffoon. Thay never have and never will have to live in the real world. God help us all.

 

[Bikeman78]

Wow. Just wow. They’re busking this aren’t they, making it up as they go along.

August: "Go out to the pub, go out for dinner; we'll even give you a discount."
September: "You naughty people, how dare you go out and socialise!"

 

[bramling]

The trouble is there is no longer any long serving statesmen on either side of the house.This rabble we are left with are a bunch of ignorant ex public schoolboys and act as if thay are still at ETON. All the experienced senior MPs walked over Johnson’s Brexit stance, and any Tom Dick or Harry was to hastily appointed as no one else wanted the job, thay mostly know next to nothing about the positions which thay preside over. Hancock previously a banker I believe nothing to do with health, Williamson a salesman and Johnson a failed Foreign Secretary and Professional Buffoon. Thay never have and never will have to live in the real world. God help us all.

Absolutely, and Labour are no better, Starmer has a certain presence but beneath that if still feels like only one step up from the Corbyn rabble.

The big problem seems to be that Boris lacks life experience, which is why he seems not to do detail. We badly needed someone who can do detail, or at least a cabinet capable of doing it. The whole lot of them are utterly useless, and I’d include Sunak in that - he’s just garnering popularity looking towards the future.

 

[stevetay3]

All as bad as each other Lab & Tory but Kier Starmer could be our best hope.

 

[MattA7]

I did have hopes that we would return to normality towards the end of the year but it looks like we’re going to be disappointed. The whole idea of “Covid Marshalls” Is absurd. The U.K is slowly but surely turning into a Dictatorship/police state. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t wear camouflage and carry ak-47s

 

[birchesgreen]

"I'm a Covid Marshall, i'm here to tell you that your party is to be closed down... Just doing my job... not my fault if i... enjoy it..."

 

[HSTEd]

It's massively understrength at the moment, so have them do actual normal policing afterwards.

It's certainly far greater than half strength.

Any force capable of performing the tasks called for here will be enormously overstrength for regular policing.

We don't do huge police forces in the UK and we've never had to.

 

[Butts]

All as bad as each other Lab & Tory but Kier Starmer could be our best hope.

Talk about grasping at straws

 

[Richard Scott]

All as bad as each other Lab & Tory but Kier Starmer could be our best hope.

What we need is Guy Fawkes and do it properly this time! (This is tongue in cheek by the way in case anyone thinks I'm condoning terrorism).

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I really cannot see the point! Who would volunteer to remind people to keep apart?

Oh believe me - plenty in my local indoor shopping centre

 

[takno]

Absolutely, and Labour are no better, Starmer has a certain presence but beneath that if still feels like only one step up from the Corbyn rabble.

The big problem seems to be that Boris lacks life experience, which is why he seems not to do detail. We badly needed someone who can do detail, or at least a cabinet capable of doing it. The whole lot of them are utterly useless, and I’d include Sunak in that - he’s just garnering popularity looking towards the future.

It's unfortunate that Johnathan Ashworth gets so much airtime as shadow health, but the shadow chancellor and business secretary aren't making a bad fist of it - pointing out that you need to keep up the targeted furlough payments for companies you won't let open, and that if it's too expensive then it probably should have been targeted better to start with. It's a mixed bag, but the current shadow cabinet do still have some experienced heavyweights willing to mentor them, while no Tories of any quality are willing to go near the current cabinet of chancers and crooks

 

[Skimpot flyer]

The point everyone is missing here is that, until face coverings were mandated, people were voluntarily and with few exceptions, observing social distancing rules extremely well.
The bringing-in of face coverings CAUSED the collapse in observance of distancing!!!!

I did have hopes that we would return to normality towards the end of the year but it looks like we’re going to be disappointed. The whole idea of “Covid Marshalls” Is absurd. The U.K is slowly but surely turning into a Dictatorship/police state. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t wear camouflage and carry ak-47s

We will certainly be under Marshall Law if this lunacy is carried out!

 

[trebor79]

The point everyone is missing here is that, until face coverings were mandated, people were voluntarily and with few exceptions, observing social distancing rules extremely well.
The bringing-in of face coverings CAUSED the collapse in observance of distancing!!!!

I concur. And the other thing that is being completely overlooked is the experience of Sweden. They don't have any of this nonsense and the sky isn't falling in there.

 

[43066]

The point everyone is missing here is that, until face coverings were mandated, people were voluntarily and with few exceptions, observing social distancing rules extremely well.
The bringing-in of face coverings CAUSED the collapse in observance of distancing!!!!

Yes that’s very true, in fact masks are probably the single biggest thing that has reduced social distancing. That said I’m of the view that social distancing really needs to be abandoned sooner rather than later.

This latest barrage of silly rules and scaremongering is just yet another attempt to keep the virus “fresh in the mind”, to distract The population from Brexit, and the emerging possibility that the whole situation has been mishandled from the start.

 

[87electric]

"I'm a Covid Marshall, i'm here to tell you that your party is to be closed down... Just doing my job... not my fault if i... enjoy it..."

I was only obeying orders.
History is repeating itself.

 

[Paul_10]

Yes that’s very true, in fact masks are probably the single biggest thing that has reduced social distancing. That said I’m of the view that social distancing really needs to be abandoned sooner rather than later.

This latest barrage of silly rules and scaremongering is just yet another attempt to keep the virus “fresh in the mind”, to distract The population from Brexit, and the emerging possibility that the whole situation has been mishandled from the start.

I'm not the biggest fan of Boris Johnson but he's in a no win situation. With cases rising again fairly sharply, if he does nothing, he will be slated but now he's putting in an minor restriction, he's getting critisized.

I have no problems on there being spot checks on pubs etc, this is a serious situation and there has been cases of COVID cases originating from pubs due to large gatherings.

We perhaps have to accept, unless there is a vaccine, we can't win against this disease and lockdown only slows it down, it does not get rid of it completely.

 

[DB]

We perhaps have to accept, unless there is a vaccine, we can't win against this disease and lockdown only slows it down, it does not get rid of it completely.

We very much do have to accept that, as that is the biological reality. Some people don't seem to understand this, unfortunately.

 

[keep truckin]

Platform staff may have useful skills.

"STAND CLEAR OF THE HUMAN BEANNNNNNN!!!!!"

 

[nlogax]

This half-arsed marshall suggestion plays to the very worst sorts of folk who love to dish out orders in order to establish their own micro-fiefdoms. Britain is full of those sorts. When give the merest sniff of something that looks like vague authority, they fully play the role. Totally winds me up.

 

[Huntergreed]

Platform staff may have useful skills.

"STAND CLEAR OF THE HUMAN BEANNNNNNN!!!!!"

Indeed, I was noticeably surprised by how loud and active Preston staff were at enforcing the yellow line rule today. I was standing next to a 221 on Platform 5 (which has quite loud engines), and there was a 331 coming in on Platform 4 and I heard 3 of them clear as day screaming “STAND CLEAR!”, it was rather shocking (but I suppose that’s a good thing)

 

[bramling]

I'm not the biggest fan of Boris Johnson but he's in a no win situation. With cases rising again fairly sharply, if he does nothing, he will be slated but now he's putting in an minor restriction, he's getting critisized.

I have no problems on there being spot checks on pubs etc, this is a serious situation and there has been cases of COVID cases originating from pubs due to large gatherings.

We perhaps have to accept, unless there is a vaccine, we can't win against this disease and lockdown only slows it down, it does not get rid of it completely.

Yes this seems very much to be the unfortunate reality. It isn’t a wonderful position to be in, but it’s where we are.

I agree to some extent that Boris was never going to win with this, but he could have done a lot better. The communications have been dire for a start.

Then there’s some bizarre bits like blaming care home managements, or starting on train drivers (a group who has worked in their normal workplace consistently right through this) whilst on a visit to the Goole factory. Or for that matter the way the Cummings affair was handled.

 

[Mugby]

I also think that Boris could have done a whole lot better but I do believe he genuinely wanted it to be largely over by November, in fact I think he still hankers after some tangible easings to offer before the end of the year.
But the sinister Mr. Whitty, Van Tam and the others on SAGE are calling the shots and everyone in the Government seems to be blindly following them.

However, Whitty's blatant warning shot yesterday about no time limit on the restrictions with it's clear implication; don't even think about any Christmas markets, parties, pantomimes, large family gatherings or New Year celebrations, will leave Boris with a pretty disconsolate message to impart to the population when the year end approaches.
Surely it will cross his mind that his popularity will sink faster than the economy.

 

[Richard Scott]

I'm not the biggest fan of Boris Johnson but he's in a no win situation. With cases rising again fairly sharply, if he does nothing, he will be slated but now he's putting in an minor restriction, he's getting critisized.

I have no problems on there being spot checks on pubs etc, this is a serious situation and there has been cases of COVID cases originating from pubs due to large gatherings.

We perhaps have to accept, unless there is a vaccine, we can't win against this disease and lockdown only slows it down, it does not get rid of it completely.

Criticism is part of the job. It's up to him and the government to base decisions on what's best for the nation not their popularity. At the moment they're definitely not looking after the nation.

 

[Sean Davidson]

I hope they aren't like the Litter Squad that infest some town centers, acting like Blakey from On The Busses while wearing their pretend Fisher Price police uniforms.

 

[C J Snarzell]

I can just imagine Covid Marshall's will be the typical minimum wage brigade (such as Eastern Europeans) working for G4S or private security companies who spend half their time smoking & loitering around and then the other half of their time behaving like Adolf Hitler with everyone simply ignoring them or giving them a mouthful of abuse back.

CJ