The Unions and the U-turns
The average age of death from Covid 19: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8821113/The-average-age-death-coronavirus-82-4-years-writes-DAVID-ROSE.html
an outbreak on the Diamond Princess: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_on_Diamond_Princess
continuing to shake hands with people: https://news.sky.com/video/coronavirus-i-shook-hands-with-everybody-11948548
Johnson wanted to be infected with Covid 19: https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-dominic-cummings-covid-infected-on-tv-kung-flu-2021-5?r=US&IR=T
Perhaps you could take it on the chin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GSTbwydtMc
the Italian PM told Channel 4 that herd immunity was Johnson’s policy: https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-told-italian-pm-conte-coronavirus-herd-immunity-plan-2020-6?r=US&IR=T
Vallance was on TV and on the radio: https://www.politico.eu/article/herd-immunity-was-never-uk-coronavirus-strategy-chief-scientific-adviser-says/
We are considering banning major public events: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/51859553
an open letter to the government warning that herd immunity was risking lives: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51892402
National Education Union wrote an open letter on March 14: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/coronavirus-school-closure-policy
advising vulnerable people not to venture out: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/mar/12/trumps-travel-ban-wont-have-much-impact-on-spread-of-coronavirus-says-rishi-sunak-live-news
his ridiculous prediction that 500,000 people could die: https://www.newstatesman.com/science-tech/coronavirus/2020/07/neil-ferguson-covid-modeller
the Prime Minister made a statement asking people to work from home: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-coronavirus-16-march-2020
Johnson expressed a willingness to keep schools open: https://www.sec-ed.co.uk/news/coronavirus-dfe-williamson-ascl-naht-closures-staff-shortage-covid-19/
met privately with education secretary Gavin Williamson: https://www.sec-ed.co.uk/news/coronavirus-dfe-williamson-ascl-naht-closures-staff-shortage-covid-19/
another open letter to the government: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1239879529570742275
The Labour Party backed the lockdown: https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/jeremy-corbyn-says-coronavirus-lockdown-the-right-response-as-boris-johnsons-plan-wins-business-and-union-backing
as did the largest union in the country: https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/jeremy-corbyn-says-coronavirus-lockdown-the-right-response-as-boris-johnsons-plan-wins-business-and-union-backing
Dominic Cummings was pressurising him to lockdown: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000ygcg/bbc-news-special-dominic-cummings-the-interview
other ministers had been plotting against Johnson: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000ygcg/bbc-news-special-dominic-cummings-the-interview
Johnson announced that all schools would close: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/mar/18/uk-coronavirus-live-boris-johnson-pmqs-cbi-urges-government-pay-businesses-directly-saying-350bn-loangrant-package-not-enough
a massive fear campaign: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/01/stark-warnings-part-of-governments-new-coronavirus-messaging
a remark by Steve Hilton: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21004113
The Coronavirus Act that passed through Parliament: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus_Act_2020
Trades Unions Congress published a joint statement: https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/unions-set-out-needs-safe-reopening-schools-letter-education-secretary
another statement, this time from nine unions: https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/education-unions-statement-safe-reopening-schools
called for schools to stay shut: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/15/bma-backs-teaching-unions-in-opposing-reopening-of-schools
several days after that the BMA changed its mind: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/20/wednesday-morning-news-briefing-bma-u-turn-schools/
On May 30, the NEU issued another press release: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/stop-wider-1-june-school-reopening
in discussions with the government about reopening the economy: https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2020/may/statement-to-members-from-len-mccluskey-on-government-back-to-work-proposals/
Britain’s three rail unions – the RMT, ASLEF and the TSSA – wrote to the PM: https://www.tssa.org.uk/en/whats-new/news/index.cfm/rail-unions-this-is-not-the-time-to-run-more-trains
a ‘significant return to normality’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53441912
called for mandatory face masks on trains: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/13/packed-tube-trains-prompt-union-anger-at-johnsons-back-to-work-message-coronavirus-lockdown
calling for masks on all public transport: https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2020/may/government-must-introduce-maximum-public-transport-capacity-rules-and-face-masks-to-ensure-safety-warns-unite/
ASLEF welcomed the announcement: https://www.philipchryssikos.com/union-response-to-face-coverings-on-public-transport-in-england/
So did the TSSA: https://www.tssa.org.uk/en/whats-new/news/index.cfm/tssa-welcomes-mandatory-face-coverings-on-public-transport
the Telegraph reported that the government faced possible industrial action: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/05/01/retailers-unions-join-forces-help-reopen-shops/
joined forces to compile a submission: https://www.usdaw.org.uk/About-Us/News/2020/May/Usdaw-and-BRC-working-together-on-how-the-retail-s
Johnson was regretful after the first lockdown: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/world/europe/cummings-johnson-covid.html
Johnson apparently shouted ‘no more fucking lockdowns’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000ygcg/bbc-news-special-dominic-cummings-the-interview
A book by a former SAGE member Jeremy Farrar: https://inews.co.uk/opinion/boris-johnson-self-isolation-ping-u-turn-rishi-sunak-leaders-contempt-1109564
‘bounced’ into the lockdown by the press leak: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/11/05/bounced-second-lockdown-didnt-want-borisjohnson-still-charge/
he would rather see ‘bodies piled high in their thousands’: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/apr/26/pressure-mounts-on-boris-johnson-over-alleged-let-the-bodies-pile-high-remarks
The NEU wanted what they called a ‘circuit breaker’: https://www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-teachers-demand-2-week-school-closures-after-cases-jump
pupils in all secondary schools were now required to wear masks: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-54816419
Masks in schools had already been demanded: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/26/unions-urge-ministers-consider-making-face-masks-compulsory/
teaching unions proceeded to insist that schools should close: https://www.ei-ie.org/en/item/23578:uk-unions-concerned-as-schools-stay-open-during-second-lockdown
suddenly, on Dec 19: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/prime-ministers-statement-on-coronavirus-covid-19-19-december-2020
Johnson had been mocking Kier Starmer: https://www.google.com/search?q=johnson+kier+starmer+one+club+golfer&rlz=1C1AWFC_enGB851GB851&oq=johnson+kier+starmer+one+club+golfer&aqs=chrome..69i57.6198j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
a strongly worded press release: https://twitter.com/TheBMA/status/1338961038092406784
Chaand Nagpaul, spoke to the radio: https://twitter.com/TheBMA/status/1340239507036262405
and TV: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13492961/dont-put-family-at-risk-christmas-covid-top-doc/
He told the Times: https://twitter.com/TheBMA/status/1338987870414102530
the BMA supported a junior doctors’ strike: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/01/patients-association-national-voices-condemn-planned-five-day-junior-doctors-strike
Michael Gove said he was confident: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-55466147#:~:text=Cabinet%20Office%20minister%20Michael%20Gove,can%20go%20ahead%20as%20planned.&text=%22It%20is%20our%20intention%20to,as%20possible%2C%22%20he%20said.
‘There is no doubt in my mind that schools are safe’: https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1345793402215014400
‘We must all move heaven and earth’: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9107141/GAVIN-WILLIAMSON-heaven-earth-children-classroom.html
The NEU held an online Zoom meeting: https://neu.org.uk/joint-general-secretaries-address-national-education-union-annual-conference-2021
In the words of the NEU itself: https://neu.org.uk/january-advice
National Association of Head Teachers called for all schools to move to home learning: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gavin-williamson-schools-unions-closed-coronavirus-b1781502.html
the NASUWT, likewise called for remote learning: https://www.nasuwt.org.uk/uploads/assets/uploaded/1de7d79c-c742-43c2-9ca610febda550f5.pdf
calling for schools to remain closed: https://www.itv.com/news/2020-12-28/covid-michael-gove-hopes-staggered-school-return-will-go-ahead-as-planned
supported by the NEU – they lobbied the government: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1345073234149044226
They suddenly announced another national lockdown: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/prime-ministers-address-to-the-nation-4-january-2021
UCU, the academic union, threatened strike action: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/11238/UCU-threatens-industrial-action-to-prevent-unsafe-campus-return-this-academic-year
they warned of an ‘avalanche’ of Covid 19 cases: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-53947488
the RMT had demanded an upscaling of protections: https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-demands-urgent-action-to-protect-tfl-workers/
the NEU had demanded that children wear masks in classrooms: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/masks-schools-classroom-children-pupils-19419710
the NEU reiterated the demand: https://neu.org.uk/media/14226/view
nine teaching unions issued a press release: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/joint-statement-wider-opening-schools-england
forced to wear masks in classrooms: https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/face-masks-in-school-mandatory-19891210
five teaching unions wrote an open letter: https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2021/05/unions-call-on-schools-and-colleges-to-retain-masks/
led by the NEU, demanding the reintroduction of the masks: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jun/08/teaching-unions-call-for-return-of-masks-to-classrooms-in-england-covid
The BMA had also demanded a delay: https://www.bma.org.uk/media/4198/why-the-bma-supports-a-delay-to-the-21-june-ending-of-all-coronavirus-restrictions-in-england-june-21.pdf
Johnson first explained exactly what Freedom Day would entail: https://twitter.com/MetroUK/status/1412083618340556807
if he delayed the reopening until September: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-at-coronavirus-press-conference-12-july-2021
wearing a mask would become a matter of ‘social responsibility’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/07/12/boris-johnson-news-freedom-day-announcement-masks-lockdown-vaccine/
after the RMT and the TSSA had protested vehemently: [RMT] https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-slams-reckless-and-irresponsible-gamble/ [TSSA] https://mailchi.mp/tssa/news-on-the-go-pwvn3pp6e4
his public statement contained an absolute bombshell: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-at-coronavirus-press-conference-19-july-2021
when he announced the forthcoming Freedom Day, he said: https://twitter.com/MetroUK/status/1412083618340556807
when discussing the matter in Parliament he seemed less sure: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jun/18/uk-covid-passports-how-boris-johnsons-big-plan-fell-flat
other ministers, such as Michael Gove: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55143484
Zahawi even called them discriminatory: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/covid-vaccine-passport-nadhim-zahawi-b1798785.html
briefing the media about the infection rate: https://www.cityam.com/pressing-ahead-with-freedom-day-is-irresponsible-and-perilous-warns-bma/
the BMA wrote a report into Covid certification: https://www.bma.org.uk/media/4052/bma-submission-to-cabinet-office-review-on-covid-19-vaccine-certification-march-2021.pdf
the JCVI has recently recommended against routine Covid jabs for children: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jcvi-issues-advice-on-covid-19-vaccination-of-children-and-young-people
four teaching unions in a joint statement have called for a rollout: https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/bring-back-face-coverings-schools-limit-coronavirus-disruption
Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jun/04/school-leaders-say-pupils-should-vaccinated-as-matter-of-priority
welcomed by the NEU: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/government-agrees-vaccination-16-17-year-olds
The Road to Lockdown: How Unions Drove Covid Policy
‘The Unions and the U-turns’: http://whistleblowerphilosopher.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-unions-and-u-turns.html
the first was called ‘The Unions and the Coronapanic’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o878hwfMKzE
the second was called ‘The Scandalous Cause of the Third Lockdown’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1v2zeAvG6M
Patrick Vallance was on TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XRc389TvG8
a letter signed by the secretaries of GMB, Unite and Unison: https://www.gmb.org.uk/sites/default/files/NJC Circ Coronavirus 12Feb20.pdf
I’ve also unearthed a press release: https://www.gmb.org.uk/support/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-what-members-need-know
the notorious £119 million advertising contract: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/10/25/government-struck-119m-covid-advertising-deal-weeks-first-lockdown/
On March 9, Unison started complaining: https://twitter.com/unisontheunion/status/1236978786060709888
closed after their pupils had returned from a trip to Italy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-51630931
In a press release, the union declared: https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/nhs-staff-exposed-coronavirus-not-given-protective-clothing-or-sanitiser
a threatening press release: https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-joins-other-tube-unions-in-call-over-coronavirus-fears/
On March 14, the NEU wrote an open letter: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/coronavirus-school-closure-policy
A short press release on the government’s official website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-call-with-prime-minister-abe-15-march-2020
there are reports that Japanese parents were unhappy: https://www.ft.com/content/5e770264-5a0a-11ea-a528-dd0f971febbc
On March 16, the TUC held a webinar: https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/webinar-coronavirus-work
The TUC later described furlough as a ‘big win’: https://www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/unions-show-organising-strength-during-global-pandemic
achieved after ‘intensive negotiations’: https://www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/unions-show-organising-strength-during-global-pandemic
the TUC had issued a newsletter: https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/risks-938-14-march-2020#_Toc34994381
At 8pm on March 16, the government held a press conference: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=3169475523064130
journalists were ushered into an off-camera briefing: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/a-chilling-scientific-paper-helped-upend-us-and-uk-coronavirus-strategies/2020/03/17/aaa84116-6851-11ea-b199-3a9799c54512_story.html
new research published by Neil Ferguson that day: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/sph/ide/gida-fellowships/Imperial-College-COVID19-NPI-modelling-16-03-2020.pdf
Ferguson himself has admitted it: https://www.ft.com/content/61ed62b5-302f-43f1-b124-cbd614ebffbe
there is a buzzfeed article quoting a ‘source’: https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/uk-coronavirus-testing-explainer
He has a track record of this sort of thing: https://www.businessinsider.com/neil-ferguson-transformed-uk-covid-response-oxford-challenge-imperial-model-2020-4?r=US&IR=T
Medley replied: ‘We generally model what we are asked to model’: https://twitter.com/GrahamMedley/status/1472243230213394434
‘met the Cabinet Office’ on March 17: https://twitter.com/pcs_union/status/1240016652072353792
NHS Confederation has been ‘working closely‘ with NHSX: https://www.nhsconfed.org/news/commitment-maximise-efficiency-nhs-data-infrastructure-will-require-serious-investment
Jeremy Hunt, Johnson’s former leadership rival, was openly calling for schools closures: https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/the-clock-is-ticking-on-this-crisis-the-next-four-weeks-are-critical-a4386736.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1584104371
Hunt went on to back the NEU in October 2020: https://inews.co.uk/news/jeremy-hunt-circuit-break-lockdown-coronavirus-boris-johnson-728724
on January 2, 2021, Hunt said: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/02/teachers-take-legal-action-as-chaos-grips-englands-schools-plan
he directly called for schools closures: https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1379424/school-closures-uk-jeremy-hunt-boris-johnson-tory-rebellion-coronavirus-schools
the NEU went as far as thanking Hunt: https://twitter.com/BenIrvineAuthor/status/1468037518511726596
a joint statement with the other G7 leaders: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/g7-leaders-statement-on-covid-19
Johnson versus the NEU: The Second Lockdown Explained
I
an average age of death of 82: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/average-age-of-coronavirus-fatalities-is-82-pcwqrzdzz
my book ‘The Truth About the Wuhan Lockdown’: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Truth-about-Wuhan-Lockdown-Became/dp/B09YNFRTFW
II
Privately he was saying: https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/2249/html/
50 articles paid for by the Chinese Communist Party: https://www.opindia.com/2020/04/daily-telegraph-drop-china-watch-paid-propaganda-section/
a half-hearted attempt to defend the policy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XRc389TvG8
the GMB Union threatening a staff mutiny: https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/nhs-staff-exposed-coronavirus-not-given-protective-clothing-or-sanitiser
promised to take ‘whatever action was required’: https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-joins-other-tube-unions-in-call-over-coronavirus-fears/
the UCU, called for universities to close: http://whistleblowerphilosopher.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-road-to-lockdown_02121758366.html
The NEU began agitating for schools closures: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/coronavirus-school-closure-policy
the LSWU, called for the government to ‘shut down the courts’: https://twitter.com/BenIrvineAuthor/status/1516374486811086863
stoked a work-from-home mutiny: https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/webinar-coronavirus-work
PCS union – the civil service union – lobbied the cabinet: https://twitter.com/pcs_union/status/1240016652072353792
he wanted to relieve a ‘burden’ on the public sector: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/51859553
the PM held a press conference: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=519905608907489
III
On March 17, the NEU wrote an open letter: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1239879529570742275
Owen Jones, tweeted: https://twitter.com/BenIrvineAuthor/status/1469607315775053828
IV
the Guardian reported that 13 schools had unilaterally shut@ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/26/headteachers-say-advice-on-coronavirus-has-been-inconsistent
Johnson was compelled to say publicly: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/mar/13/coronavirus-school-closures-uk-gdp-ministers-warned
on March 14, the NEU penned an open letter: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/coronavirus-school-closure-policy
the 1970s, when union membership peaked: https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/apr/30/union-membership-data
Thatcher ended up proposing a watered-down version of the statute: From ‘Not For Turning’, by Robin Harris, location 808.
Thatcher was able to ‘covertly obstruct but not overtly initiate’: From ‘Not For Turning’, by Robin Harris, location 1113.
walkouts by monopoly groups were ‘not strikes against the government, but strikes against the people: From ‘Not For Turning’, by Robin Harris, location 1291.
‘in 1990, industrial action caused less disruption than in any year since 1935’: From ‘Not For Turning’, by Robin Harris, location 1291.
‘his response was ‘As far as I am concerned, the loss is without limit’: From ‘Not For Turning’, by Robin Harris, location 3483.
‘‘no union or group of unions could ever again make the country ungovernable’: From ‘Not For Turning’, by Robin Harris, location 3583.
the process would take five weeks: https://neu.org.uk/media/10816/view
V
10.3 million schoolchildren in the UK: https://www.besa.org.uk/key-uk-education-statistics/#:~:text=There%20are%20currently%2010%2C320%2C811%20full,Scotland%2C%20341%2C402%20in%20Northern%20Ireland.
13 million working parents: https://workingfamilies.org.uk/news/flextheuk2021/#:~:text=Over%20the%20pandemic%2C%20the%20UK’s,job%20or%20finding%20suitable%20work
The total working population of the UK is 32.8 million: https://www.statista.com/statistics/281998/employment-figures-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/#:~:text=There%20were%20approximately%2032.8%20million,the%20same%20period%20of%202021.
Matt Hancock wrote an article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/03/14/must-do-everything-power-protect-lives/
‘mounting anger over [his] decision not to close schools’: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-schools-uk-colleges-closed-shut-a9404776.html
the TUC had advised its constituent union members to hand in Section 44 letters: https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/webinar-coronavirus-work
#Covid19Walkout and #CloseTheSchoolsNow trending: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-schools-uk-colleges-closed-shut-a9404776.html
he announced that all schools would shut their gates: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-coronavirus-18-march-2020
‘We need now to push down further on that curve of transmission’: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-coronavirus-20-march-2020
the government announced a legally enforced lockdown: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nation-on-coronavirus-23-march-2020
‘The impact of closing schools is huge’: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/scientists-urged-government-to-close-secondary-schools-744795?ito=twitter_share_article-top
(70% versus 75%): [70] https://www.nippon.com/en/features/h00270/ [75] https://www.nippon.com/en/features/h00270/
In Japan, women are less likely to have high-responsibility jobs: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/02/world/asia/japan-working-mothers.html
the men notoriously work long hours: https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00523/study-finds-japanese-men-do-1-6-times-as-much-overtime-as-women.html#:~:text=A%20recent%20Japanese%20report%20found,of%208.36%20hours%20among%20women
Japanese husbands do less housework: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21880124
‘Close Schools/Colleges down for an appropriate amount of time’: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300403
MP Robin Millar noted: https://twitter.com/RobinMillarMP/status/1239291418394361863
76% of the public were ‘strongly supportive’: https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/93-of-brits-back-governments-lockdown-measures-to-tackle-coronavirus-new-poll-shows
described the scheme as a ‘big win’: https://www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/unions-show-organising-strength-during-global-pandemic
he urged Britain to ‘move faster to social distancing’: https://twitter.com/Jeremy_Hunt/status/1238451941786693633
he called it ‘absolutely the right decision’: https://twitter.com/Jeremy_Hunt/status/1242188775226249217
Hunt was accompanied in parliament by 144 Remainer conservative MPs: https://ukandeu.ac.uk/the-return-of-conservative-dissent/
Labour and the Lib Dems, were overwhelmingly in favour of remain: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/20/six-labour-mps-defy-party-whips-vote-boris-johnson-brexit-bill
urging the government: https://www.wigantoday.net/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-lisa-nandy-calls-formation-coalition-cobra-group-fight-covid-19-2504640
proposed the idea of a ‘government of national unity’: https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/boris-johnson-urged-to-consider-coalition-government-to-tackle-coronavirus-crisis
VI
Bousted and Courtney wrote another open letter to the government: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/school-opening
Dominic Raab fronted up the capitulation: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/foreign-secretarys-statement-on-coronavirus-covid-19-16-april-2020
They issued a joint statement citing various ‘tests’: https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/unions-set-out-needs-safe-reopening-schools-letter-education-secretary
‘only when safe to do so’: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/neu-petition-nears-350000-signatures
his most bizarre and rambling statement yet: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nation-on-coronavirus-10-may-2020
telling everyone that we were ‘past the peak’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU1U4AzCg2E
three rail unions had written to the PM: https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rail-unions-this-is-not-the-time-to-run-more-trains/
the union Unite had issued a statement: https://www.sochealth.co.uk/2020/05/06/unite-the-union/
Together they wrote to the Observer: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/09/trade-union-leaders-no-return-to-work-health-safety-unison-unite-tuc
The Guardian headline put it more succinctly: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/09/trade-union-leaders-no-return-to-work-health-safety-unison-unite-tuc
the TUC barked that Unite was ‘laying down conditions’: https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/risks-946-9-may-2020#_Toc39751325
In a joint statement with the TUC: https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/education-unions-statement-safe-reopening-schools
In a newspaper article on May 17: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/prime-ministers-article-in-the-mail-on-sunday-17-may-2020
on May 24, Johnson confirmed the plan: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-press-conference-statement-24-may-2020
On May 28, Johnson gave another statement to the nation: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-press-conference-statement-on-the-five-tests-28-may-2020
‘the government must accept it is simply not yet safe for the wider opening of schools’: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1263900954774167553
‘parents should not send their children back to school until it is absolutely safe’: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/teaching-union-boss-say-boris-22076061
They complained that the test and trace scheme was not in fact ‘in place’: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1264629133755199489
They cited a report by Independent SAGE: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/final-report-independent-sage-schools?utm_source=social&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=covid19&utm_content=pressrelease
They cited a survey: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1264081471138127872
They enlisted the support of the TUC: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/may/21/tuc-lack-planning-risks-chaotic-reopening-schools-england
They observed that ‘Every day more English councils are joining Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland…’: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1264855109751767040
They warned that many schools ‘say they will not open more widely…’: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1265663137816117249
They held a zoom call: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1262434514644733962
They wrote to all primary heads: https://actionnetwork.org/user_files/user_files/000/043/371/original/Primary_school_leaders_letter_27May2020.pdf
the NEU issued advice on ‘using Section 44…’: https://twitter.com/AnnieTQED/status/1266295905977643011
an open letter, published in the Mirror on 12 May: https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/neu-teachers-union-school-reopening/
the letter can be read here: https://neu.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-03/Model letter to head teachers.docx
Unison issued its members with a similar letter: https://www.unison.org.uk/model-letter-for-school-members/
A spokesperson for the PM clarified: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-lockdown-schools-reopen-teachers-primary-a9538811.html
Around a quarter: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/jun/09/school-reopening-plans-in-tatters-as-only-25-of-pupils-in-england-return
or a half: https://www.itv.com/news/2020-06-09/gavin-williamson-will-schools-education-open-in-july-britain
Some local authorities emailed every school: https://www.itv.com/news/2020-06-09/gavin-williamson-will-schools-education-open-in-july-britain
The NEU was triumphant, crowing: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/coronavirus-official-statistics-wider-opening
Kevin Courtney noted that ‘many schools intend to delay wider opening’: https://www.fenews.co.uk/skills/neu-survey-shows-realities-of-wider-opening/
Mary Bousted agreed: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1270313517934133249
they abandoned their plans for all primary schoolchildren to return: https://uk.style.yahoo.com/coronavirus-government-plan-primary-schools-reopen-summer-062124765.html
Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, tried to put a positive spin on the situation: https://www.itv.com/news/2020-06-09/gavin-williamson-will-schools-education-open-in-july-britain
A spokesperson for the PM said: https://www.cityam.com/government-ditches-plan-for-primary-pupils-to-return-by-july/
Nearly all of the 112 primary schools in Leicester reopened: https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/5-leicester-schools-closed-after-4255473
the BBC was warning of a ‘Covid surge’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-53105336
Joseph Wyglendacz, is reported to have ‘asked the council whether schools could close’: https://schoolsweek.co.uk/leicesters-covid-19-response-thwarted-by-poor-data/
Leicester’s Director of Education responded forthrightly: https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/5-leicester-schools-closed-after-4255473
In an article published a few weeks later: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31073/15-07-2020/lockdown-leicester-trade-unionists-and-parents-fight-for-safety/
he claimed that there was an ‘unusually high incidence’ of Covid-19 in children: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-53229371
‘As children have been particularly impacted by this outbreak’: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/29/leicester-coronavirus-outbreak-council-frustrated-with-ministers
‘I should have been the Mayor of Jaws and kept the beaches open’: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/world/europe/cummings-johnson-covid.html
VII
the shop workers union, USDAW, demanded the masks in shops rule: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/05/01/retailers-unions-join-forces-help-reopen-shops/
Numerous councils ‘voiced concerns’ at this time, the Guardian reported: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/20/government-rows-back-on-1-june-english-primary-schools-reopening-plan
Bousted spoke similarly: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/may/21/tuc-lack-planning-risks-chaotic-reopening-schools-england
‘more power in shaping the rules that affect their communities’: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/12/world/europe/britain-virus-liverpool-north.html
local health officials had been overruled: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/02/covid-lockdown-eased-in-two-of-englands-worst-hit-areas-despite-surge-in-cases-bolton-trafford
the government announced that there would be local lockdowns in Greater Manchester: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/breaking-government-announce-major-greater-18691720
In Blackburn alone, up to 5000 people were likely to participate: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-53532194
a meme of a green-faced Boris Johnson: https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/the-grinch-who-stole-eid-pm-feels-the-heat-over-lockdown-decision-196754/
on the radio to offer an explanation: https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/ian-payne/muslim-bame-communities-coronavirus-pandemic/
other local lockdowns that gave the impression of Muslims being singled out: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9068/CBP-9068.pdf
Luton and Blackburn went the same way on July 24: https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-luton-and-blackburn-now-areas-of-intervention-due-to-covid-19-spikes-12034861
[Full list of local lockdowns]: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9068/CBP-9068.pdf
Matt Hancock talked of councils: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pausing-of-lockdown-easements-in-blackburn-with-darwen-and-luton
warned of the Islamic community being particularly ‘at risk’: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/coronavirus-muslim-mosque-closure-prayer-nhs-a9411936.html
daubed with the words ‘was a racist’: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/winston-churchill-racist-graffiti-statue-blm-protest-westminster-a9553476.html
called for his supporters to defend statues: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8567779/English-Defence-League-founder-Tommy-Robinson-flees-country.html
clashes with BLM protestors: https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/18516509.black-lives-matter-protests-bolton-stay-peaceful/
the media reported that Robinson had ‘fled abroad’: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-leave-uk-family-move-spain-arson-a9641856.html
I found an intriguing tweet: https://twitter.com/ChrisThody/status/1289141722409312257
the words of Qari Asim: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-53606190
‘an urgent effort to avoid a centrally imposed lockdown’: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/14/blackburn-with-darwen-council-takes-action-to-avoid-local-lockdown
most of the North East went under heavier restrictions: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/stronger-measures-introduced-in-parts-of-the-north-east-to-tackle-rising-infection-rates
Middlesborough and Hartlepool, which followed: https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18762080.middlesbrough-hartlepool-face-local-lockdown-restrictions/
heavier restrictions were imposed on Liverpool: https://www.liverpoolbidcompany.com/local-covid-19-restrictions-from-22-september-in-liverpool-city-region/
Steve Rotheram called for even tougher restrictions: https://twitter.com/BBCNWT/status/1310902680022376448
A Labour councillor in the borough of Knowsley: https://twitter.com/Knowsley_Leader/status/1310938153239408641
57% of Liverpool’s residents wanted tougher restrictions: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/extra-coronavirus-lockdown-restrictions-liverpool-18995818
The unfolding story even reached the national media: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12803636/liverpool-lockdown-circuit-breaker-coronavirus/
a ‘government source’: https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/6102160/liverpool-lockdown-circuit-breaker-coronavirus/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=scottishsuntwitter&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1601412998
Liverpool went into lockdown on October 12: https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-north-idUKKBN26X22X
mayor Rotheram went on Channel 4 and dismissed the idea: https://twitter.com/MetroMayorSteve/status/1315726237202092032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1315726237202092032%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldscotland.com%2Fnews%2Fnational-news%2F18789250.government-disingenuous-suggest-local-leaders-behind-lockdown-plan—mayor%2F
six local authorities issued a joint statement: https://liverpoolexpress.co.uk/joint-statement-from-the-metro-mayor-city-mayor-and-leaders-of-the-liverpool-city-regions-six-local-authorities/
the region’s ten local authorities issued a joint statement: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/news/statement-from-greater-manchester-leaders-on-new-tier-restrictions/
the local leaders issued another statement: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/news/statement-from-the-mayor-deputy-mayors-and-all-10-greater-manchester-leaders/
Andy Burnham went on TV to rage: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/news/statement-from-the-mayor-following-talks-with-the-government-on-tier-3-restrictions/
three tiers of restrictions: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/15/tier-1-2-or-3-englands-three-stage-covid-lockdown-rules-explained
a phrase that remained central to the government’s strategy: http://whistleblowerphilosopher.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-road-to-lockdown_02121758366.html
This was the government’s ‘war game’: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/government-draws-up-drastic-plan-18702459
XIII
The number of Covid inpatients in England’s hospitals: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmp2032508
the estimate was nudging around 1: https://www.itv.com/news/2020-10-31/six-graphs-that-led-to-the-new-covid-lockdown-for-england
a joint statement to reassure parents and teachers: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/statement-from-the-uk-chief-medical-officers-on-schools-and-childcare-reopening
Since June, a petition had been circulating: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/316404
The policy was announced on July 2: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/schools-and-colleges-to-reopen-in-full-in-september
shielding advice for adults and children was ‘paused’: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/documents/c0661-letter-to-nhs-7-july-shielding-guidance-changes/
Nick Gibb told the BBC’s today programme: https://schoolsweek.co.uk/pupils-in-local-lockdown-areas-will-be-returning-to-school-in-september-insists-gibb/
Writing in the Daily Mail, he said: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8607987/BORIS-JOHNSON-Keeping-schools-closed-longer-necessary-intolerable.html
the Telegraph reported some comments: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/05/teaching-union-threatens-many-schools-will-not-open-september/
the NEU settled for a series of ‘safety’ measures: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pupils-start-returning-to-schools-in-england
advised by the government to ‘walk, cycle or scoot to school’: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pupils-start-returning-to-schools-in-england
IX
the NEU reared up: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/education-glance-report-2020
the NEU published another open letter: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/pm-failure-address-school-safety
I have watched the conference in full: https://www.tuc.org.uk/archive-congress-2020
On May 1, the Telegraph reported: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/05/01/retailers-unions-join-forces-help-reopen-shops/
the TUC stoked a work-from-home mutiny: https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/webinar-coronavirus-work
an estimated 5.6 million during the lockdowns: https://www.statista.com/statistics/312345/working-from-home-in-the-united-kingdom-levels-employed-uk-y-on-y/
around 4 million people: https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-8-4-million-were-working-from-home-last-year-as-pandemic-struck-12309068
an essay entitled ‘Covid-19: the battle in the workplace’: https://isj.org.uk/covid-19-in-the-workplace/
The furlough scheme was backdated to March 1: https://moorcrofts.com/the-furlough-scheme-what-have-we-learnt/
There was a campaign by ‘construction activists’: https://www.facebook.com/ShutTheSites/
Dave Ward made an announcement on April 1: https://www.cwu.org/news/put-workers-safety-and-essential-service-first-demands-cwu/
The UK has around 500,000 civil servants: https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/civil-service-staff-numbers#:~:text=As%20of%20the%20end%20of,than%20in%20the%20previous%20quarter
around 1.4 million local government employees: https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/councillor-development/new-councillor-hub/introduction-2
around 20% of the total: https://www.adecco.co.uk/employers/public-sector/local-government/4-day-work-week
X
a blog post which gives an insight: https://pcsleftunity.org/2021/01/10/covid-19-section-44-and-industrial-action/
sending round a survey on September 17: https://twitter.com/BenIrvineAuthor/status/1543949692471476225
PCS reiterated the invitation and also reported a stunning escalation: https://twitter.com/BenIrvineAuthor/status/1553362454540845057
According to an industry newsletter: https://www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article/perm-secs-told-to-get-80-of-civil-servants-into-the-office-by-the-end-of-september
Johnson announced to the House of Commons: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-commons-statement-on-coronavirus-22-september-2020
the Morning Star crowed about the achievement: https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/the-pm-is-for-turning
the UCU was threatening to strike in early September: https://inews.co.uk/news/education/universities-reopening-uk-coronavirus-lockdown-campus-ucu-strikes-633763
a joint statement demanding ‘80% wage support…’: https://labourlist.org/2020/10/trade-unions-mayors-mps-and-councillors-demand-80-covid-wage-support/
Sunak told the Commons that the furlough scheme would continue: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/oct/22/rishi-sunak-chancellor-covid-wage-rescue-package-businesses-second-wave
XI
the second day of the conference, Mary Bousted tweeted: https://twitter.com/MaryBoustedNEU/status/1305819857020170240
Bousted’s comment was in reference to a Guardian report: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/sep/14/englands-schools-face-paralysis-unless-testing-improves-heads-warn
On September 18, the Guardian reported: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/18/circuit-break-plans-for-england-to-prevent-new-covid-lockdown
the Financial Times ran a similar story: https://www.ft.com/content/32426394-6356-4697-ab80-a119175e4596
The Times Educational Supplement also ran the story: https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/half-term-national-lockdown-proposed-sage-scientists
SAGE published a short document: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/925854/S0769_Summary_of_effectiveness_and_harms_of_NPIs.pdf
how scientific modellers such as himself work with the government: https://twitter.com/GrahamMedley/status/1472243230213394434
On September 20, Bousted and Courtney wrote: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/neu-demands-urgent-action-testing
he wrung his hands: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1308272419963056128
Courtney disclosed that 1000 schools had been ‘partially closed’: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1308382641092268039
The union launched an online ‘Covid map’: https://www.schoolcovidmap.org.uk/
As reported in the Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8789297/Is-school-Covid-danger-zone-Online-tool-lets-parents-check-close-children-are.html
On October 3, Bousted proclaimed: https://twitter.com/MaryBoustedNEU/status/1312370281030266880
the NEU issued a new press release: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/covid-19-and-safe-return
and he highlighted some new data: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1314951739813105667
Bousted shared some NEU guidance: https://twitter.com/MaryBoustedNEU/status/1315756002902454278
Courtney noted an increase: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1315977759676682242
shared the union’s new Covid map: https://twitter.com/LiverpoolNEU/status/1311236317670445058
Liverpool’s NEU again piped up: https://twitter.com/LiverpoolNEU/status/1315710293855662085
the UCU were also kicking off there: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/11012/Staff-at-Liverpools-universities-call-for-immediate-action-to-protect-staff-students-and-local-community
on October 15 a local newspaper reported: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/more-500-schools-hit-covid-19107927
one tweet on October 16: https://twitter.com/NEU_Manchester/status/1317146299255455744
the same call on the same day: https://twitter.com/LiverpoolNEU/status/1317180583076876290
declared that the matter was ‘urgent’: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/circuit-breaker-secondary-schools-and-post-16
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster announced: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-54533643
The Guardian reported as follows: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/19/rules-wales-circuit-breaker-coronavirus-lockdown
Sturgeon announced a two week circuit breaker: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/10/23/scotlands-extension-restrictions-suggests-two-week-circuit-breaker/
Larry Flanagan wrote to the Scottish government: https://www.eis.org.uk/Content/images/corona/DFM 061020 Lockdown.pdf
Starmer called for a circuit breaker: https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-labour-idUSKBN26Y2IC
Hunt was asked about a circuit breaker and he replied: https://inews.co.uk/news/jeremy-hunt-circuit-break-lockdown-coronavirus-boris-johnson-728724
Hunt had called for weekly testing: https://twitter.com/Jeremy_Hunt/status/1316703804453203968
As reported by the Guardian on October 15: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/oct/15/uk-doctors-and-health-experts-back-covid-19-circuit-breaker
Bell’s comments: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8850107/Support-nationwide-circuit-breaker-lockdown-spreads-Tory-backbenches.html
28 million people were living in the upper tiers: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8850107/Support-nationwide-circuit-breaker-lockdown-spreads-Tory-backbenches.html
Johnson spoke at a press briefing: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/prime-ministers-statement-on-coronavirus-covid-19-16-october-2020
Michael Gove was interviewed by Sky TV: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/michael-gove-sage-circuit-breaker-lockdown-labour-coronavirus-b1126318.html
such is the testimony of Dominic Cummings: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000ygcg/bbc-news-special-dominic-cummings-the-interview
Jeremy Farrar has quoted Johnson: https://inews.co.uk/opinion/boris-johnson-self-isolation-ping-u-turn-rishi-sunak-leaders-contempt-1109564
Johnson told a commons committee: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/09/16/second-lockdown-would-disastrous-economy-boris-johnson-warns/
He even warned: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/national-lockdown-looms-8mphnk5h9
Johnson berated Starmer in parliament: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/4W7yGjAB
Johnson made an official statement to the country: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/prime-ministers-statement-on-coronavirus-covid-19-22-october-2020
the NEU launched a ‘game changing’ new app: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1321534977176207362
not every teacher or every Head was on board: https://twitter.com/brightside1974/status/1308331638577823744
The ‘Union news’ website: https://www.union-news.co.uk/neu-launches-app-to-help-teachers-escalate-action-to-close-unsafe-schools/
a similar ‘exclusive’ article: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/national-education-union-escalation-app-school-closures_uk_5fa09852c5b63dc9a5bfd837
the forthcoming vaccine was ‘likely to be imperfect’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/10/28/vaccine-likely-imperfect-might-not-prevent-infection-warns-head/
the government’s anti-circuit breaker line: https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1322091874031685632
Raab even alluded to Johnson’s ‘Hotel California’ metaphor: https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1322091874031685632
as the Independent put it: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-second-lockdown-avoid-death-peak-spike-b1473185.html?r=35744
cited the 4,000 figure: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54756950
said the Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-8899193/Boris-Johnson-considering-national-lockdown-week-England.html
The Times quoted a ‘senior government source’: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/national-lockdown-looms-8mphnk5h9
Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth barked: https://labour.org.uk/press/ashworth-respond-to-documents-that-show-covid-is-spreading-faster-in-england-than-worst-case-scenario/
England was on course to breach the ‘reasonable worse-case scenario’: https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-england-has-breached-reasonable-worst-case-scenario-for-cases-and-hospital-admissions-sage-warns-12118997
Jeremy Farrar, a SAGE member, popped up: https://twitter.com/JeremyFarrar/status/1322247436316848134
the start time was repeatedly delayed: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/boris-johnson-second-lockdown-coronavirus-b1668850.html
Vallance’s presentation included the 4,000 daily deaths figure: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/932251/Slides_presented_by_Chief_Scientific_Advisor_to_accompany_coronavirus_press_conference_31_October_2020.pdf
Next, Johnson spoke: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/prime-ministers-statement-on-coronavirus-covid-19-31-october-2020
sailed through parliament on November 4: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/lockdown-vote-results-mps-who-voted-against-new-covid-restrictions-england-list-749028
the Mail even quoted one ‘cabinet ally’: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8927413/Boris-Johnson-feels-bounced-second-coronavirus-lockdown-says-Cabinet-ally.html
Cummings was sacked: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/nov/13/dominic-cummings-has-already-left-job-at-no-10-reports
‘Number 10 sources’ allegedly told three newspapers: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/apr/25/chatty-ratty-and-the-lockdown-leak-all-you-need-to-know
plotting to oust the PM: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jul/20/boris-johnsons-aides-plotted-to-oust-him-as-pm-dominic-cummings-claims
an article about Hunt’s support for the lockdown: https://inews.co.uk/news/jeremy-hunt-circuit-break-lockdown-coronavirus-boris-johnson-728724
Johnson was reportedly ‘furious’: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8927413/Boris-Johnson-feels-bounced-second-coronavirus-lockdown-says-Cabinet-ally.html
the police may be brought in: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/coronavirus-news-covid-lockdown-england-hairdressers-gyms-shops/
the Sunday Times even alleged that MI5 had been roped in: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/apr/25/chatty-ratty-and-the-lockdown-leak-all-you-need-to-know
Johnson ‘had not finally decided to go for a lockdown…’: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/boris-johnson-second-lockdown-coronavirus-b1668850.html
challenged by eminent scientists: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/11/02/chris-whitty-patrick-vallance-called-mps-explain-second-lockdown/
the Office for Statistics Regulation commented: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-patrick-vallance-warned-worst-case-scenario-data-b1624993.html
During a grilling: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8908503/Was-lockdown-sold-LIE-Oxford-scientist-says-4-000-deaths-graph-NOT-used.html
the increase in the rate of infection had slowed: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveypilot/6november2020
72% of the public backed the second lockdown: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/health/articles-reports/2020/11/01/snap-poll-72-english-people-back-prime-ministers-p
Sky News even suggested that the government was planning: https://news.sky.com/story/boris-johnson-may-decide-to-bring-forward-announcements-on-lockdown-plans-after-details-leaked-12119494
In an interview with Sky News: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/scientists-urged-government-to-close-secondary-schools-744795?ito=twitter_share_article-top
the Department of Education issued new guidance: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-5
Teaching unions had demanded masks for the kids: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/26/unions-urge-ministers-consider-making-face-masks-compulsory/
an unequivocal response: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2020/08/04/returning-to-school-in-september-your-questions-answered/
As for the NEU, they reacted zealously: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/new-national-restrictions-schools
The NEU ran a story about a rep: https://neu.org.uk/winning-work-safety-frans-story
a reported 9,000 schoolchildren self-isolating: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1323986955315589126
There are around 20,000 state schools: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-funded_schools_(England)
the decrease in pupil attendance: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/2020-week-48
an increase in home schooling: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/943732/COVID-19_series_briefing_on_schools__November_2020.pdf
an official NEU statement to that effect: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/close-schools-national-lockdown
a ‘close the schools’ campaign: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/close-schools-and-colleges-now
some 70,000 teachers or support staff had signed up: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1322647199243784192
They wheeled out stats: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1322841661056143360
trumpeted a drop in infections: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1324722347623014404
declared a ‘health and safety month’: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1324281388007346176
called for people to write to their MPs: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1322917508630880256
issued a new statement: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/150000-support-our-campaign-close-schools-and-colleges
promoted the Escalation App: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1323545449001816071
held a reps meeting: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1324066584315469824
launched a ‘major new advertising campaign’: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1323603678809497600
enlisted the support of Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1322932589452283905
pushed the ‘Covid map’: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1324371976182505476
and berated Ofsted: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1324756580773122048
they were lamenting the reduced attendance figures: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1328706995998822401
the ‘direct result of government negligence’: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1331242769973731330
‘let the bodies pile high in their thousands’: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-dominic-cummings-lockdown-b1837326.html
XII
more areas were now in tier 3: https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/lockdown-start-when-uk-covid-rules-national-day-reflection-23-march-anniversary-restrictions-924550
One of the goals of the second lockdown: https://news.sky.com/story/boris-johnson-may-decide-to-bring-forward-announcements-on-lockdown-plans-after-details-leaked-12119494
the leaders of the four UK nations announced an ‘agreement’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55068769
the BMA issued a press release: https://www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-centre/bma-says-government-must-review-christmas-covid-plans
Chaand Nagpaul, spoke to the Times: https://twitter.com/TheBMA/status/1338987870414102530
Johnson responded defiantly on December 16: https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-christmas-lockdown-is-boris-johnsons-biggest-u-turn-of-all-12167541
he mocked Starmer for supporting heavier Christmas restrictions: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news-westminster-news-boris-johnson-keir-starmer-clash-over-advisers-wage-6836112/
‘the worst Christmas present’: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13492961/dont-put-family-at-risk-christmas-covid-top-doc/
understaffed by 80,000 people: https://twitter.com/lbc/status/1340258347094781952
In the evening, the PM caved in: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/prime-ministers-statement-on-coronavirus-covid-19-19-december-2020
The attendance level picked up slightly: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/2020-week-49
the government was threatening court action: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/dec/12/minister-threatens-school-heads-over-pre-christmas-online-lessons
One Head in Hertfordshire: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/dec/12/minister-threatens-school-heads-over-pre-christmas-online-lessons
Greenwich and Islington advised all the schools in the area to close: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/14/sadiq-khan-urges-pm-to-let-london-schools-close-early-to-combat-covid
Greenwich Council sent a letter to all Head teachers: https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/news/article/1754/update_on_school_closures
‘escalating extremely quickly’: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/13/greenwich-schools-to-close-covid-london-borough
a ‘temporary continuity direction’: https://www.lgcplus.com/services/children/greenwich-backs-down-in-school-closure-dispute-with-government-15-12-2020/
The Guardian summarised: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/13/greenwich-schools-to-close-covid-london-borough
These calls were communicated to the PM: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/dec/21/delay-school-return-in-england-by-two-weeks-over-covid-union-urges
the NEU wrote another open letter: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/schools-and-colleges-should-delay-january-opening
the start of the new school term would be delayed: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jan/01/all-primary-schools-in-london-to-remain-closed-after-u-turn
Scotland’s EIS was on the same page as the NEU: https://twitter.com/EISUnion/status/1340394460258119683
The plan was to reopen only the primary schools: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/12/26/gavin-williamson-warns-enormous-battle-avert-schools-lockdown/
Michael Gove told the BBC he was ‘confident’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-55466147
Gavin Williamson confirmed to the commons: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/education-secretary-sets-out-school-contingency-plans-for-england
Williamson then issued a public battle cry: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9107141/GAVIN-WILLIAMSON-heaven-earth-children-classroom.html
Courtney said he was ‘very pleased’: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1343853289302056961
On January 1, Bousted spoke to the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jan/01/all-primary-schools-in-london-to-remain-closed-after-u-turn
‘The pandemic is worsening hour by hour’: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1345049833950818304
a joint NEU-Unison petition: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1345469696330641409
He noted approvingly: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1345340367588175872
as the TES reported: https://www.tes.com/magazine/archived/exclusive-heads-covid-school-safety-legal-challenge
Courtney exclaimed ‘Good to hear’: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1345751509405995008
he shared a graph: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1345673346793545728
the NEU was boasting: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1345995109997965313
stay shut for two weeks at the start of term: https://twitter.com/SkyNewsBreak/status/1345423465680134149
two local Labour MPs supporting the NEU’s proposal: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/growing-calls-keep-merseyside-schools-19553998
Essex’s Tory-run council advised primary schools to stay shut: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-schools-fiasco-plunges-23256775
Reading’s Labour-run council declared: https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-primary-schools-closing-monday-19555974?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar
In Birmingham, the council said the same: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55333685
In Kent, likewise: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jan/03/parents-face-week-of-uncertainty-over-school-reopenings-in-england
in 22 out of 32 London Boroughs: https://schoolsweek.co.uk/london-boroughs-challenge-government-decision-to-keep-primaries-open/
Williamson explained vaguely: https://schoolsweek.co.uk/london-boroughs-challenge-government-decision-to-keep-primaries-open/
court action against the government: https://schoolsweek.co.uk/the-back-to-school-debacle-a-week-of-blundering-u-turns/
Sadiq Khan weighed in too: https://twitter.com/SadiqKhan/status/1345072807466643456
There was also lobbying from ‘London Councils’: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1345073234149044226
On January 1, the government caved in: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-schools-idUSKBN2962L1
Kevin Courtney bragged: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1345077356910825472
the government suddenly published the minutes of a SAGE meeting: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/948606/s0991-sage-meeting-74-covid-19.pdf
a press release with the headline: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/sage-told-govt-close-schools
the Chief Inspector of Ofsted wrote an article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/02/childrens-lives-cant-just-put-hold-wait-vaccination-programmes/
The PM made his strongest case yet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yESpx-R-Oc
the executive finalised a ‘strategy paper’: https://www.counterfire.org/articles/opinion/21971-a-lesson-from-the-teachers-how-to-take-on-the-government-and-win
Later that day, the NEU issued a press release: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/neu-advises-primary-members-it-unsafe-return-work
The model letter was supplied online: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1345476685924343813
It was a Section 44 letter: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1345785661731823618
supplied its members with two letters: https://www.gmb.org.uk/printpdf/2507
Letter 1 (Request for a Revised Risk Assessment): https://www.gmb.org.uk/sites/default/files/schools_january2020_letter1.pdf
Letter 2 (Working from Home letter if you feel unsafe): https://www.gmb.org.uk/sites/default/files/schools_january2020_letter2.pdf
but NASUWT followed GMB: https://www.left-horizons.com/2021/01/04/editorial-neu-record-union-meeting/
avoid the workplace and submit Section 44 letters: https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2021/01/UNISON-NEU-letter-to-school-leaders.pdf
there were public declarations of support: https://www.counterfire.org/articles/opinion/21971-a-lesson-from-the-teachers-how-to-take-on-the-government-and-win
The Guardian reported: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/02/government-faces-major-revolt-on-schools-reopening-in-england-over-covid-fears
Courtney was interviewed on BBC radio: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.courtney.108/videos/10159800449813974
The purpose of the call: https://www.union-news.co.uk/as-neu-calls-emergency-meeting-today-are-teachers-going-to-refuse-to-go-back-to-school/
again broke the world record: https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1345730936000946177 100,000
their latest advice to staff: https://web.archive.org/web/20220121152324/https:/neu.org.uk/january-advice
By the evening, the NEU was already reporting: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1345824767828496387
As a blogger later relayed on the Independent Left website: https://pcsindependentleft.com/2021/01/11/the-national-education-union-pcs-and-section-44/
The TES put it even more starkly: https://www.tes.com/magazine/archived/national-teacher-walk-out-over-covid-safety-expected
In the words of politics reporter, John Johnson: https://twitter.com/johnjohnstonmi/status/1346191630240542722
Section 44 letters had been handed in in 6,000 schools: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1346009766791884800
As the TES summarised: https://www.tes.com/magazine/archived/covid-safety-teachers-6000-primaries-dont-go
an indication of the overall numbers involved: https://www.counterfire.org/articles/opinion/21971-a-lesson-from-the-teachers-how-to-take-on-the-government-and-win
‘at least 25% of primary members signed section 44 letters’: https://www.fenews.co.uk/skills/neu-annual-conference-2021-outcomes/
‘a quarter of all primary school teachers… signed “section 44” letters’: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2022/apr/09/mary-bousted-on-tory-education-to-destroy-childrens-hope-is-wicked-we-do-it-on-a-grand-scale
Jeremy Hunt proclaimed on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jeremy_Hunt/status/1346063563450888192
the NEU tweeted a ‘thank you’ to Hunt: https://twitter.com/BenIrvineAuthor/status/1468037518511726596
a joint statement that day from six teaching unions: https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/education-unions-joint-statement-safe-reopening-schools
Kevin Courtney gave an interview to Sky News: https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1346001092035940352
Kier Starmer gave a round of interviews: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/schools-closed-lockdown-england-starmer-b1782129.html
his stance had been quite different: https://labourlist.org/2021/01/starmer-comes-out-in-favour-of-shutting-schools-in-fresh-england-lockdown/
Kate Green reiterated the party line: https://www.counterfire.org/articles/opinion/21971-a-lesson-from-the-teachers-how-to-take-on-the-government-and-win
here was Starmer, in the late afternoon: https://twitter.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1346137101302194177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Many teachers were angry: https://www.counterfire.org/articles/opinion/21971-a-lesson-from-the-teachers-how-to-take-on-the-government-and-win
Johnson addressed the nation: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/prime-ministers-address-to-the-nation-4-january-2021
Bousted accused Johnson of engaging in ‘brinksmanship’: https://twitter.com/MaryBoustedNEU/status/1368144875619835906
62% of people believed that Johnson had made the ‘wrong decision’: https://twitter.com/BritainElects/status/1346147677990481920
The NEU, for their part, issued a press release: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/national-lockdown-schools-and-colleges-close
the union also posted a tweet: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1346150230849368064
An email was sent round on January 5: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9118805/Covid-UK-Teaching-union-blasted-appalling-triumphalism-Boris-Johnson-shut-schools.html
‘Thank you to all the people thanking the NEU…’: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1346534329120387075
Another one included a video: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1346367728731508737
‘The Prime Minister wouldn’t #MakeSchoolsSafe so we did’: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1346226140298567687
an ‘NEU spokesperson’ was quoted in the Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9118805/Covid-UK-Teaching-union-blasted-appalling-triumphalism-Boris-Johnson-shut-schools.html
Kevin Courtney posted a video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.courtney.108/videos/10159810428973974
While discussing a recent decrease in Covid cases, he remarked: https://twitter.com/BenIrvineAuthor/status/1489260928704991241
a curious exchange between the government and the NEU: https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2021/01/UNISON-NEU-letter-to-school-leaders.pdf
the BMA announced their support for the lockdown: https://twitter.com/TheBMA/status/1346200704030019586
demanding ‘updated guidelines’ from the government: https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2021/01/unison-urges-employers-review-staff-safety-due-new-covid-variant/
On the same day, Unite bellowed: https://twitter.com/unitetheunion/status/1346740902514069504
the RMT called for ‘an industry-wide approach…’: https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-responds-to-speculation-over-rail-capacity-issues/
On January 5, they held another zoom meeting: https://twitter.com/NEUnion/status/1346519281668935683
a speech that the PM gave to Parliament: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/prime-ministers-statement-to-the-house-of-commons-on-coronavirus-27-january-2021
eight other teaching unions, issued a statement: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/joint-statement-wider-opening-schools-england
he outlined what he was now calling the government’s ‘roadmap’: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-to-the-house-of-commons-on-roadmap-for-easing-lockdown-restrictions-in-england-22-february-2021
Tania Kent, who attended the meeting, recounted the occasion in an article: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/03/03/teac-m03.html
the meeting is available online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1Fg-4HEYuM
this was recommended as a ‘temporary extra measure’: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mass-testing-for-secondary-pupils-as-all-schools-and-colleges-fully-reopenfrom8-march
as per the three remaining steps of Johnson’s roadmap: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021/covid-19-response-spring-2021-summary
confident enough to withdraw the masks in schools guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/face-coverings-no-longer-required-in-schools-and-colleges-from-17-may
The NEU and four unions wrote a letter of protest: https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2021/05/unions-call-on-schools-and-colleges-to-retain-masks/
the NEU joined with three unions: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jun/08/teaching-unions-call-for-return-of-masks-to-classrooms-in-england-covid
Johnson announced that there would be a month long-extension: https://www.google.com/search?q=a+month+long-extension+of+the+lockdown+may+2021+johnson+announced&rlz=1C1AWFC_enGB851GB851&sxsrf=ALiCzsbGU0TzAahTvDQEnyBgnI_HXVVIsQ%3A1662027803456&ei=G4gQY5G6G6O68gKm1rDYCA&ved=0ahUKEwjRs9OGsPP5AhUjnVwKHSYrDIsQ4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=a+month+long-extension+of+the+lockdown+may+2021+johnson+announced&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAM6CggAEEcQ1gQQsAM6BQghEKABOgcIABAeEKIEOgQIIRAVOgcIIRCgARAKSgQIQRgASgQIRhgAUJYCWJIUYPcUaAFwAXgAgAGLAogBgBOSAQY1LjExLjKYAQCgAQHIAQjAAQE&sclient=gws-wiz
The BMA had called for the extension: https://www.bma.org.uk/media/4198/why-the-bma-supports-a-delay-to-the-21-june-ending-of-all-coronavirus-restrictions-in-england-june-21.pdf
Johnson’s declared England free of government Covid mandates: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-at-coronavirus-press-conference-19-july-2021
The programme had been demanded in the summer: https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/bring-back-face-coverings-schools-limit-coronavirus-disruption
a Covid vaccine rollout for healthy schoolchildren was unnecessary: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jcvi-issues-advice-on-covid-19-vaccination-of-children-and-young-people
As I predicted would happen: https://twitter.com/BenIrvineAuthor/status/1430658732917239808
the government issued mask mandates for shops and trains: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-sets-out-new-measures-as-omicron-variant-identified-in-uk-27-november-2021
demands from USDAW: https://www.usdaw.org.uk/About-Us/News/2021/Nov/The-Government-was-wrong-to-water-down-safety-in-s
compulsory masks in most indoor venues: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-confirms-move-to-plan-b-in-england
‘pressure from PCS’: https://www.pcs.org.uk/news-events/news/plan-b-impact-changes-covid-restrictions-pcs-members-dwp
the furlough scheme had ended: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/examining-the-end-of-the-furlough-scheme/
demanding the reintroduction of masks in classrooms: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/29/teachers-call-for-masks-to-be-mandatory-in-english-secondary-schools
the NEU gloated in a press release: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/government-announcement-new-mitigations-be-brought-schools
the government again scrapped the masks in schools guidance: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/01/19/face-masks-in-classrooms-will-no-longer-be-required-from-20-january-and-in-communal-areas-from-27-january-what-you-need-to-know/
Bousted called the move ‘premature’: https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/lifting-mask-restrictions-branded-premature-135755911.html
a growing awareness: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10421937/Parents-fight-schools-vowed-defy-end-Plan-B-force-pupils-wear-masks.html
Covid vaccine passes were mandated: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-confirms-move-to-plan-b-in-england
Sajid Javid had said that in fact the government would not go ahead: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58535258
pressure from NHS Confederation: https://www.nhsconfed.org/news/health-leaders-urge-parliament-vote-through-plan-b-measures
and the BMA: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/oct/20/british-medical-association-says-time-is-now-for-covid-plan-b
The BMA then proceeded to call for further restrictions over Christmas: https://www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-centre/bma-warns-that-without-further-measures-nhs-could-face-almost-50-000-staff-off-sick-with-covid-19-by-christmas-day
a plan to introduce mandatory Covid vaccination: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-09/covid-19-vaccines-made-mandatory-for-nhs-workers-in-england
pushback from medical unions: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/01/30/front-line-health-staff-no-longer-need-covid-vaccines/
123,000 NHS staff could be forced out: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/11/09/mandatory-coronavirus-vaccines-could-cause-mass-exodus-healthcare/
Even the BMA said abandoning the plan was the ‘right decision’: https://www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-centre/bma-says-scrapping-mandatory-vaccination-policy-is-the-right-move-given-potentially-devastating-impact-on-staffing-and-patient-care
withdrawn in a week’s time: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/19/boris-johnson-announces-end-to-all-omicron-covid-restrictions-in-england
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