conservativehome--2020-11-30--Neil O’Brien: Tomorrow’s Covid vote. We must stick to the plan – and stick together.

Neil O ’ Brien is co-Chair of the Conservative Party ’ s Policy Board , and is MP for Harborough .
I can ’ t believe they ’ ve gone .
One , a local businessman .
Not much older than me .
Full of plans , things to do , a business to build .
The other , a party supporter .
Retired , but larger than life , and full of fun .
Coronavirus got them both before their time .
There were tens of thousands like them this year .
Tomorrow night , we face a choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this pandemic .
We still have a lot of winter and spring to get through until mass vaccination , the time when the NHS comes under most strain .
And we must avoid a third set of national restrictions .
If we start from rules strong enough to keep driving down transmission of the virus , we can relax later .
In contrast , going in the other direction will test the patience of voters .
Nor do we want to grind along with infection rates stable but not falling .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can loosen up .
With the vaccine so close , people dying unnecessarily in the final months of the pandemic would be tragic .
And though polls show strong support for the measures we ’ ve taken , it would be much better to head towards the finishing line with good news about infections and restrictions falling .
Every MP wants to make sure restrictions in their area are as limited as possible .
As infections fall , we ’ ll have regular reviews .
But overall , we have to stick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With Labour and the SNP not voting against , the new Government ’ s new regulations will pass .
But we should remember the electorate brutally punishes divided parties .
Of course , there are a lot of legitimate debates about policy .
Some ask whether restrictions do more harm than good .
It ’ s a reasonable question , but I think sometimes the arguments are put back to front .
For example , during the second wave here in Leicestershire , the numbers hospitalised shot up , rising above the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But after the national restrictions came in , the infection rate turned round , and started falling .
Hospitalisation rates turned round too .
That meant that while non-urgent procedures were postponed , the measures we took came just in time to allow life-and-death services like cancer treatment to keep running throughout .
If we ’ d waited or done nothing , those services would have been forced to shut .
Restrictions saved not just coronavirus deaths , but other patients too .
It ’ s wrong to assume current restrictions are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures in spring .
And some claims are wrong : it ’ s said suicides have shot up , but the best data suggests that ’ s not true .
People ask what the economic cost is of restrictive measures .
The difficulty here is knowing what the counterfactual should be .
For example , if we ’ d let the virus rip in spring , pretty much all MPs acknowledge that the NHS would have been overwhelmed .
With TV news showing people dying in hospital car parks across the land , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heading down to the pub ?
Or out to work ?
Any estimate is guesswork .
We can see that countries like Sweden which went for looser policies had a bigger hit to their economy than their neighbours , as well as much worse health outcomes .
So it isn ’ t obvious that there has been a trade off between the economy and controlling the virus .
Sweden has had ten times the death rate of their Scandinavian neighbours , with a dramatic second wave and 397 Covid deaths in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategy has proven to be a dramatic failure , ” says Lena Einhorn , a Swedish virologist .
The country ’ s Prime Minister recently made a rare televised address , and has been forced to introduced a “ rule of eight ” on gatherings plus locally tiered restrictions .
And Sweden is far less densely populated than the UK , with more people living alone than any other country , two massive advantages .
So what has proved merely disastrous in Sweden , was arguably never even really an option for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Some arguments are over .
Media pundits pushed the idea that we had hit “ herd immunity ” , and that rising cases were just “ false positives ” .
They ’ re still peddling these ideas , but we can now see how badly they got it wrong .
In June Toby Young wrote : “ there will be no second spike – not now , and not in the autumn ” .
He claimed 91 per cent of cases were “ false positives ” : claims repeated by some MPs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office for National Statistics , true number is microscopic .
Alistair Haimes , a Covid-sceptic , wrote in August that “ it ’ s over ” ; and in September that there was “ no second wave.
” Leading Covid-sceptic Michael Yeadon wrote that thanks to “ prior imminuty ” : “ the pandemic is effectively over.
” Sunetra Gupta , a lead author of the “ Great Barrington Declaration ” , promised in May that “ the epidemic has largely come and is on its way out in this country ” … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
In August , Karol Sikora , another Great Barrington leader , said “ The gloom and doomsters are predicting another wave of it .
Where ’ s that going to come from ?
I just don ’ t believe it.
” With over 2,800 now dying a week with the virus , we can see these rosy theories were catastrophically wrong .
Other myths pushed by the media include the idea that flu has “ disappeared ” , or that Coronavirus is just displacing it .
That ’ s simply not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ dying with ” the virus , not “ dying of ” the virus .
But the Office for National Statistics looked at the data , based on doctors ’ assessments , and found : “ of 50,335 deaths between 1 March and 30 June… 46,736 had Covid-19 assigned as the underlying cause of death.
” That ’ s 93 per cent .
The argument I most dislike is that the victims of the virus were all old or would have died anyway .
It ’ s true older people are more at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died had other conditions .
But a study by academics at the University of Glasgow suggested people typically had over a decade to live based on their age and prior conditions .
A decade is worth a lot .
For my parents , the last decade involved the wedding of one son ; the birth of two grandchildren ; two others becoming young men ; adventures exploring Europe and hiking with my sister ; learning French and how to drive a canal boat ; amazing summer flowers in their little garden ; charity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for everyone who loves them ; like my daughter ( four ) .
An angry man emailed the other day to say I was obsessed with “ saving granny ” .
Well , I want to live in a culture where we value older people , not belittle their worth or regard them as an inconvenience .
A culture that would kick the old and ill into touch on grounds of efficiency would be a profoundly ill culture .
We ’ re close to the end of this thing now .
Let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No-one wanted to have to bring in these tiered restrictions .
But they are more tailored than countries like France , where all restaurants everywhere are shut till next year , and all bars are shut with no date to reopen .
Yes , we must keep supporting those for whom this year has meant hardship .
But there ’ s been more than seventy thousand excess deaths linked to the coronavirus here since mid-March .
If you read out all those people ’ s names one after another , it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have to see the bigger picture .
We have to finish the job , and beat this killer virus .

Neil O’Brien is co-Chair of the Conservative Party’s Policy Board, and is MP for Harborough.
I can’t believe they’ve gone. One, a local businessman. Not much older than me. Full of plans, things to do, a business to build. The other, a party supporter. Retired, but larger than life, and full of fun. Coronavirus got them both before their time. There were tens of thousands like them this year.
Tomorrow night, we face a choice about how we handle the final months of this pandemic. We still have a lot of winter and spring to get through until mass vaccination, the time when the NHS comes under most strain. And we must avoid a third set of national restrictions.
If we start from rules strong enough to keep driving down transmission of the virus, we can relax later. In contrast, going in the other direction will test the patience of voters.
Nor do we want to grind along with infection rates stable but not falling. We want infections coming down decisively, so we can loosen up. With the vaccine so close, people dying unnecessarily in the final months of the pandemic would be tragic.
And though polls show strong support for the measures we’ve taken, it would be much better to head towards the finishing line with good news about infections and restrictions falling.
Every MP wants to make sure restrictions in their area are as limited as possible. As infections fall, we’ll have regular reviews. But overall, we have to stick together, and stick to the plan. With Labour and the SNP not voting against, the new Government’s new regulations will pass. But we should remember the electorate brutally punishes divided parties.
Of course, there are a lot of legitimate debates about policy. Some ask whether restrictions do more harm than good. It’s a reasonable question, but I think sometimes the arguments are put back to front.
For example, during the second wave here in Leicestershire, the numbers hospitalised shot up, rising above the level we saw in the spring peak.
But after the national restrictions came in, the infection rate turned round, and started falling. Hospitalisation rates turned round too. That meant that while non-urgent procedures were postponed, the measures we took came just in time to allow life-and-death services like cancer treatment to keep running throughout.
If we’d waited or done nothing, those services would have been forced to shut. Restrictions saved not just coronavirus deaths, but other patients too.
It’s wrong to assume current restrictions are having the same effects as the emergency measures in spring. And some claims are wrong: it’s said suicides have shot up, but the best data suggests that’s not true.
People ask what the economic cost is of restrictive measures. The difficulty here is knowing what the counterfactual should be. For example, if we’d let the virus rip in spring, pretty much all MPs acknowledge that the NHS would have been overwhelmed.
With TV news showing people dying in hospital car parks across the land, how many people would still have been heading down to the pub? Or out to work? Any estimate is guesswork.
We can see that countries like Sweden which went for looser policies had a bigger hit to their economy than their neighbours, as well as much worse health outcomes. So it isn’t obvious that there has been a trade off between the economy and controlling the virus.
Sweden has had ten times the death rate of their Scandinavian neighbours, with a dramatic second wave and 397 Covid deaths in the past nine days. “Sweden’s strategy has proven to be a dramatic failure,” says Lena Einhorn, a Swedish virologist. The country’s Prime Minister recently made a rare televised address, and has been forced to introduced a “rule of eight” on gatherings plus locally tiered restrictions.
And Sweden is far less densely populated than the UK, with more people living alone than any other country, two massive advantages. So what has proved merely disastrous in Sweden, was arguably never even really an option for us. So what’s the counterfactual?
Some arguments are over. Media pundits pushed the idea that we had hit “herd immunity”, and that rising cases were just “false positives”. They’re still peddling these ideas, but we can now see how badly they got it wrong.
In June Toby Young wrote: “there will be no second spike – not now, and not in the autumn”. He claimed 91 per cent of cases were “false positives”: claims repeated by some MPs. In reality, according to the Office for National Statistics, true number is microscopic.
Alistair Haimes, a Covid-sceptic, wrote in August that “it’s over”; and in September that there was “no second wave.”
Leading Covid-sceptic Michael Yeadon wrote that thanks to “prior imminuty”: “the pandemic is effectively over.”
Sunetra Gupta, a lead author of the “Great Barrington Declaration”, promised in May that “the epidemic has largely come and is on its way out in this country” … “due to the build-up of immunity”.
In August, Karol Sikora, another Great Barrington leader, said “The gloom and doomsters are predicting another wave of it. Where’s that going to come from? I just don’t believe it.”
With over 2,800 now dying a week with the virus, we can see these rosy theories were catastrophically wrong. Other myths pushed by the media include the idea that flu has “disappeared”, or that Coronavirus is just displacing it. That’s simply not true.
Others say the victims are “dying with” the virus, not “dying of” the virus. But the Office for National Statistics looked at the data, based on doctors’ assessments, and found: “of 50,335 deaths between 1 March and 30 June… 46,736 had Covid-19 assigned as the underlying cause of death.” That’s 93 per cent.
The argument I most dislike is that the victims of the virus were all old or would have died anyway. It’s true older people are more at risk. True that many people who died had other conditions. But a study by academics at the University of Glasgow suggested people typically had over a decade to live based on their age and prior conditions.
A decade is worth a lot. For my parents, the last decade involved the wedding of one son; the birth of two grandchildren; two others becoming young men; adventures exploring Europe and hiking with my sister; learning French and how to drive a canal boat; amazing summer flowers in their little garden; charity work, friends – and being here for everyone who loves them; like my daughter (four).
An angry man emailed the other day to say I was obsessed with “saving granny”. Well, I want to live in a culture where we value older people, not belittle their worth or regard them as an inconvenience. A culture that would kick the old and ill into touch on grounds of efficiency would be a profoundly ill culture.
We’re close to the end of this thing now. Let’s not fall near the finish line. No-one wanted to have to bring in these tiered restrictions. But they are more tailored than countries like France, where all restaurants everywhere are shut till next year, and all bars are shut with no date to reopen.
Yes, we must keep supporting those for whom this year has meant hardship. But there’s been more than seventy thousand excess deaths linked to the coronavirus here since mid-March. If you read out all those people’s names one after another, it would take you more than four months.
We have to see the bigger picture. We have to finish the job, and beat this killer virus.


conservativehome--2020-11-30--David Leaf: In Bexley, we will keep on delivering top rated services – while Labour resorts to scare

David Leaf: In Bexley, we will keep on delivering top rated services – while Labour resorts to scaremongering

Cllr David Leaf is the Cabinet Member for Resources on Bexley Council .
You can tell it ’ s nearly Christmas , as its always at this time of the year that Bexley ’ s Labour councillors and their supporters , claim everything is a disaster and that the Council is about to go into bankruptcy .
They ’ ve actually now been making this claim every year since 2013 .
Then , they stated that if we were re-elected , the council would either go bankrupt or Council Tax would rise by 40 per cent – none of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made that claim , we continue to be rated as an efficient effective Council which delivers value for money for our residents , and our budget plans for 2021/22 are almost completed , four months before they need to be , and our budget will be in balance .
Our services continue to be among the best-rated services in local government , and the fruits of investments , such as investing in new street cleaning machinery ( which Labour voted against doing ) , see services improving or being modernised .
Our manifesto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and satisfaction from the residents we serve with council services remains high .
Roads are being repaired , children ’ s social care services are helping those in need , vulnerable adults continue to receive care , we remain number one for recycling as we have been for the last 15 years .
We ’ ve also secured funding to build two new schools for children with special needs .
And we ’ re also delivering new facilities for residents – a new BMX bike park in Barnehurst , a new park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sidcup and a new library is being built in Thamesmead .
We also lobbied for and now have two Covid testing centres , are working with colleagues on Dartford to reduce infection rates , and are working hard to create centres for vaccinations .
By contrast , in the last month alone , Labour-run Croydon has actually gone bankrupt with a £50 million plus budget gap , Labour-run Transport for London has gone bankrupt for the second time and had to be bailed out by the Conservative Government for the second time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ million budget gap , Ealing with a £28 million budget gap , Brent with a £29 million one , and Greenwich with a £60 million budget gap over next four years .
No wonder Bexley ’ s Labour councillors and their supporters want to distract from that shambolic record by real life Labour administrations by trotting out these usual fictions about Bexley , alongside criticising every budget proposal while never actually putting forward any ideas or solutions of their own – the same pattern as usual of course .
What ’ s shocking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should know better are frightening the life out of council staff by making all sorts of claims about how they will all lose their jobs ; our staff work really hard and to see Labour councillors almost salivating at potential job losses is sickening .
Staff I speak to have been really upset by these statements , when what is needed is a calm approach .
Yes , there will be changes to the way the Council is run , or how services are provided .
This is a difficult time for local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been felt across the sector , and across all services .
Here in Bexley , much of our income from fees and charges vanished overnight – eg parking income which helps fund highways maintenance and school road safety projects disappeared overnight .
There are some Labour supporters who think generating income for services like school road safety projects through parking income is wrong , but of course , as said above , they oppose generating income to help save lives without actually coming up with how to fund it instead .
Like all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear out of the blue – for example , from scratch we set up a food delivery network , getting hot food to vulnerable residents during the lockdown , making sure those on their own and in need of help got the support they needed .
Some 3,000 meals were being delivered , and we had a team of people collecting medicines and prescriptions for those unable to leave their homes .
It has cost the council millions of pounds overnight , money that is gradually being recouped from Central Government .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find a way through sudden and unexpected events like this .
One approach is to go into panic mode , hide away and hope everything will be fine ( a la Croydon ) or lead from the front , make decisions quickly and calmly , work hard all the time to ensure services continue to be delivered , even if in different ways for a while .
That is what we were elected to do , and what we have always done .
Yes , there are some difficult choices to make , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four elections by electing us with decisive mandates , they trust us to lead the Borough , make difficult decisions when they need to be made , and ensure that we are planning for the long term while making sure services continue to be delivered .
The consequences of not doing that can be seen in Croydon , Brent , Lewisham , Greenwich , and at Transport for London .

Cllr David Leaf is the Cabinet Member for Resources on Bexley Council.
You can tell it’s nearly Christmas, as its always at this time of the year that Bexley’s Labour councillors and their supporters, claim everything is a disaster and that the Council is about to go into bankruptcy.
They’ve actually now been making this claim every year since 2013. Then, they stated that if we were re-elected, the council would either go bankrupt or Council Tax would rise by 40 per cent – none of which happened.
Seven years since they first made that claim, we continue to be rated as an efficient effective Council which delivers value for money for our residents, and our budget plans for 2021/22 are almost completed, four months before they need to be, and our budget will be in balance. Our services continue to be among the best-rated services in local government, and the fruits of investments, such as investing in new street cleaning machinery (which Labour voted against doing), see services improving or being modernised.
Our manifesto pledges from 2018 have all been delivered, and satisfaction from the residents we serve with council services remains high. Roads are being repaired, children’s social care services are helping those in need, vulnerable adults continue to receive care, we remain number one for recycling as we have been for the last 15 years. We’ve also secured funding to build two new schools for children with special needs.
And we’re also delivering new facilities for residents – a new BMX bike park in Barnehurst, a new park, playground, and wildlife area in Sidcup and a new library is being built in Thamesmead. We also lobbied for and now have two Covid testing centres, are working with colleagues on Dartford to reduce infection rates, and are working hard to create centres for vaccinations.
By contrast, in the last month alone, Labour-run Croydon has actually gone bankrupt with a £50 million plus budget gap, Labour-run Transport for London has gone bankrupt for the second time and had to be bailed out by the Conservative Government for the second time. We see Labour-run Lewisham with a £24 million budget gap, Ealing with a £28 million budget gap, Brent with a £29 million one, and Greenwich with a £60 million budget gap over next four years.
No wonder Bexley’s Labour councillors and their supporters want to distract from that shambolic record by real life Labour administrations by trotting out these usual fictions about Bexley, alongside criticising every budget proposal while never actually putting forward any ideas or solutions of their own – the same pattern as usual of course.
What’s shocking this year is that Labour councillors who should know better are frightening the life out of council staff by making all sorts of claims about how they will all lose their jobs; our staff work really hard and to see Labour councillors almost salivating at potential job losses is sickening. Staff I speak to have been really upset by these statements, when what is needed is a calm approach.
Yes, there will be changes to the way the Council is run, or how services are provided.
This is a difficult time for local government, the impact of Covid has been felt across the sector, and across all services. Here in Bexley, much of our income from fees and charges vanished overnight – eg parking income which helps fund highways maintenance and school road safety projects disappeared overnight. There are some Labour supporters who think generating income for services like school road safety projects through parking income is wrong, but of course, as said above, they oppose generating income to help save lives without actually coming up with how to fund it instead.
Like all councils, we have had huge costs appear out of the blue – for example, from scratch we set up a food delivery network, getting hot food to vulnerable residents during the lockdown, making sure those on their own and in need of help got the support they needed. Some 3,000 meals were being delivered, and we had a team of people collecting medicines and prescriptions for those unable to leave their homes. It has cost the council millions of pounds overnight, money that is gradually being recouped from Central Government.
The test of any Council is how they find a way through sudden and unexpected events like this.
One approach is to go into panic mode, hide away and hope everything will be fine (a la Croydon) or lead from the front, make decisions quickly and calmly, work hard all the time to ensure services continue to be delivered, even if in different ways for a while. That is what we were elected to do, and what we have always done.
Yes, there are some difficult choices to make, but as Bexley residents have shown over four elections by electing us with decisive mandates, they trust us to lead the Borough, make difficult decisions when they need to be made, and ensure that we are planning for the long term while making sure services continue to be delivered. The consequences of not doing that can be seen in Croydon, Brent, Lewisham, Greenwich, and at Transport for London.


conservativehome--2020-11-30--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Schools Adjudicator – and more

Eight years ago , the TaxPayers ’ Alliance reported that “ in the last year , five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories ” .
It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party , compared to less than a third for the Conservatives .
Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts , over time , the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments .
One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number as Labour supporters .
To help remedy this , each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies , so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented .
“ The Steering Board ’ s role is to : advise on external drivers , strategic direction and development of targets , within the framework of the UK Space Agency ’ s objectives , BEIS and wider Government objectives ; bring an external perspective to provide a strategic challenge on the business and corporate plans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accounts for submission by the Accounting Officer ; advise on and provide independent assessment of performance , including process of setting of targets and performance against them ; advise on major business developments which imply a significant change in the Agency ’ s role or activities and on its exposure to and management of risk ; and to advocate and advise in relation to the promotion and awareness of the work of the UK Space Agency with stakeholders and partners.
” “ As an FE Adviser , you will work as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deputy FE Commissioners and other Advisers .
FE Advisers are generally either finance or curriculum and quality specialists and we are looking for candidates from both backgrounds to help grow our team .
In this exciting and demanding role you will support colleges through carrying out Diagnostic Assessments , designed to help them to improve the quality of education for learners , strengthen financial resilience , improve the quality of leadership and reduce the risk of interventions… You will work as an integrated part of the Department for Education ( DfE ) ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the context of the ESFA case management approach .
As such you will work closely with teams within ESFA , as well as the wider DfE and Ofsted.
” Time : Up to 200 days per annum .
“ The Panel Chair will provide strategic direction and oversight for the Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales .
Developing and maintaining a close relationship with the Minister and key members of the Welsh agricultural sector is a crucial part of the Chair ’ s role .
The Panel Chair need not be an expert in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she must have senior level experience in the private , public or voluntary sector .
The Panel Chair will have the following strategic leadership responsibilities : lead the formulation of the Panel ’ s strategy and business plans , monitoring in-year performance and examining change proposals with rigour to maintain delivery ; ensure issues are brought forward in a timely manner for effective resolution ; ensure that the Panel ’ s decisions are informed and fair , taking proper account of guidance provided by the Welsh Ministers and Welsh Government officials… ” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Science and Technology ( CST ) is the Government ’ s top-level advisory body on science and technology issues .
It reports directly to the Prime Minister on matters of science and technology that cut across the responsibilities of government departments .
It is co-chaired by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and an independent appointee .
The SARS-CoV-2 ( Covid-19 ) pandemic has highlighted the importance of science and technology in facing a challenge of such epic proportions , and in building a robust , sustainable , and equitable recovery plan for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is seeking to appoint a new Independent Co-Chair for the Council for Science and Technology .
The Government will appoint an Independent Co-Chair who will share responsibility for chairing the Council with the Government Chief Scientific Adviser ( GCSA ) .
” “ The Sports Grounds Safety Authority ( SGSA ) was established by statute as an Arms Length Public Body in 2011 taking on the full responsibilities of its predecessor body , The Football Licensing Authority .
The SGSA is the safety regulator for football grounds in England and Wales and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sports grounds safety .
The three core functions of the SGSA are : to issues licences to league and international football grounds in England and Wales to allow them to permit spectators to watch matches and to oversee local authorities in their duties to sports grounds safety and safety certification ; provide strategic support for sports grounds , governing bodies and others , both in the UK and internationally ; set and raise standards globally through developing guidance , particularly the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds ( Green Guide ) .
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
“ This Government is committed to improving the lived experience of social housing tenants and will publish the Social Housing White Paper shortly .
The Regulator plays a key role in protecting and empowering social housing tenants through a robust regulatory framework , and will therefore have a key role to play in delivering the reforms set out in the White Paper .
This will be an exciting and challenging time to join the organisation , leading transformational change to the way the Regulator works with the wider social housing sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide a challenging task for a new Chair of the regulator .
The role will require ensuring the organisation continues to deliver in these more challenging times , whilst ensuring that going forward it can respond and evolve to future policy changes and significant cultural change in the organisation.
” Time : Up to two days per week .
“ The Chair is accountable to the MOD Sponsor ( and ultimately to the Permanent Secretary and Ministers ) for the performance and effective operation of the OPA Board .
The OPA Board Chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a personal role in advising the Sponsor about the high-level business issues affecting OPA .
The Chair is responsible for : providing advice to the Sponsor and wider MOD on OPA ’ s strategic direction , objectives and risks , business performance and governance arrangements ; leading the Board to provide support and challenge to the OPA CEO and Executive Team regarding their performance , delivery consistent with the OPA strategic direction and assurance of risk management ; ensuring that the Board is effective , including assessing the performance of the Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on areas of development , typically through an annual board effectiveness review ; and when considering re-appointments… ” “ The Pensions Regulator ( TPR ) is the public body that protects workplace pensions in the UK .
TPR works with employers and those running pension schemes so that people can save safely for their retirement .
TPR aims to be a strong , visible regulator that builds people ’ s confidence in pensions .
TPR is a public body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) .
It has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brighton .
TPR works closely with the Financial Conduct Authority , which regulates personal pension schemes , and with other public bodies .
TPR is responsible for : protecting people ’ s savings in workplace pensions ; improving the way that workplace pension schemes are run ; reducing the risk of pension schemes ending up in the Pension Protection Fund ( PPF ) ; making sure employers balance the needs of their defined benefit pension scheme with growing their business ; making sure employers enrol their staff into a pension scheme and pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ automatic enrolment ’ ) .
” “ Applications are encouraged from all sections of the community to help ensure that the Sport England board is representative of the diverse society it serves .
Sport England is a government-funded Non-Departmental Public Body and National Lottery distributor .
It is responsible for supporting , growing and advocating for grassroots sport and physical activity in England in line with its statutory objectives as set out in its Royal Charter .
Its vision is to ensure that everyone , regardless of their age , background or level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sport and physical activity and it takes its strategic lead from the government ’ s sport and physical activity strategy Sporting Future : A New Strategy for an Active Nation .
The Chair will be responsible for overseeing the final stages of implementation of Sport England ’ s current Towards an Active Nation strategy ( 2017-2021 ) , and the final stages of development and roll-out of its new strategy for 2021-2025 , in close collaboration with the Deputy Chair , Chief Executive , and Executive Team.
” Time : Up to 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Financial Reporting Council ( FRC ) is to promote transparency and integrity in business .
These are cornerstones to generating public trust and confidence in UK business and help attract investment in successful companies that provide jobs , create prosperity and generate economic growth .
The FRC sets the UK Corporate Governance & Stewardship Codes which aim to make investors more accountable to their clients and beneficiaries .
The FRC also sets standards for accounting , auditing and actuarial work .
As the UK ’ s independent regulator and Competent Authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action where necessary , to promote the quality of corporate reporting and audit .
It also operates independent enforcement arrangements for accountants and actuaries.
” “ UK Shared Business Services Ltd ( UK SBS ) is a non-profit making company limited by shares .
It was established in 2007 by the UK Research Councils as part of a drive for greater value for money .
The Company provides HR & Payroll , Finance , Procurement and IT services to its owners the Department for Business , Energy & Industrial Strategy ( BEIS ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and other public sector clients .
It is recognised by the Cabinet Office as a government shared service provider and forms part of the Shared Service Strategy for Government… This is an exciting , interesting and challenging time for UK SBS ; the newly appointed Chair will provide strong leadership to guide the Company through this transformation , delivering leading-edge shared services to multiple clients at the best value and providing our end-users with the high-quality user experience they have become accustomed to in the digital age.
” “ With rapid progress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Highways England are modernising and transforming the strategic road network .
They need to demonstrate that they can meet the government ’ s commitment to zero carbon and within its committed timescales .
They also need to exploit the full potential of the digital revolution , both in their delivery , and in communications with road users and stakeholders .
That is why HE are now delivering £27.4 billion of investment between 2020 and 2025 to improve the road network ( RIS2 ) .
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You would be joining Highways England at an exciting time , with the opportunity to help shape the future of the organisation and ensure its continued success .
This will mean supporting the executive team in developing the organisation to be equipped for the immediate supply chain , technology and workplace transformation Highways England faces.
” Bank of England – External Member of the Financial Policy Committee “ The FPC is responsible for identifying , monitoring and taking action to remove or reduce systemic risks with a view to protecting and enhancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The FPC also has a secondary objective to support the Government ’ s economic policies.The FPC has wide-ranging powers of recommendation and can direct the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority to take action to address systemic risks to financial stability .
The appointment of external members to the FPC is designed to ensure that the Committee benefits from thinking and expertise in addition to that existing inside the Bank of England , and to provide constructive challenge during the Committee ’ s deliberations .
Each member of the FPC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial services and economics .
External members will be independent – they will not represent or lobby for individual groups , interests or sectors.
” “ Schools Adjudicators are office holders appointed by the Secretary of State for Education to make decisions about a range of matters relating to publicly funded schools in England .
They are statutory office holders appointed under section 25 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 .
The main function of the Schools Adjudicators is to rule on objections to and referrals about determined school admission arrangements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involves establishing whether or not arrangements conform with the requirements relating to admissions and if they do not conform , in what respect they do not conform… There are currently ten Schools Adjudicators , including the Chief Schools Adjudicator .
They are appointed for their ability to act impartially , independently and objectively .
Their role is to look afresh at all cases referred to them and consider each case on its merits in the light of the legislation , the Statutory Guidance for Decision Makers on Statutory Proposals and the School Admissions @ @ @

Eight years ago, the TaxPayers’ Alliance reported that “in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories”.
It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party, compared to less than a third for the Conservatives.
Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts, over time, the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply don’t apply in the same number as Labour supporters.
To help remedy this, each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented.
– – – – – – – – – –
UK Space Agency – Non-Executive Members/Audit Chair
“The Steering Board’s role is to: advise on external drivers, strategic direction and development of targets, within the framework of the UK Space Agency’s objectives, BEIS and wider Government objectives; bring an external perspective to provide a strategic challenge on the business and corporate plans and review and endorse the annual report and accounts for submission by the Accounting Officer; advise on and provide independent assessment of performance, including process of setting of targets and performance against them; advise on major business developments which imply a significant change in the Agency’s role or activities and on its exposure to and management of risk; and to advocate and advise in relation to the promotion and awareness of the work of the UK Space Agency with stakeholders and partners.”
Time: 20/22 days per annum.
Remuneration: £8,000/10,000 per annum honorarium.
Closes: 02 December
– – – – – – – – – –
Further Education Commissioner’s Team – Adviser
“As an FE Adviser, you will work as part of a team with the FE Commissioner, Deputy FE Commissioners and other Advisers. FE Advisers are generally either finance or curriculum and quality specialists and we are looking for candidates from both backgrounds to help grow our team. In this exciting and demanding role you will support colleges through carrying out Diagnostic Assessments, designed to help them to improve the quality of education for learners, strengthen financial resilience, improve the quality of leadership and reduce the risk of interventions… You will work as an integrated part of the Department for Education (DfE)’s overall approach to intervention, within the context of the ESFA case management approach. As such you will work closely with teams within ESFA, as well as the wider DfE and Ofsted.”
Time: Up to 200 days per annum.
Remuneration: £600 per diem.
Closes: 02 December
– – – – – – – – – –
Agricultural Advisory Panel (Wales) – Chair
“The Panel Chair will provide strategic direction and oversight for the Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales. Developing and maintaining a close relationship with the Minister and key members of the Welsh agricultural sector is a crucial part of the Chair’s role. The Panel Chair need not be an expert in the field of agriculture, he or she must have senior level experience in the private, public or voluntary sector. The Panel Chair will have the following strategic leadership responsibilities: lead the formulation of the Panel’s strategy and business plans, monitoring in-year performance and examining change proposals with rigour to maintain delivery; ensure issues are brought forward in a timely manner for effective resolution; ensure that the Panel’s decisions are informed and fair, taking proper account of guidance provided by the Welsh Ministers and Welsh Government officials…”
Time: Minimum 12 days per annum.
Remuneration: £300 per diem plus reasonable expenses.
Closes: 04 December
– – – – – – – – – –
Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology – Co-Chair
“The Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology (CST) is the Government’s top-level advisory body on science and technology issues. It reports directly to the Prime Minister on matters of science and technology that cut across the responsibilities of government departments. It is co-chaired by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and an independent appointee. The SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) pandemic has highlighted the importance of science and technology in facing a challenge of such epic proportions, and in building a robust, sustainable, and equitable recovery plan for the UK, post Covid. The Government is seeking to appoint a new Independent Co-Chair for the Council for Science and Technology. The Government will appoint an Independent Co-Chair who will share responsibility for chairing the Council with the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA).”
Time: 2-3 days per month.
Remuneration: None.
Closes: 06 December
– – – – – – – – – –
Sports Grounds Safety Authority – Chair
“The Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) was established by statute as an Arms Length Public Body in 2011 taking on the full responsibilities of its predecessor body, The Football Licensing Authority. The SGSA is the safety regulator for football grounds in England and Wales and the UK Government’s independent advisor on sports grounds safety. The three core functions of the SGSA are: to issues licences to league and international football grounds in England and Wales to allow them to permit spectators to watch matches and to oversee local authorities in their duties to sports grounds safety and safety certification; provide strategic support for sports grounds, governing bodies and others, both in the UK and internationally; set and raise standards globally through developing guidance, particularly the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (Green Guide).”
Time: Up to two days per week.
Remuneration: £36,260 per annum, plus expenses.
Closes: 08 December
– – – – – – – – – –
Regulator of Social Housing – Chair
“This Government is committed to improving the lived experience of social housing tenants and will publish the Social Housing White Paper shortly. The Regulator plays a key role in protecting and empowering social housing tenants through a robust regulatory framework, and will therefore have a key role to play in delivering the reforms set out in the White Paper. This will be an exciting and challenging time to join the organisation, leading transformational change to the way the Regulator works with the wider social housing sector. All of this is likely to provide a challenging task for a new Chair of the regulator. The role will require ensuring the organisation continues to deliver in these more challenging times, whilst ensuring that going forward it can respond and evolve to future policy changes and significant cultural change in the organisation.”
Time: Up to two days per week.
Remuneration: £65,000 per annum, plus expenses.
Closes: 13 December
– – – – – – – – – –
Oil & Pipeline Agency – Chair
“The Chair is accountable to the MOD Sponsor (and ultimately to the Permanent Secretary and Ministers) for the performance and effective operation of the OPA Board. The OPA Board Chair sets the Board’s agenda and has a personal role in advising the Sponsor about the high-level business issues affecting OPA. The Chair is responsible for: providing advice to the Sponsor and wider MOD on OPA’s strategic direction, objectives and risks, business performance and governance arrangements; leading the Board to provide support and challenge to the OPA CEO and Executive Team regarding their performance, delivery consistent with the OPA strategic direction and assurance of risk management; ensuring that the Board is effective, including assessing the performance of the Board and its NEDs, and making recommendations on areas of development, typically through an annual board effectiveness review; and when considering re-appointments…”
Time: 30 days per week.
Remuneration: £27,000 per annum, plus expenses.
Closes: 14 December
– – – – – – – – – –
The Pension Agency – Chair
“The Pensions Regulator (TPR) is the public body that protects workplace pensions in the UK. TPR works with employers and those running pension schemes so that people can save safely for their retirement. TPR aims to be a strong, visible regulator that builds people’s confidence in pensions. TPR is a public body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It has around 750 staff and is based in Brighton. TPR works closely with the Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates personal pension schemes, and with other public bodies. TPR is responsible for: protecting people’s savings in workplace pensions; improving the way that workplace pension schemes are run; reducing the risk of pension schemes ending up in the Pension Protection Fund (PPF); making sure employers balance the needs of their defined benefit pension scheme with growing their business; making sure employers enrol their staff into a pension scheme and pay money into it (known as ‘automatic enrolment’).”
Time: Two days per week.
Remuneration: £73,840 per annum.
Closes: 14 December
– – – – – – – – – –
Sport England – Chair
“Applications are encouraged from all sections of the community to help ensure that the Sport England board is representative of the diverse society it serves. Sport England is a government-funded Non-Departmental Public Body and National Lottery distributor. It is responsible for supporting, growing and advocating for grassroots sport and physical activity in England in line with its statutory objectives as set out in its Royal Charter. Its vision is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their age, background or level of ability feels able to engage in sport and physical activity and it takes its strategic lead from the government’s sport and physical activity strategy Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation. The Chair will be responsible for overseeing the final stages of implementation of Sport England’s current Towards an Active Nation strategy (2017-2021), and the final stages of development and roll-out of its new strategy for 2021-2025, in close collaboration with the Deputy Chair, Chief Executive, and Executive Team.”
Time: Up to 2 days per week.
Remuneration: £40,000 per annum.
Closes: 21 December
– – – – – – – – – –
Financial Reporting Council – Chair
“The mission of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is to promote transparency and integrity in business. These are cornerstones to generating public trust and confidence in UK business and help attract investment in successful companies that provide jobs, create prosperity and generate economic growth. The FRC sets the UK Corporate Governance & Stewardship Codes which aim to make investors more accountable to their clients and beneficiaries. The FRC also sets standards for accounting, auditing and actuarial work. As the UK’s independent regulator and Competent Authority for Audit it monitors, and takes action where necessary, to promote the quality of corporate reporting and audit. It also operates independent enforcement arrangements for accountants and actuaries.”
Time: 1.5 days per week.
Remuneration: £75,000 per annum, plus expenses.
Closes: 03 January
– – – – – – – – – –
UK Shared Business Services Ltd – Chair
“UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) is a non-profit making company limited by shares. It was established in 2007 by the UK Research Councils as part of a drive for greater value for money. The Company provides HR & Payroll, Finance, Procurement and IT services to its owners the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and other public sector clients. It is recognised by the Cabinet Office as a government shared service provider and forms part of the Shared Service Strategy for Government… This is an exciting, interesting and challenging time for UK SBS; the newly appointed Chair will provide strong leadership to guide the Company through this transformation, delivering leading-edge shared services to multiple clients at the best value and providing our end-users with the high-quality user experience they have become accustomed to in the digital age.”
Time: Max 36 days per annum.
Remuneration: £575 per annum, plus expenses.
Closes: 03 January
– – – – – – – – – –
Highways England – Chair
“With rapid progress in the development of new technologies, Highways England are modernising and transforming the strategic road network. They need to demonstrate that they can meet the government’s commitment to zero carbon and within its committed timescales. They also need to exploit the full potential of the digital revolution, both in their delivery, and in communications with road users and stakeholders. That is why HE are now delivering £27.4 billion of investment between 2020 and 2025 to improve the road network (RIS2). This is an exciting opportunity to join the Board of an organisation which keeps England moving. You would be joining Highways England at an exciting time, with the opportunity to help shape the future of the organisation and ensure its continued success. This will mean supporting the executive team in developing the organisation to be equipped for the immediate supply chain, technology and workplace transformation Highways England faces.”
Time: 24/27 days per annum
Remuneration: £25,000 per annum/plus £3,000 for chairing.
Closes: 08 January
– – – – – – – – – –
Bank of England – External Member of the Financial Policy Committee
“The FPC is responsible for identifying, monitoring and taking action to remove or reduce systemic risks with a view to protecting and enhancing the resilience of the UK financial system. The FPC also has a secondary objective to support the Government’s economic policies.The FPC has wide-ranging powers of recommendation and can direct the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority to take action to address systemic risks to financial stability. The appointment of external members to the FPC is designed to ensure that the Committee benefits from thinking and expertise in addition to that existing inside the Bank of England, and to provide constructive challenge during the Committee’s deliberations. Each member of the FPC should have expertise in the field of financial services and economics. External members will be independent – they will not represent or lobby for individual groups, interests or sectors.”
Time: 23 days per quarter.
Remuneration: £97,200.
Closes: 11 January
– – – – – – – – – –
Department for Education – Schools Adjudicator
“Schools Adjudicators are office holders appointed by the Secretary of State for Education to make decisions about a range of matters relating to publicly funded schools in England. They are statutory office holders appointed under section 25 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The main function of the Schools Adjudicators is to rule on objections to and referrals about determined school admission arrangements of all state funded schools; this involves establishing whether or not arrangements conform with the requirements relating to admissions and if they do not conform, in what respect they do not conform… There are currently ten Schools Adjudicators, including the Chief Schools Adjudicator. They are appointed for their ability to act impartially, independently and objectively. Their role is to look afresh at all cases referred to them and consider each case on its merits in the light of the legislation, the Statutory Guidance for Decision Makers on Statutory Proposals and the School Admissions Code.”
Time: Part-time.
Remuneration: £355 per diem/£58 per hour.
Closes: 29 January


conservativehome--2020-11-30--Sweden – an experiment gone terribly wrong?

Ever since Anders Tegnell , Chief Epidemiologist of Sweden ’ s public health agency , shunned the idea of a national lockdown to fight Covid-19 , his country has been the subject of intense debate .
“ Should we have done a Sweden ?
” fast became one of the most controversial questions to ask in the UK ( and no doubt other countries ) .
Sweden provoked opinions as divided as those on Brexit .
Some felt that it had been dangerously relaxed about Covid-19 , whereas others idolised its policy .
You only had to go to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had become about Sweden .
I observed one in London , where I photographed a young woman with a placard reading “ SWEDEN DID IT RIGHT !
” I wondered how my picture of her would age .
Would she be vindicated as a brave revolutionary ?
Or proved wrong ?
Right now , many would say the latter .
Sweden has shown troublesome trends in its fight with Coronavirus .
While its death rate ( 6,681 ) is low compared to many countries , the statistics are almost certainly going in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steadily increasing .
Shockingly , the European Centre for Disease Prevention says that in December , Sweden will surpass the peak death rates it suffered in April , with between 100 and 140 projected to die of the virus each day .
Furthermore , Sweden doesn ’ t compare well to its neighbours , which Tegnell once said would end up with lower levels of immunity .
Whereas Sweden has seen 630 deaths this month so far , Norway , registered 30 deaths between October 28 and November 25 .
Although Norway ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sweden ’ s , the difference is still stark , and in pursuing a more hawkish approach , Sweden doesn ’ t seem to have gained much economic benefit .
Its GDP slumped 8.6 per cent in Q2 , which was sharper than that of Denmark , Finland and Norway .
All of this has led many to conclude that Sweden has failed , and that someone is responsible for said failure .
Newspapers are quick to point the finger at Tegnell , whom they suggest is being sidelined by the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would seem that Stefan Löfven , the Swedish Prime Minister , wants more control over the pandemic .
Sweden is unique in that its health agency , as opposed to the government , is in charge of health policies .
But who knows for much longer… In the fourth ever broadcast by a Swedish PM , showing just how urgent matters have become , Löfven warned that the Covid situation would get worse before it got better , and asked Swedes to call off , cancel or postpone non-essential meetings .
The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than eight people .
But does this make Tegnell and the whole of Sweden ’ s approach a disaster ?
It ’ s easy to say yes , but the reality – like everything in Covid-19 – is more complicated than headlines suggest .
For one , Sweden has never been as radical as made out , and actually had restrictions at the beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak .
High schools and universities were closed , gatherings of more than 50 people were banned and the health authorities advised those over 70 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to stay home .
Two , there are more favourable comparisons on which to place Sweden – only they do not always get the same media traction : And three , not all of Sweden ’ s initial policies are thought of as incorrect by other governments .
It kept schools for pupils up to 16 open throughout the crisis , in a decision that has now followed . )
The reality is that Sweden , like many other countries , has simply evolved its strategy in line with new data .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote about the fact Sweden ’ s regional authorities would soon have their own ability to issue Covid-19 guidance , similar to Germany ’ s localised system .
At a national level , the health authorities became more cautious – warning people to avoid shops , restaurants and public transport .
Tegnell was especially vigilant about the elderly , as a large number of Covid-19 fatalities in the first wave of the crisis were care home deaths .
Far from being callous , which Sweden is often presented as , its initial system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked citizens to distance from one another , and to be careful , but it did not seek to legislate around their movements .
There were also some logistical points Tegnell took into account when deciding Sweden ’ s policy , such as the fact it has a low number of multi-generational households compared to other nations .
And so , these nuances have to be taken in when assessing Sweden .
Now that the vaccine has arrived , it ’ s tempting to decide what country “ did best ” , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wait for a vaccine ” policy was correct .
But there remain so many unknowns , from whether the vaccine will work ( we still don ’ t have approval ) to the scale of the economic damage , to how every little decision will play out over years and decades .
We are missing complex data , too , around population density , hospital capacity and other factors central to assessing a country ’ s performance .
In short , the answer to the question “ should we have done a Sweden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Ever since Anders Tegnell, Chief Epidemiologist of Sweden’s public health agency, shunned the idea of a national lockdown to fight Covid-19, his country has been the subject of intense debate.
“Should we have done a Sweden?” fast became one of the most controversial questions to ask in the UK (and no doubt other countries). Sweden provoked opinions as divided as those on Brexit. Some felt that it had been dangerously relaxed about Covid-19, whereas others idolised its policy.
You only had to go to an anti-lockdown protest to see how fanatical some had become about Sweden. I observed one in London, where I photographed a young woman with a placard reading “SWEDEN DID IT RIGHT!” I wondered how my picture of her would age. Would she be vindicated as a brave revolutionary? Or proved wrong?
Right now, many would say the latter. Sweden has shown troublesome trends in its fight with Coronavirus. While its death rate (6,681) is low compared to many countries, the statistics are almost certainly going in the wrong direction, with cases and deaths steadily increasing. Shockingly, the European Centre for Disease Prevention says that in December, Sweden will surpass the peak death rates it suffered in April, with between 100 and 140 projected to die of the virus each day.
Furthermore, Sweden doesn’t compare well to its neighbours, which Tegnell once said would end up with lower levels of immunity. Whereas Sweden has seen 630 deaths this month so far, Norway, registered 30 deaths between October 28 and November 25.
Although Norway’s population is around half the size of Sweden’s, the difference is still stark, and in pursuing a more hawkish approach, Sweden doesn’t seem to have gained much economic benefit. Its GDP slumped 8.6 per cent in Q2, which was sharper than that of Denmark, Finland and Norway.
All of this has led many to conclude that Sweden has failed, and that someone is responsible for said failure. Newspapers are quick to point the finger at Tegnell, whom they suggest is being sidelined by the government because of his errors.
It certainly would seem that Stefan Löfven, the Swedish Prime Minister, wants more control over the pandemic. Sweden is unique in that its health agency, as opposed to the government, is in charge of health policies. But who knows for much longer…
In the fourth ever broadcast by a Swedish PM, showing just how urgent matters have become, Löfven warned that the Covid situation would get worse before it got better, and asked Swedes to call off, cancel or postpone non-essential meetings. The government has also banned public gatherings of more than eight people.
But does this make Tegnell and the whole of Sweden’s approach a disaster? It’s easy to say yes, but the reality – like everything in Covid-19 – is more complicated than headlines suggest.
For one, Sweden has never been as radical as made out, and actually had restrictions at the beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak. High schools and universities were closed, gatherings of more than 50 people were banned and the health authorities advised those over 70, as well as people who felt ill, to stay home.
Two, there are more favourable comparisons on which to place Sweden – only they do not always get the same media traction:
Sunak says UK economic decline expected to be 11.3% this year: that’d be the second-sharpest in Europe pic.twitter.com/4W7kG5ee9h — Fraser Nelson (@FraserNelson) November 25, 2020
And three, not all of Sweden’s initial policies are thought of as incorrect by other governments. It kept schools for pupils up to 16 open throughout the crisis, in a decision that has now followed.)
The reality is that Sweden, like many other countries, has simply evolved its strategy in line with new data. In October, for instance, I wrote about the fact Sweden’s regional authorities would soon have their own ability to issue Covid-19 guidance, similar to Germany’s localised system. At a national level, the health authorities became more cautious – warning people to avoid shops, restaurants and public transport. Tegnell was especially vigilant about the elderly, as a large number of Covid-19 fatalities in the first wave of the crisis were care home deaths.
Far from being callous, which Sweden is often presented as, its initial system was always based around trust. It asked citizens to distance from one another, and to be careful, but it did not seek to legislate around their movements. There were also some logistical points Tegnell took into account when deciding Sweden’s policy, such as the fact it has a low number of multi-generational households compared to other nations.
And so, these nuances have to be taken in when assessing Sweden. Now that the vaccine has arrived, it’s tempting to decide what country “did best”, and to believe the “sit tight and wait for a vaccine” policy was correct.
But there remain so many unknowns, from whether the vaccine will work (we still don’t have approval) to the scale of the economic damage, to how every little decision will play out over years and decades. We are missing complex data, too, around population density, hospital capacity and other factors central to assessing a country’s performance. In short, the answer to the question “should we have done a Sweden?” is “who knows.”


conservativehome--2020-12-01--Our survey. Members strongly back faster liberalisation of Covid-19 restrictions.

Although for now the Government has managed to retain control over pandemic policy – thanks in part to the Opposition @ @ @ @ @ the unease of Tory MPs over the length and rigour of lockdown and other restrictions @ @ @ @ @ .
More than half of all respondents to our latest survey agreed that : ‘ @ @ @ @ @ lockdowns and restrictions faster and more widely ’ , versus less than a third who @ @ @ @ @ Government ’ s lifting of lockdowns and restrictions is proceeding in the right speed and @ @ @ @ @ per cent took the view that Ministers are moving too quickly to open the country @ @ @ @ @ asked our regular question about which broader strategy the Prime Minister should adopt to combat @ @ @ @ @ per cent backed maintaining lockdowns and other current restrictions , 42 per cent favoured using @ @ @ @ @ for such controls , and 39 per cent supported a Sweden-style approach based on voluntary @ @ @ @ @ some decline in support for the Swedish option since the autumn .

Although for now the Government has managed to retain control over pandemic policy – thanks in part to the Opposition – our survey shows that the unease of Tory MPs over the length and rigour of lockdown and other restrictions is shared by the grassroots.
More than half of all respondents to our latest survey agreed that: ‘The Government should be lifting lockdowns and restrictions faster and more widely’, versus less than a third who agreed that: ‘The Government’s lifting of lockdowns and restrictions is proceeding in the right speed and way’. Only 11 per cent took the view that Ministers are moving too quickly to open the country back up.
We also asked our regular question about which broader strategy the Prime Minister should adopt to combat Covid-19. This month 18 per cent backed maintaining lockdowns and other current restrictions, 42 per cent favoured using test-and-trace to minimise the need for such controls, and 39 per cent supported a Sweden-style approach based on voluntary social distancing. This shows some decline in support for the Swedish option since the autumn.


conservativehome--2020-12-01--Andy Street: 15 years on, we can finally heal the scars of MG Rover’s collapse

Andy Street is Mayor of the West Midlands , and is a former Managing Director of John Lewis .
The battle to protect our economy from Coronavirus has brought comparisons with previous downturns , re-examining past recessions and reminding us of the impact felt when major industrial players have collapsed .
The levels of borrowing outlined last week by Rishi Sunak are testament to the unprecedented efforts being made by Government to draw on past experiences and protect jobs as we face a new kind of recession .
Here in the West Midlands , there remain acres upon acres of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous slumps .
With government backing , we are now reclaiming these eyesores to provide new homes and job opportunities .
And as we face this latest challenge , I am hopeful that we will finally heal one of the biggest , and most painful , of these scars .
Longbridge , in Birmingham , offers an opportunity to use this economic crisis to erase the results of an infamous economic shockwave .
Completing the regeneration of Longbridge would be a powerful example of Conservative policy actively “ levelling up ” the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have waited to see this site fully reclaimed .
Let ’ s show them that after three years under a Conservative mayor , and with a new Conservative MP in place , we are ready to deliver it .
For anyone whose roots are in the West Midlands , car making holds a special place in our hearts .
As someone brought up in Northfield , just up the road from the famous Longbridge car plant , I am also very conscious of the past of our car industry .
Home of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1960s zenith was one of the world ’ s biggest car factories , employing tens of thousands of people producing ground-breaking vehicles like the Mini .
Then , of course , came the painful decline through the disastrous British Leyland years and beyond .
The causes of that decline are still the cause of much debate , but no-one can argue about the individual and collective pain that each job loss brought .
This culminated 15 years ago in the collapse of MG Rover , with the loss of the remaining 6,000 jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days in the history of Birmingham and the West Midlands .
Psychologically , the closure dented the confidence of a region with a proud automotive pedigree .
Economically , MG Rover ’ s collapse impacted on the thousands of people who worked for the firm and the massive supply chain that supported it .
Physically , when MG Rover shut its gates for the last time it left behind a vast industrial site that reminded us of the closure .
Since then , much of the site has been redeveloped .
Developer St @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , effectively building a new town centre on part of site , which also boasts a fantastic college .
Aquapak , a firm at the cutting edge of recycled polymers , recently welcomed Alok Sharma to their premises on the new business park there .
The old MG Rover site is being reshaped by a sustainable mix of businesses and housing redevelopment , including state-of-the-art senior living .
Yet every time I pass Longbridge , I look across to the parts that remain empty and think about what it once meant for local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to complete the regeneration of Longbridge , reclaiming a site that once represented one of our region ’ s most established industries , by applying one of our newest .
In the last year I have been joined by fellow Brummie Gary Sambrook , the Conservative MP for the area , in this ambition .
He has been working with developer St. Modwen to get MG Rover ’ s “ West Works ” site redeveloped , and once again generating opportunity for local people .
Together we are promoting Longbridge ’ s strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Government support through the Urban Transformation Fund .
That ’ s why I submitted Longbridge to Government as one of our region ’ s top funding bids and it is why Sambrook passionately pitched it to the Chancellor last week in the Commons debate on the Spending Review .
To put it simply , this derelict site – which has been levelled for years – could provide a quite profound and tangible example of “ levelling up ” in action , and illustrate the West Midlands ability to bounce back from adversity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the land reclamation technology being pioneered here , which up until the pandemic hit , was cleaning up derelict eyesores like Longbridge and helping us build new homes at record numbers , through our “ brownfield first ” policy .
The exciting investment in the National Brownfield Institute at Wolverhampton will cement our position as a national leader in remediation and construction technology .
It is fitting that this example of West Midlands 21st Century innovation can be put to use to “ level up ” Longbridge , given its links to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is another reason why the fate of the remaining Longbridge site would resonate so much now .
The automotive industry is facing huge challenges .
The sector is going through a revolution , illustrated by the Government ’ s ambitious decision to stop the production of petrol and diesel cars in 2030 .
Longbridge stood as a reminder of what happens when we fail to invest in our automotive sector .
The promise of £500 million in the Spending Review , to back electric battery technology and production shows the resolve not let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why the Gigafactory that is so critical to our automotive future must be built in the West Midlands .
Longbridge may , sadly , never produce another car – but the site can produce quality new jobs for local people .
With a new Gigafactory , we can recharge the automotive industry 15 years after MG Rover ’ s collapse .
By backing the regeneration of Longbridge , while investing in the West Midland ’ s automotive future , the Government can not only accelerate its ambitions to “ level up ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a profound message about our ability as a nation to bounce back .

Andy Street is Mayor of the West Midlands, and is a former Managing Director of John Lewis.
The battle to protect our economy from Coronavirus has brought comparisons with previous downturns, re-examining past recessions and reminding us of the impact felt when major industrial players have collapsed.
The levels of borrowing outlined last week by Rishi Sunak are testament to the unprecedented efforts being made by Government to draw on past experiences and protect jobs as we face a new kind of recession.
Here in the West Midlands, there remain acres upon acres of former industrial land which remind us of previous slumps. With government backing, we are now reclaiming these eyesores to provide new homes and job opportunities.
And as we face this latest challenge, I am hopeful that we will finally heal one of the biggest, and most painful, of these scars. Longbridge, in Birmingham, offers an opportunity to use this economic crisis to erase the results of an infamous economic shockwave.
Completing the regeneration of Longbridge would be a powerful example of Conservative policy actively “levelling up” the economy. For 15 years, local people have waited to see this site fully reclaimed. Let’s show them that after three years under a Conservative mayor, and with a new Conservative MP in place, we are ready to deliver it.
For anyone whose roots are in the West Midlands, car making holds a special place in our hearts. As someone brought up in Northfield, just up the road from the famous Longbridge car plant, I am also very conscious of the past of our car industry. Home of “the Austin”, Longbridge at its 1960s zenith was one of the world’s biggest car factories, employing tens of thousands of people producing ground-breaking vehicles like the Mini.
Then, of course, came the painful decline through the disastrous British Leyland years and beyond. The causes of that decline are still the cause of much debate, but no-one can argue about the individual and collective pain that each job loss brought.
This culminated 15 years ago in the collapse of MG Rover, with the loss of the remaining 6,000 jobs. It remains one of the darkest days in the history of Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Psychologically, the closure dented the confidence of a region with a proud automotive pedigree. Economically, MG Rover’s collapse impacted on the thousands of people who worked for the firm and the massive supply chain that supported it.
Physically, when MG Rover shut its gates for the last time it left behind a vast industrial site that reminded us of the closure.
Since then, much of the site has been redeveloped. Developer St Modwen has shown real ambition and vision, effectively building a new town centre on part of site, which also boasts a fantastic college. Aquapak, a firm at the cutting edge of recycled polymers, recently welcomed Alok Sharma to their premises on the new business park there.
The old MG Rover site is being reshaped by a sustainable mix of businesses and housing redevelopment, including state-of-the-art senior living. Yet every time I pass Longbridge, I look across to the parts that remain empty and think about what it once meant for local jobs.
Now I’m determined to complete the regeneration of Longbridge, reclaiming a site that once represented one of our region’s most established industries, by applying one of our newest.
In the last year I have been joined by fellow Brummie Gary Sambrook, the Conservative MP for the area, in this ambition. He has been working with developer St. Modwen to get MG Rover’s “West Works” site redeveloped, and once again generating opportunity for local people.
Together we are promoting Longbridge’s strong business case to be a critical site for Government support through the Urban Transformation Fund. That’s why I submitted Longbridge to Government as one of our region’s top funding bids and it is why Sambrook passionately pitched it to the Chancellor last week in the Commons debate on the Spending Review.
To put it simply, this derelict site – which has been levelled for years – could provide a quite profound and tangible example of “levelling up” in action, and illustrate the West Midlands ability to bounce back from adversity.
That ability is also reflected in the land reclamation technology being pioneered here, which up until the pandemic hit, was cleaning up derelict eyesores like Longbridge and helping us build new homes at record numbers, through our “brownfield first” policy.
The exciting investment in the National Brownfield Institute at Wolverhampton will cement our position as a national leader in remediation and construction technology.
It is fitting that this example of West Midlands 21st Century innovation can be put to use to “level up” Longbridge, given its links to our industrial heritage.
Of course, there is another reason why the fate of the remaining Longbridge site would resonate so much now. The automotive industry is facing huge challenges. The sector is going through a revolution, illustrated by the Government’s ambitious decision to stop the production of petrol and diesel cars in 2030.
Longbridge stood as a reminder of what happens when we fail to invest in our automotive sector. The promise of £500 million in the Spending Review, to back electric battery technology and production shows the resolve not let this happen again. That’s why the Gigafactory that is so critical to our automotive future must be built in the West Midlands.
Longbridge may, sadly, never produce another car – but the site can produce quality new jobs for local people. With a new Gigafactory, we can recharge the automotive industry 15 years after MG Rover’s collapse.
By backing the regeneration of Longbridge, while investing in the West Midland’s automotive future, the Government can not only accelerate its ambitions to “level up” the economy – it can also drive home a profound message about our ability as a nation to bounce back.


conservativehome--2020-12-01--What Thatcher’s response to the AIDS crisis teaches us about tackling the present pandemic

“ There is now a danger that has become a threat to us all , ” the soundtrack begins .
“ It is a deadly disease and there is no known cure… ” A volcano erupts , a hail of boulders rains down a cliff , and to the sound of wild , funereal music a pneumatic drill and a chisel carve from the solid rock a tombstone bearing the single word AIDS , on which a bunch of lilies is thrown .
This must be one of the most frightening public information films ever made , directed by Nic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and intended to strike fear into viewers and get them to read the “ Don ’ t Die Of Ignorance ” leaflet which was distributed to 23 million households .
On World AIDS Day , it is worth recalling that in the 1980s another pandemic struck : a lethal and mysterious illness for which there was no cure .
The parallels between AIDS and Covid-19 should not be pushed too far , but are nevertheless illuminating , and in the fulness of time have even become encouraging , for the HIV Commission today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 2030 the first country in the world to eliminate the transmission of the HIV virus , which causes AIDS .
The Commission ’ s key recommendation is “ test , test , test ” , and as one of its members , Steve Brine MP ( Con , Winchester ) , yesterday told ConHome , “ in the context of the last nine months , you really get what we ’ re saying ” .
Both pandemics struck during periods of Conservative government , and posed enormous troubles for the Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when there had been 206 confirmed cases of AIDS in the United Kingdom , of whom 114 had died , Margaret Thatcher was told by the Chief Medical Officer , Sir Donald Acheson , that it was likely AIDS could be transmitted heterosexually as well as homosexually .
What message was to be given to the public ?
In his brilliant account , beginning on page 71 of Herself Alone , the third volume of his life of Thatcher , Charles Moore quotes David Willetts , then a member of Thatcher ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ We have to walk a difficult tightrope between being accused of bureaucratic inertia , and being so active as to whip up public hysteria , ” and went on : The problem was rendered still more difficult by the close association which emerged between AIDS and homosexuality .
Some people seized the chance to express the disgust and hatred they felt for homosexuals : as Willetts warned , there was a danger of fomenting public hysteria .
Some Conservatives , and some religious leaders , urged the Prime Minister to preach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to treat AIDS as an opportunity for moralising .
For her it was a scientific and medical problem .
As Moore writes , she was happiest “ when she had a concrete and exact point to advance ” .
She was a Tory pragmatist : she wanted to solve the problem , not prate about it .
Those who have insisted on understanding her in ideological terms have often overlooked how practical she was .
But part of being practical was framing a public message about the dangers of anal sex , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was done by the Health Secretary , Norman Fowler , who in March 1986 told her that the advice to avoid anal intercourse , “ which has been linked with 85 per cent of AIDS cases so far ” , must remain in advertisements to be placed in the press , or else these would lose all “ medical authority and credibility ” .
Lord Fowler , who has worked to this day to reduce and at length eradicate HIV , has recalled how difficult things were in the 1980s , and why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bigger public health campaign , which included the television advertisements , was warranted : In the 1980s , the predictions of the scientists did not always prove accurate .
So too today .
Nevertheless , Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock prefer to present themselves as following the science , than as adherents of a theory of freedom which would allow them to ignore what the scientists were saying .
They too are Tory pragmatists , most interested in what works , even if that has to be discovered by an agonising process of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried , and with good reason , that although she and her colleagues insisted “ the Health Service is safe in our hands ” , the voters would not believe them .
Johnson can be seen guarding at every turn against that danger .
Caroline Slocock , the first female private secretary at Number Ten , has described a visit Thatcher eventually undertook to an AIDS hospice , without any press in attendance , partly because she did not wish to seem to be competing with the well-known work already done in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The first patient she sees is clearly “ very ill and has no hope of recovery ” .
Slocock goes on : “ I feel out of my depth .
I have never been at the bedside of a dying person before and I feel strongly that family and friends should be there at this moment , not us… She [ Thatcher ] responds by taking a seat by his side , asking questions , expressing sympathy , connecting in a simple and genuine way , to which he responds sweetly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother than a Prime Minister… “ After about ten minutes , we leave him and go into the second room .
Inside , sitting in a chair beside his bed , is a young American man , also extremely thin .
The virus has attacked his brain too , as it does in the final stages , we are told afterwards , and he is excited and confused .
At first he thinks she must be a creation of his own mind , a delusion .
But then he begins to believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent to him miraculously to hear his thoughts and to pass them on to President Bush .
He tells her to ring the President .
It is imperative that action is taken now to help people like him – that is his message .
He is overexcited , it is very difficult to know how to respond , and it is very , very sad .
“ I desperately want to get out of the room .
I feel responsible for putting them both through this awkward scene .
Margaret Thatcher is unfazed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time in the world .
She places her hand on his arm , asks him a few questions about his life and listens , in a way that demonstrates that she is real , not a phantom , and is there because she cares and wishes him well .
He calms down in response .
It is simple , human stuff , but I am in awe of it .
“ When we leave them , we ask the staff about their families .
It turns out that neither have felt able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gay , let alone that they have AIDS , and so they are dying alone.
” For a quite different reason , the need to prevent infection , many sufferers from Covid-19 have lived and died alone .
While reading about the 1980s , it struck me that there was often no correlation between a politician ’ s views on other questions , and what he or she thought about AIDS .
This elementary point has sometimes been overlooked in coverage of the present pandemic .
The urgent need to get things done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffering , trumps whatever abstract views one may have about the right way to set about this .
In January 2019 , when Steve Brine was serving as Public Health Minister , and three charities – The Elton John AIDS Foundation , National AIDS Trust and Terrence Higgins Trust – came to him with proposals for the eradication in England of HIV , he gave the Government ’ s support and approval to what they wanted to do , as did Matt Hancock , the Health Secretary .
A connecting thread of pragmatism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lord Lexden , the Conservative Party ’ s official historian , traces this tradition of unmoralistic pragmatism further back :

“There is now a danger that has become a threat to us all,” the soundtrack begins. “It is a deadly disease and there is no known cure…”
A volcano erupts, a hail of boulders rains down a cliff, and to the sound of wild, funereal music a pneumatic drill and a chisel carve from the solid rock a tombstone bearing the single word AIDS, on which a bunch of lilies is thrown.
This must be one of the most frightening public information films ever made, directed by Nic Roeg, voiced by John Hurt, and intended to strike fear into viewers and get them to read the “Don’t Die Of Ignorance” leaflet which was distributed to 23 million households.
On World AIDS Day, it is worth recalling that in the 1980s another pandemic struck: a lethal and mysterious illness for which there was no cure.
The parallels between AIDS and Covid-19 should not be pushed too far, but are nevertheless illuminating, and in the fulness of time have even become encouraging, for the HIV Commission today publishes its plan for England to become by 2030 the first country in the world to eliminate the transmission of the HIV virus, which causes AIDS.
The Commission’s key recommendation is “test, test, test”, and as one of its members, Steve Brine MP (Con, Winchester), yesterday told ConHome, “in the context of the last nine months, you really get what we’re saying”.
Both pandemics struck during periods of Conservative government, and posed enormous troubles for the Prime Minister of the day.
In August 1985, when there had been 206 confirmed cases of AIDS in the United Kingdom, of whom 114 had died, Margaret Thatcher was told by the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Donald Acheson, that it was likely AIDS could be transmitted heterosexually as well as homosexually.
What message was to be given to the public? In his brilliant account, beginning on page 71 of Herself Alone, the third volume of his life of Thatcher, Charles Moore quotes David Willetts, then a member of Thatcher’s Policy Unit, who told her, “We have to walk a difficult tightrope between being accused of bureaucratic inertia, and being so active as to whip up public hysteria,” and went on:
“We simply don’t know whether everybody with the virus will eventually go down with the symptoms of the disease. So we would be telling people that they may get the clinical disease, but we don’t know; and if they have got it, we can’t cure it. That’s not a very satisfactory message, but seems to be the best course out of several unattractive alternatives.”
The problem was rendered still more difficult by the close association which emerged between AIDS and homosexuality. Some people seized the chance to express the disgust and hatred they felt for homosexuals: as Willetts warned, there was a danger of fomenting public hysteria.
Some Conservatives, and some religious leaders, urged the Prime Minister to preach the virtues of abstinence.
Thatcher declined to treat AIDS as an opportunity for moralising. For her it was a scientific and medical problem. As Moore writes, she was happiest “when she had a concrete and exact point to advance”.
She was a Tory pragmatist: she wanted to solve the problem, not prate about it. Those who have insisted on understanding her in ideological terms have often overlooked how practical she was.
But part of being practical was framing a public message about the dangers of anal sex, and here she took some persuading, which was done by the Health Secretary, Norman Fowler, who in March 1986 told her that the advice to avoid anal intercourse, “which has been linked with 85 per cent of AIDS cases so far”, must remain in advertisements to be placed in the press, or else these would lose all “medical authority and credibility”.
Lord Fowler, who has worked to this day to reduce and at length eradicate HIV, has recalled how difficult things were in the 1980s, and why at the start of 1987 a yet bigger public health campaign, which included the television advertisements, was warranted:
“We had no knowledge of this disease and no drugs with which to treat it. I was reading a note the other day from the Chief Medical Officer at the time and some of the predictions as to what could happen were terrifying – we were talking millions and millions of people becoming infected. That’s why we launched what is still the biggest public health campaign there’s ever been in this country with leaflets sent out to every home.”
In the 1980s, the predictions of the scientists did not always prove accurate. So too today. Nevertheless, Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock prefer to present themselves as following the science, than as adherents of a theory of freedom which would allow them to ignore what the scientists were saying.
They too are Tory pragmatists, most interested in what works, even if that has to be discovered by an agonising process of trial and error.
Thatcher was always worried, and with good reason, that although she and her colleagues insisted “the Health Service is safe in our hands”, the voters would not believe them. Johnson can be seen guarding at every turn against that danger.
Caroline Slocock, the first female private secretary at Number Ten, has described a visit Thatcher eventually undertook to an AIDS hospice, without any press in attendance, partly because she did not wish to seem to be competing with the well-known work already done in this field by Diana, Princess of Wales.
The first patient she sees is clearly “very ill and has no hope of recovery”. Slocock goes on:
“I feel out of my depth. I have never been at the bedside of a dying person before and I feel strongly that family and friends should be there at this moment, not us… She [Thatcher] responds by taking a seat by his side, asking questions, expressing sympathy, connecting in a simple and genuine way, to which he responds sweetly. She comes across as more of a mother than a Prime Minister… “After about ten minutes, we leave him and go into the second room. Inside, sitting in a chair beside his bed, is a young American man, also extremely thin. The virus has attacked his brain too, as it does in the final stages, we are told afterwards, and he is excited and confused. At first he thinks she must be a creation of his own mind, a delusion. But then he begins to believe that she really is Margaret Thatcher, but sent to him miraculously to hear his thoughts and to pass them on to President Bush. He tells her to ring the President. It is imperative that action is taken now to help people like him – that is his message. He is overexcited, it is very difficult to know how to respond, and it is very, very sad. “I desperately want to get out of the room. I feel responsible for putting them both through this awkward scene. Margaret Thatcher is unfazed and behaves as if she has all the time in the world. She places her hand on his arm, asks him a few questions about his life and listens, in a way that demonstrates that she is real, not a phantom, and is there because she cares and wishes him well. He calms down in response. It is simple, human stuff, but I am in awe of it. “When we leave them, we ask the staff about their families. It turns out that neither have felt able to tell their parents that they are gay, let alone that they have AIDS, and so they are dying alone.”
For a quite different reason, the need to prevent infection, many sufferers from Covid-19 have lived and died alone.
While reading about the 1980s, it struck me that there was often no correlation between a politician’s views on other questions, and what he or she thought about AIDS.
This elementary point has sometimes been overlooked in coverage of the present pandemic. The urgent need to get things done, in order to avert or relieve suffering, trumps whatever abstract views one may have about the right way to set about this.
In January 2019, when Steve Brine was serving as Public Health Minister, and three charities – The Elton John AIDS Foundation, National AIDS Trust and Terrence Higgins Trust – came to him with proposals for the eradication in England of HIV, he gave the Government’s support and approval to what they wanted to do, as did Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary.
Brine said yesterday:
“We had a policy decision, we had the science that allowed us to approve it. The science of PrEP [Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis], which has been a huge game-changer, now allows us to finish the job.”
A connecting thread of pragmatism links the 1980s to the present day. Lord Lexden, the Conservative Party’s official historian, traces this tradition of unmoralistic pragmatism further back:


conservativehome--2020-12-01--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Schools Adjudicator – and more