I cannot have been alone in expressing a deep sense of frustration when hearing Steve Baker MP demanding a timescale for the ending of Covid restrictions yesterday.
My first response was to wonder what it was that was so restricting his life at present when the most impact current restrictions are likely to have on him is to require that he occasionally wear a mask.
My second reaction was to wonder on what planet he lived if he really thought it was within the power of the PM to declare that Covid was over for good and we can go back to what, no doubt, he thinks to be ‘normal' without any further actions being taken.
The simple fact is that we now know that the policy of letting Covid rip through the country without precautions being taken is deeply destructive of well-being, people's health, of lives and livelihoods, and for the NHS. Despite this, it would appear that this is what Baker wants. If normality is what he desires his route to achieving it is the worst available.
We do have ways of mitigating Covid. In the first instance, it has to be acknowledged that this disease is airborne and therefore all measures to stop its transmission have to take that fact into account. Quite bizarrely, this is still not the official case and so we still see things like hand sanitiser on offer as if they provide any solution to this problem. They don't.
Second, given that Covid is airborne the drive has to be for clean air. In the short term this requires the installation of as many HEPA air filtration units in schools, hospitals, workplaces, universities, hospitality locations and other places where people gather as is possible. They are proven to eliminate the vast majority of Covid from the air. To put it quite simply, they are the most effective known current mechanism for stopping the transmission of this disease. Stopping that transmission is essential to both bringing the rate of infection down and stopping new mutations developing. Government funding to assist this programme is essential.
Third, Until such time as these units are in place compulsory mask wearing in public spaces is essential. The masks in question should be at least N95s or FFP2s. Quite bizarrely, even NHS staff are not being issued with these at present in an act of irresponsibility by our government. Their provision should be made compulsory by employers and within schools, and once again government funding should be provided because this is the cheapest option by far to beating this disease.
Fourth, vaccination for the world has to happen. We cannot beat this disease in isolation. This means that the government has to join with others in making vaccines available, patent free, to developing countries. The cost is insignificant compared to the benefits obtained.
Fifth, new vaccine development has to continue, using public funding, with the aim being that these should not have proprietary ownership.
Sixth, the resources required to police these measures have to be made available. The underfunding of law enforcement of all sorts has to end.
Seventh, the risk that there will be further outbreaks of Covid has to be accepted and that means that significant additional resources must be invested in the NHS so that it has the capacity to deal with any future crisis. A decade of underfunding is now undermining confidence in UK healthcare, and we cannot afford that.
Eighth, there has to be political commitment to public health in the future. Steve Baker appears to be dedicated to opposing this essential public service as if he denies that there is such a thing as a public good. He is wrong. We can all benefit from firm communal action to tackle issues that we are individually completely unable to address. Responsible politicians have to state this, time and again.
In other words, Steve Baker can have what he wants, but not in the way that he wants it and not in the way that our current prime minister is willing to deliver it. If, though, we are to return to something that looks like a normal life and coexist with Covid then this is what we must do. Steve Baker's alternative, of letting it rip through society is wholly unacceptable. There is only one solution to this problem, and the state is at the heart of it.
Thanks for reading this post.
You can share this post on social media of your choice by clicking these icons:
You can subscribe to this blog's daily email here.
And if you would like to support this blog you can, here:
You are not alone. Shockingly ignorant of reality.
From the ERG to the CRG, with not even one simple publication of anything resembling ‘research’, Baker and his ilk are continuing to chase unicorns and to hold parliament – and by extension, the country’s public health measures – to ransom.
In that regard, depressingly, not much has changed since June 2016.
I suspect that Baker and his chums in the ERG/CRG have spent so long being completely wrong about anything and everything, that it has become a habit which is simply impossible to break.
For the longer term, the chaos in our healthcare system which will ensue over the next month or so given the lack of sensible measures by the government (as demanded by Baker & Co, of course), will hopefully make the British public realise just how much proper investment in the NHS and social care matters. Despite the empty words of support from government, what we should be seeing right now are plans to increase the numbers of doctors and nurses in training, ready to fill the gaps which will appear due to burnout and stress during the worst days of the pandemic (it will obviously be long-term scheme due to the time it takes to train these professions). We then need to increase the number of training places for doctors and nurses even more so that we aren’t so reliant on poaching healthcare workers from poorer countries and can properly staff our healthcare service. Will this be easy? No. Will it be expensive? Yes. But it is certainly necessary.
Who knows, it might even keep some of the exhausted healthcare staff in their jobs as they see the shortages are understood and an attempt to address them is being made. I’d also suggest a hefty bonus to NHS staff, preferably through a proper pay rise.
I tend to doubt that the Tories will ever do what is necessary, so this is what Starmer’s Labour Party should be running his campaign on. At the worst, if it leads to the Tories matching their promises (and the LibDems as well, of course), at least we’ll then get the necessary improvement in the future.
Steve Baker is the epitome of modern Toryism – a man in power who wants to do nothing more than dismantle state power in the name of ‘liberty’.
A simple minded contrarian masquerading as a liberal. Whatever that is.
in other words throw us all to the wolves in the market (which I realise is not really fair on our lupine friends).
I can honestly say that I detest a lot of Tories for various reasons – their arrogance, cruelty etc., but he is the only one I detest because of the the knowing evil little smile that comes to his gob when he brings up scatological little points in debates when he knows he’s talking absolute shite.
And also for daring to think that he is clever enough to be in Parliament at all. Although looking at the all the benches at the moment I’m not so sure that he has any exclusive rights on that point.
I’m sorry but to treat the rabid demands of an aircraft mechanic with the same respect as a medical doctor only demonstrates how crazy this country has become.
ChrisK
Unless, of course, the medical doctor is Liam Fox?
Not Fox. I meant a real thinking, capable and caring doctor, not another rabid Tory misfit.
Belated Happy New Year Richard. Great article highlighting all the many problems that were happening even before the pandemic. Our classrooms and places for work should all be properly ventilated and heated to help stop the spread of airborne infections. We didn’t have recognized effective PPE for our health care staff in hospitals and care homes from the beginning so no wonder they still don’t have it now as part of their everyday armor against all disease. We also don’t have the man power due to high tuition fees and Brexit Unfortunately because this government was allowed to roll out a vaccination programme for their own political agenda they were also allowed to hang everything on getting vaccinated and blame the public if it failed. Clearly vaccination alone was never the answer and has been proven by the latest high infection rates . Jabbing the whole population every 3 months is not the answer ( echoed by leading immunologist WW). So all your many ideas are needed so we can start to safely live with this virus. I hope everyone is ensuring they take Vit D3 , zinc and at the moment Vit C everyday. It does boost your general health to get through all the usual cross infections around. Also make sure you all get out for a proper daily walk preferably in fresh air! Unfortunately it’s unlikely that Starmer’s Labour will campaign for the NHs as we lost the only leader who has been doing that relentlessly for the past decade. I fear it is now too late.
Tories seriously bereft of IQ . Truss for PM .Godhelpus .Labour the same
Stephen Baker is suffering from belief in his own propaganda.
He seems to believe that individualism is the answer to everything. The state and collective action to resolve common problems, and indeed democracy itself he sees as a plot to deprive the rich of their wealth and privileges.
This means he instinctively resists any sort of collective action to common threats. That means denying a role to public health measures, defunding the NHS, opposition to the EU and the WHO, tax rises, public spending.
He is consistent however: consistently wrong.
Happy new year by the way. Its my first post for a while (VPN problems). Glad to see you are in good form!
He claims to be a born again Chrsitian
GHe has clearly not read the Gospels or Acts – especially the early chapters
The discussion by Johnson about ending free lateral flow tests and media coverage with a common headline about ‘living with the virus and ending mass vaccination’ are clear indications that the debate is being engineered, putting costs to the fore. The elite, of course, will have access to vaccines. Starmer assists by regretting a hundred and fifty thousand deaths, while making not a mention of government policy’s role in this!
Unfortunately I think it’s all policy, not a mistake at all. Albeit policy that doesn’t actually add up; is inconsistent and contradictory; inhumane verging on genocidal.
Flimsy masks, hand sanitiser, social distancing, etc for the public are largely individual responsibility and cost. Good
Flimsy masks and PPE for NHS staff = mass sick leave. Good (Nationalised health care can’t cope, bring in private healthcare)
Air filter policy, planning and installation is government / public sector responsibility / investment and needs expertise and regulation. Bad
Vaccine mandates for NHS staff = mass resignations. Good (Nationalised healthcare can’t cope, bring in private healthcare)
Patented vaccines = private profit. Good
Decade of underfunding is undermining confidence in UK healthcare. Good (NHS can’t cope, private healthcare is better)
They want to get their hands on more of the data / profits of privatised healthcare (so many of them have shares in it https://bylinetimes.com/2021/11/12/the-conservative-partys-private-healthcare-patrons/).