Follow UK guidelines and stop confusion

The four home countries should come out of lockdown in the same way and at the same time.
We have one UK Goverment which consists of MPs from the four countries. If we don't do the same things at the same time it will create confusion.
For example, if someone from Scotland is allowed to go to a second home and it is in the Lake District,
can they go if England has a different rule?

Why the contribution is important

We should have clarity for everyone. Different rules for different countries will create disharmony and anger.

by Billy51 on May 07, 2020 at 09:27PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 2.6
Based on: 28 votes

Comments

  • Posted by MaighstirTodt May 07, 2020 at 21:40

    But what if the UK government guidelines will put lives at risk, are you happy for people to die just so you can visit your second home in the Lake District?

  • Posted by jacq9396 May 07, 2020 at 21:41

    The UK has areas which are very different, in terms of geography and population density. A one stop approach is not sensible in the path a deadly pandemic. Various countries across the world have employed different methods of minimising harm to their populations, with greater or lesser success. It is the function of devolved government to bring a tailored response to protection of their citizens. Each of the UK governments should act in good faith to support each other but the priority has to be acting on behalf of citizens in that area, so that as many people as possible survive.

  • Posted by Anneofstirling May 07, 2020 at 22:16

    I absolutely trust our intelkigent, compassionate First Minister to make the best decision for the people of Scotland for whom she carries the very onerous responsibility. Other countries such as Australia & Canada (both of whom have very small infection and death rates) are having no problems with different rules in different parts of the country. We have four nations in UK. The leaders of each must decide what is best for the people in their country. Confusion will not arise if people follow the rules in their own country. Travel to each of other nations in UK may need to be restricted to contain the spread. Australia and Canada have restricted travel among states/provinces. BBC and media in general need to get on board and ensure that information is clearly shared for EACH of the four nations. Likewise, government at Westminster need to make clear when rules apply to England only. Current language in media is deliberately creating binary positions in the populace. They have to act responsibly.

  • Posted by MarionY May 08, 2020 at 00:16

    I agree that it would be a clearer message to the public if UK and devolved countries had a single approach but that approach needs to be considerate of the country who has the highest R rating and only applied when that country's R rating is low enough to take any risk of reducing lockdown restrictions

  • Posted by JohnHarvey May 08, 2020 at 03:55

    Sorry but I don't agree.
    If the rate of infection is higher in say Scotland that say England then Scotland stays in lockdown & vice versa.
    Until we have a localized system of infection tracking we as a nation have to maintain the present state.
    Moving forward say we can come up with a highly advanced system of check, trace & vaccination then is far more localized then we can move to a town by town restrictions this then allows us to either use a drug treatment to stem the disease or an antibody based vaccine this will take time.
    Lockdown should continue until June for the whole of the UK for the safety of all corners of the British isles.

  • Posted by Josh May 08, 2020 at 07:18

    Highly localised differences in the rules will cause confusion, but doing the right thing for each of our nations is not going to be so complicated for people that they can’t navigate it: we all know whether we live in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland and it’s not so hard to keep abreast of what the rules are, indeed, there are already differences in many areas of life pre-lockdown, but no one’s especially confused that we can’t buy booze in Scotland before 10am, and in England they can.

    If one nation remains in lockdown longer than others, it will need to be communicated widely that people shouldn’t travel between them outside of essential purposes, with a sensitive approach in the border communities, but all of this is perfectly manageable. Scotland is a long way from London and the Midlands, so things don’t happen at the same time. We shouldn’t leave lockdown too early, nor ask another nation to wait for us to be ready.

  • Posted by HarrisSch May 08, 2020 at 07:31

    My problem with the UK Government is that they look at London being the whole country. Is what is right for London the right way for the whole of Scotland, or even Devon and Cornwall. I fear that political decisions will be made rather than sensible health and safety decisions.

  • Posted by ErnestWastell May 08, 2020 at 08:02

    Owners of second homes should accept that for the meantime it is out of reach. The NHS across the UK is geared up for the number of people registered with a GP in that area. If rural areas and seaside resorts are flooded with those who normally reside in another area their resources could be over burdened and ultimately fail those full time residents. Second home owners must not think of themselves in isolation. Everyone fortunate enough to own a second home is facing the same problem. If you are worried about your property contact someone you know and trust in the area and ask them to check it over once in a while. It will save you money on petrol and avoid resentment from your neighbours in Cumbria.

  • Posted by Malcolm May 08, 2020 at 09:43

    Whilst taking the point, I have to disagree. This argument tends to descend into a political Scotland/England issue, driving people into their tribal corners. It's greater than that. Does it not make sense for NI to have a closer alignment with RoI? England itself holds a variety of outbreaks, depending on the locality. Which one would be chosen to determine the end of lockdown? London or Tyneside or Cornwall? Same in Scotland: Inverclyde or Orkney? Do you move at the pace of the fastest, or the slowest? All these regions should be able to make up their own minds, to meet the needs of their local conditions. Yes, there could be confusion, by those inclined to be confused, but this is an attempt at finding a way forward. Saying, "confusion", then walking away won't help us progress.
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