Hints at How England Lockdown will be Eased
- The roadmap for easing the coronavirus lockdown in England should be announced from 22nd February.
- Boris Johnson has hinted at what areas and industries will reopen first.
- The reopening of schools will be prioritized from 8th March, followed by non-essential retail and then hospitality venues.
- Coronavirus infection rates have fallen in all four UK nations, showing that lockdown is working.
My view
I am looking forward to the lockdown being reduced over time, again I hope we stick to a slow decrease so we can also see the effects it has and whether we would need to slow it down or not depending on if infection rates begin rising again or how effectively vaccines that have been given are working, the goal of 14 million vaccines in the four most vulnerable groups has now been reached.
Local tiered lockdowns should also not be reintroduced as it is simply too confusing and as was seen didn’t really work, it seems only a national approach in England will work to effectively decrease infection rates. I look forward to seeing how the scaledown will go and hope that it works out without many problems or delays.
Tunnel link Between Scotland and N.Ireland Suggested
- Secretary of State for Scotland suggests a 25-mile undersea tunnel to bridge gap between UK mainland (from Scotland) to N.Ireland.
- The release of a study is expected that may start formal consultation on the tunnel idea. It has been dubbed Boris’s Burrow. It is expected that the project will be announced as possible.
- Boris Johnson has been supportive of a link between Larne in NI to Stanraer in Scotland ever since 2018 when he was Foreign Secretary under Theresa May.
- Boris Johnson originally floated the idea of the link being a bridge, but it was seen as too complex and expensive, with an undersea tunnel as the preffered option.
- The undersea tunnel would provide a road and rail link and would be 25 miles long, a little behind the 31-mile long Channel/Euro Tunnel between England and France.
My view
I think this project is perfectly possible and far better than the originally proposed bridge link, undersea tunnel makes far more sense, as it has already been completed before, of course it isn’t possible to do it in all areas of the sea between land masses, but the area between NI and Scotland is possible.
But I think that those living in Scotland and N.Ireland should first be consulted themselves on whether they would like to see a link from their territory/nations to another. As we know Scotland has gained lots of support for its independence and N.Ireland may not be too far off and so it would only make sense to see what these people had to say about a link, they may well be for it as if either or both became independent then they would gain ownership of the tunnel between them.
Both devolved governments and parliaments of the two nations should also be consulted on the building of the tunnel between them. As a union of countries we should always hear on what those within it think, and not have England outright overrule their views, as this would only damage the current fragility of the union even more. I have already talked more about union and also electoral reform here, with some ideas that I’d like to see in some form.
Rapid Testing Possible Route to Reopen Places such as Nightclubs and Theatres
- Boris Johnson suggests Britons could return to nightclubs and theatres via use of rapid coronavirus tests.
- Currently nightclubs have remained closed since March last year while some theatres have only opened at reduced capacity.
- Boris Johnson said testing would be a more likely route to reopening within the UK than vaccine passports, although said vaccine passports for some international travel would be inevitable.
- Rapid lateral flow testing is already being used in universities, schools, care homes and workplaces.
My view
I think it’s good we are looking at different ways to try and open up areas and sectors that are really struggling under the coronavirus restrictions, namely the arts and entertainment sectors. I would prefer their to be rapid testing over vaccine passports, just as long as the rapid testing is proven to be reliable enough, which so far from where it has been used, does seem to be good enough.
I think we should enter into it cautiously at first though, trying it out in select areas and cities, on select places with regulated numbers of people that are slowly increased, while keeping an eye on infection rates, before slowly introducing it nationwide to such places. It is though really important to try and get these areas opened again, as many face going out of business for good. It will likely take a long time for such sectors to recover, even once the reopening phase is in full swing.
Free Speech Champion Proposal for Universities to fight Silencing and Censoring
- Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has put forward a proposal to appoint a free speech champion to fight unacceptable silencing and censoring at universities.
- Such a person would be in charge of investigating possible infringements such as deplatforming speakers and dismissing academics.
- Other measures to protect free speech on campuses have also been suggested such as free speech condition on universities in return for registering in England and receiving public funds.
- Legal requirement for universities to actively promote free speech, lawful conditions for student unions to ensure free speech for members and visiting speakers.
- Regulator Office for Students could have power to fine educational institutions for breaching free speech rules.
- Allowing people effected by loss related to breaking of free speech rules to be able to seek compensation in courts.
- Official report from 2018 showed that unpopular and controversial ideas were being opposed or discouraged on campuses, and numerous attempts to shut down such debates rather than confront them.
My view
The proposals probably didn’t come at the best of times, as coronavirus for now is keeping such places mostly closed up. I think these proposals should have been revealed at a later time where coronavirus is no longer as big of a problem.
But I do support free speech, but it is one of those real tough things that has many interpretations, many people ask what is free speech? Is it the ability to speak about absolutely anything, even if it strongly offends a certain grouping of peoples… etc. or is free speech something that needs to be regulated to a certain degree? Can free speech be taken in its most literal definition or not?
There already exist laws in the United Kingdom that some may consider going against free speech, such as outlawing of certain hate speech against minorities or that incites violence. Some people may take free speech as meaning they can be derogatory or abusive or even call for violence, clearly this sort of “free speech” should not be tolerated, but those who take free speech in the most literal of senses may disagree and say that it is free speech nonetheless. Some fear that hate speech laws may also be enforced in a disproportionate and unfair manner, especially as a way to try and deplatform someone.
But I think its clear that free speech completely uncontained isn’t really possible in this state and age and that a degree of regulation is needed to prevent bad things from happening. But again even such regulations can be subject to abuse from those who deem to use it to their own advantage or protect or advance agendas.
I think there should be some kind of independent body that aims to protect free speech in various areas, such as within educational institutions, workplaces, on social media platforms and also with the ability to challenge new legislation that could possibly degrade free speech and so on, but how it is implemented can either be a success or a complete disaster. Who controls what free speech is? Who decides what is a free speech violation and what is not?
It can be also another argument of why the United Kingdom should adopt a modern-day constitution to try and make these things more clear, any such constitution should obviously have a binding national referendum of whether to adopt it or not.
It is things like the above that need to be figured out somehow to solve the free speech paradox. As has been said many educational institutions already have their own policies on free speech and its promotion, maybe this is still the best way, or maybe such policies need a review… but again who decides and conducts such reviews? Can free speech ever be regulated in a truly impartial manner? In all honesty I don’t think this is as big of an issue as say it may be in the United States. But I can only see confrontation of this becoming a bigger and larger thing as time goes on, and is probably something we should not just keep kicking down the road for too much longer.
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