well now you're being a bully. oh wait sorz, thats her! and we all paid for it. literally, lol.

public engagement was lost a year ago with this government and they tried to play the game similar to the politicization trump played with it to the tune of 500k dead in the us. and now people like the gov of texas removing restrictions completely to change the story from the disastrous energy policy and disaster of the last few weeks.

no matter, here we are locked down ever more and at least its now just one month until we have a bit more then im optimistic life here in the uk will loosen quickly more thereafter, much like last year with the weather turning...but i am increasingly pessimistic on international travel until later in the summer (due to other countries) but ideally with testing and/or vaccination which is only useful if we help keep variants at bay which again requires the help of everyone, but that seems an inconvenient fact of science for many.

Leaving states to make decisions is all any President can do, even if he wants to do something else. The federal government does not have the legal authority to enforce the kinds of health care measures that other countries do. Things like this are are handled by state/local governments. All Biden can do about Texas and Mississippi ditching the mask mandates is complain. If he tried to do anything else, the courts would smack him down.

Absolutely I understand this is the case. But had there been leadership that was cohesive and putting sound health advice/regulations first and foremost then the US may have had every governor singing from the same page regarding masks, social distancing, hand washing, PPE, lockdowns etc this could have been a united front to tackle the virus. Rather than a election focused political spin issue. Which is sad in itself. It’s often about leadership rather than laws etc.

I’d go as far in this one off unprecedented historical situation that there could have been emergency legislation introduced to ensure this, but the time has gone and we will never know.

My moment came when Cummings was allowed to keep his job after the famous drive to Durham with symptoms and when he said that he drove a further 60 miles to check his eyesight. It's definitely not a statistical study but in my social circle "doing a Cummings" has actually entered the vocabulary.

Some promising news, I'm not debating about vaccine passports, but a good sign surely for 17th May if they have discussed it with HMG (maybe it might get brought forward to 1st May or just my very wishful thinking????)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56289054

My understanding from more politically connected friends is that this particular incident cut through very strongly with the public, with even Conservative MPs being on the receiving end of angry letters.

More broadly, I do feel that last summer (this incident in particular) was when the government lost a lot of its moral authority. Not dealing with it was a needless, unforced error that made the Government’s own job of convincing the population to abide by restrictions through autumn and winter that much harder.

As a lot of behavioural psychologists have pointed out, people will endure significant privations if they feel they are all in it together; once the impression is given that there is ‘one rule for us and another for them’ then social cohesion is far harder to maintain.

I have only read it quickly but I don’t think there is anything in this piece which confirms the Cypriot government has discussed its plans with HMG - only that they have unilaterally decided to make it possible (which would also explain the date discrepancy of people not being allowed to go under British law, even if Cyprus lets you in).

Travel Declaration Form is out. For something that took six weeks, its shockingly simplistic. Pleased to see that it has very reasonable suggestions regarding evidence.

That said, I think the teeth are merely the fact you are signing a statement that it is accurate with threat of penalty, direction home, or arrest.

In some ways, the suggestions of evidence (given how relatively light they are) make it actually easier, not harder to know how to travel for nonessential purposes.

Interestingly, it says form to travel WHILE STAY AT HOME restrictions are in place. I realize its not the intent, but literally speaking the form would no longer be needed post-March 29.

Seems like the Home Office kind of mailed it on this.

Do you have a link to it please?

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...claration-form

Form is linked from this explanatory page.

presumably this one https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...ational-travel

It's laughable bureaucracy. I mean you can find any one of reasons to go abroad and put it down. Also they say 'they may' check it. Sounds like the PLF's early last year.
Also when is the sunset clause? May 17?

Looks like I can go and change my resident permit. So I am allowed to travel to GR. = ).

I am surprised at how wide the list is. So you can go to a wedding, buy a house, change permits, legal reasons, etc. So basically you can leave for any reason other than a holiday.

It looks like WIP. They have just uploaded a PDF version. The Word version has a creation time of 13:28 today. Not that it was left to the last minute...

I mean, how on earth did this take them six weeks to come up with? Labor (if they are paying any attention) will have fun with this.

One of the permitted reasons for travel: "to visit a burial ground". Cemeteries in Cyprus will be busy from May 1st.