House hunting

This is a Government led by Johnson and Cummings, who are so brilliant that they do not need to run their ideas past anyone else.

How else to explain the inconsistencies ?  They 'thought' they'd made it clear that the easing would only start Wednesday, but the first reference got cut from the script, and there was no time to re-record when Boris gave the false emphasis to "Wednesday" for unlimited exercise and trips to exercise.

The official advice, still true Tuesday, is that the only people in your car should be the members of your household. But, with official advice also to stay off public transport, cars are the only way to get the work for many; so what about car-sharing ? Here comes 'cake' and 'eating it': "If you normally share a vehicle with people from other households for essential journeys, we recommend you find a different way to travel", or  "Where people from different households need to use a vehicle at the same time, good ventilation (keeping the car windows open) and facing away from each other may help to reduce the risk of transmission."

Train, tram and bus companies have made it clear it's not their responsibility to enforce 2m gaps; so presumably, everyone down the line makes a judgement as their service comes in by peering through the window. Is it too crowded in the carriages, or shall I stay on a too-crowded platform, and for how long ?  And if too many people on public transport increases R in London, Grant Shapps say he'll close it down. And presumably provide car-sharing for every key worker to get to their jobs (like Mr Shapps).

There's the tap-dancing over quarantine for incoming travellers - first everyone, then 'everyone arriving by plane', then 'not the French' and 'of course, not the Irish'. And still no implementation date. And then holidays abroad. Clearly sufficient signals were given by Shapps to airlines such that Ryanair, Tui and others made plans for a July re-start. Today, Shapps follows Hancock - no summer holidays.

As ever on a Wednesday, Radio 4's More or Less has been excellent. Everyone should listen to the interview about how 'R' is estimated. And the claim that 'R' is low in London, and high in the North East. (Which may be why Johnson and Cummings are happy to use the capital as a giant Petri dish). And be prepared to drop your jaws about UK covid-19 testing rates.

By they way, they forgot to remind you; if you're going out house-hunting today, remember to buy something within walking or cycling distance of a job. Any job that's left.