This Is The Reassurance That Nothing Has Changed

Finally, British people received the reassurance their lives are safe. Sick criminals trying to smuggle £1million worth of pure cocaine into the UK in face masks have been stopped.

Speaking in Saturday's government Coronavirus press briefing, the Home Secretary said that last week Border Force found £1million of cocaine ready to be smuggled into the UK through the channel tunnel in boxes of face masks.

The Home secretary, looking straight into the camera, reassured the public that international action to shut drug supply chains remains in place—what a relief.

The National Crime Agency helped to catch 700kg of heroin in Pakistan possibly meant for the UK, she said.

She also added that overall crime has decreased during the lockdown, but criminals have been warned that law enforcement is "onto you".

Be reassured, the secretary of state told the nation, law enforcement agencies are "adapting" during the crisis, as criminals attempt to "capitalise on this horrendous crisis".

The National Crime Agency has undertaken some exceptional work in the past weeks.

An international investigation led to the arrest of a British man suspected of possession of indecent images of children attempting to come back from the Philippines.

"We are working to protect the border" she reassured the nation already on lockdown, worrying for their lives.

Attempts of invasions, entering the UK, by small boat are being thwarted on the French side. At least 30 of those hungry criminals, who also fear for their lives, have been convicted.

We are protecting you from those that are preying on your fears and trying to take your money.

Thank Goodness for that.

We all know how expensive funerals are these days.

Every penny counts. We don't want the taxpayer to have to carry the burden.

Nothing was mentioned about the PPE or masks in the boxes of which they found the cocaine. I guess that is the price the nurses will have to pay. But they continue to have the total government support.

To show support (that some named hypocritical) for the efforts of healthcare workers, we are allowing people to break lockdown rules.

Londoners gathered on Westminster Bridge to the weekly appointment to clap for the NHS for the second week running.

Images and videos from this week's event show people breaching social distancing guidelines by being close together on the central London bridge.

Common sense was where you least expected it. Twitter users express their amusement:

"Seriously, why are the rest of us avoiding our families?" -

One said.

Another person asked:

"Why have we reached a stage where it is more important to be seen to care (usually filming yourself clapping) than to actually care?"

Government guidelines

People should leave home only for essential reasons and keep two metres apart from other people while out.

Social distancing is essential to support and protect health care workers who are putting their lives at risk each shift they work.

Yet, we like to cheer. If you think about it, we cheer a lot.

The Thursday just before he was hospitalised, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak joined the cheer as the UK applauded its NHS.

In a video that has been doing the rounds on social media, Tory MPs were cheering after blocking the bid to give a proper pay rise for nurses.

Applaud, salute and cheers... It is like being at the circus.

Then, I would like you to think about it. Cheers are almost as cost-effective as Matt Hancock "Care badge" for staff in care homes across the UK, which the coronavirus is rapidly emptying.

We have to be very clear about this.

They all had pre-existing health conditions.

What an effective way to shift the responsibility of their slow-acting, lack of preparation and a touch of ignorance.

So, in the daily press Coronavirus conference at Downing Street, after praising the, at last, National Crime Agency achievements in fighting an already low level of crimes, reporters had the chance to question on the main topic. That doesn't mean they had any clear answer.

The Home secretary is probably one of the very best at giving answers that not answer the question asked.

After all, the UK has only passed the grim milestone of 20,000 deaths in hospitals from Covid-19. And of course, we must add between 4000 and 7500 of those who died in the community.

Then we have to ignore:

A fifth of small businesses are at risk of closing

Millions of workers being furloughed

Higher level of anxiety and depression in people aged under 35, living in a city, living alone or with children, with low incomes, with health conditions.

Sharp rise in homelessness among some of the most vulnerable in society.

Problems for nurses to access Covid-19 test.

After Britain became the fifth nation to pass 20,000 deaths in hospital from Covid-19, Priti Patel restated the government's stay-at-home directions and dismissed suggestions that allowing non-essential work to continue sent mixed messages.

The government was criticised for plans to increase the immigration health surcharge for migrants non from the EU. Including doctors and nurses, from £400 to £625 per year each, starting from October.

Some have described the move as a perverse obstacle to those workers the government lacked to attract.

Should you be wondering if this was the perfect time to abolish it for those working for the NHS, Ms Patel reminded "you'll be aware of many changes they have already made around the immigration status".

The visa for NHS workers coming up for expiry was extended for one more year. They should be grateful we allowing them to risk their lives to care for our nation during this horrible crisis.

"We have a number of measures that are, under review, and we are taking a second look at everything including visas, surcharge … everything we can do to support everyone on the frontline in the NHS."

Make no mistake. Nothing has changed.

Priti Patel has the details all clearly worked out. The 'inactive people' are ideally suited to fill the positions that, ending unskilled immigration, will generate.

Some of the few millions of British workers furloughed during Covid-19 lockdown will be urged to take a second employment picking fruit and vegetables, the environment secretary said during Sunday's briefing.