Mail on Sunday headline story: As Britain's epidemic worsens and panic grips the public, the government will deploy troops at hospitals and outside supermarkets. In preparation for the worst-case scenario, defence sources told The Mail on Sunday that Army units were stepping up their training for public order roles. The Royal Logistics Corps are preparing to be used to escort food convoys and the Royal Army Medical Corps is poised to build tented field hospitals next to care homes. Troops trained in chemical, biological and nuclear warfare will deep-clean empty public buildings in case they need to be turned in to hospitals or morgues. Soldiers would also be stationed outside supermarkets where startling scenes unfolded the country on Saturday as desperate shoppers gutted food and toilet roll aisles. This is irresponsible gutter journalism which will only feed the panic buying frenzy. When people are being urged to stay calm, follow government advice, and there being no need to panic buy, this rag is playing on people's fears to sell copies. I have seen no announcement anywhere of troops being deployed, and sensationalist stories like this will only make the situation worse. Filthy rag
Kin ell , talk about selective criticism, I know the Mail asks fort but every Sunday headline is virtually the same! Its a valid point about the sensationalism but if you are having a go have a go at the press in general otherwise it just degenerates into yet another just another boring what do you expect from the the Tories thread.
I've just checked the i, observer, Sun, Times and Mirror and I disagree - the stories are nowhere near the above.
Yes, I did check the other papers before I posted and found that just the Heil was peddling that level of sensationalism. Mind you now they have I imagine there'll be stories of tanks outside every Spar, and the bog roll deliveries will have to have an SAS escort
I take your point about 'hype' but the core and reasoning behind Govt prep is still the right approach IMO. The effects of the Virus are likely to pale into insignificance compared to the reaction of the public to it. That's certainly been the evidence of what has happened before. Take the Blitz - a re-writing of history around 'The Blitz spirit' and 'wartime dogged resistance' when it was nothing of the sort. Rampant lawlessness and criminality when the Govt lost control -- but not of the press, so it never got reported, until years afterwards. During shitty times lots of people do shitty things. You just hope most manage to hang onto some semblance of civilization.
Id just like to point out that that the Armed forces are not large enough to post troops outside supermarkets across the UK. The army has been run down for several years now and has not got the capacity to 'guard' shopping outlets. There must be 6-7 biggish supermarkets, if not more in Barnsley alone. The army only has about 12 soldiers these days.
makes me laugh when people who have never set foot in a military base or environment call for the “troops”. Chuff me sideways it would be like something from Benny Hill
Because of the govts dithering and unclear messages people are being told to come into work after phoning in to self isolate or they not being paid . It’s ok for the decent employers or people In decent jobs but the low paid in sh it jobs are still being given hard times . This has just happened to a neighbour ,
When the 'bog rolls' run out we'll have to use the Mail. When all's said and done that's all it's good for.
You didn’t read them then? No one other than the Heil mentioned troops, but carry on being an apologist for the Heil, it helps the rest of us understand your views.
Without trying, just from memory, troops are mentioned on the front page of the Mirror and the People. Others went with respirator and bed shortages. When did I apologise for the Mail exactly? Still let’s not let facts get in the way way eh?
I never accused you of apologising. I called you an apologist, still let’s not let comprehension override ignorance.