I think its good if they create a bit of nationalism/patriotism over the vaccine, especially if it becomes seen as a national goal to get the vaccine rolled out and the population fully vaccinated to reach herd immunity before the Europeans/Americans/others do it.

It will be a line that speaks to a section of the population who would otherwise be susceptible to the conspiracy mindset - the vaccine is a plot by globalist elites funded by Bill Gates to microchip us as part of a way to take away our rights etc.

Should we mention that The Russians are ALREADY vaccinating their people, even before the UK !

tbf if I was in Russia I'd be paranoid about what was in my coffee never mind an injection in the arm.

Today they have announced mass testing at schools in Essex, Kent and London to try to improve their increasing COVID rate. I don’t remember this ever being suggested for Yorkshire, the North East or Manchester is it because they are not important enough to the government, so much for levelling up.
I notice that our numbers are falling close to the average and in some cases below, do you think they will reduce us to level 2. We all know the answer because I think many believe that you cannot allow those uncouth northerners to be allowed any freedoms because they would just waste it and what do they provide to the economy.

Are you suggesting that the data is being manipulated for political gain

Not so much manipulated but nudged to benefit those areas Boris wants to keep in or reduce to 2 in order the keep businesses open and appease many in his party. The levelling up agenda going well, I presume his idea of the North is Watford.

Why would he favour London for political gain? The tories have more seats in the North.

Yes but they consider London to be the centre of wealth earning in the U.K. and they need it open for this reason. This is why it was reported that Boris overruled the evidence which indicated it should be in level 3.

So he's doing what he thinks is best for the whole country. Yes?

FX: Tugs forelock.

Why did Boris bury the July SAGE report which suggested that more money needed to be given to the North to compensate for the application of tougher restrictions. I guess it could be because he didn’t want to give us additional funding because his idea of levelling up is much like him calling a no deal an Australian deal, just words.

Not buried very deep if you know about it.

While he keeps London "open", the press will go a little easier on him - it's not difficult.

The numbers in some parts of London have been significantly higher than Yorkshire but, the criteria (no of hospital beds etc) has allowed those areas to be kept in the lower tier.
The grief for increased restrictions will, as always, be deemed worse when it affects those in the Capital and the home counties.
Unfortunately, London and other areas are at a point now, where the Government will have to act.

Why should he be perceived to favour either, all people ask for is consistency- the mass testing of schools in London feels like a final slap in the face to me. He was “lucky” that labour were such a mess they gave the tories the northern vote. Labour still seem a mess to me, although better for Starmer being in charge, but the southern bias is sticking out like a sore thumb at the moment, and along with cocking Brexit up their going to lose a lot of seats next time round - and the northern Tory MP’s know it will be them