Not really because you're still stuck with 10 days quarantine in most cases either end and still subject to any rules of the specific target country (such as being a resident for Switzerland). Someone having a second home here and not being a resident wouldn't necessarily get them into the country without a mass of documentation to show at passport control to prove why they'd come here. That's just one example.

In reality they can't really block legitimate needs for actual house sales and the like (what if someone dies for example?) so it's always going to be difficult in stopping a small minority of people from taking the piss.

The point is you set the rules to stop the vast majority from doing so, which seems to be exactly what they've done and you set the fine high enough to try and dissuade people from trying it on.

I would suppose you don't *have* to have a second home. *anyone* could claim they're going out to view properties to buy so there is one rule for honest people and one rule for dishonest people aka one rule.

It wasn't long ago many people were claiming to be "influencers" to go beach locations and take pictures of themselves as part of "essential business". Not sure if that argument still stands up.

Yes indeed. Was more in answer to JackieH who is on rampage against a nothing rule this morning it seems.

Shouldn't this thread be in the international section? Not everyone here cares about Britain

Some of you I am sure, will find this wonderful. Others will find it sickening and so wrong

''The UK’s successful vaccine rollout was thanks to “greed” and “capitalism”, Boris Johnson has told Conservative MPs during a private call.

Several of those present confirmed the prime minister had made the remarks during an end-of-term Zoom meeting with Tory backbenchers, known as the 1922 Committee, on Tuesday evening, two days before the Commons breaks for Easter.

Johnson hailed the fact that more than 28 million people have been given a first jab in the UK, saying: “The reason we have the vaccine success is because of capitalism, because of greed my friends.”

Nobody forces you to get vaxed if you think that's wrong.

Despite many counterbalancing measures, Switzerland is one of the most capitalist countries there are in some aspects, especially the fact that capital gains on securites don't get taxed at all.

The west wouldn't be where it is if the entire world was one big Stalin USSR or Mao China. Feel free to move to communist Cuba and enjoy the common lifestyle there. Or to Venezuela, yet another absolutely brilliant communist success story.

I wonder if/when China starts linking vax to social credit. While we'll have a vax book/passport.

Judging by 80% of posts here most live in the UK.... Not physically, of course. After all it's English Forum. We're the intruders here lol.

It was a joke taken out of context.

Quite a few physically do live in the UK and some in the EU

Your idea of a joke is very different to mine. Out of context- you mean an official Government meeting?

What people arent allowed to joke in meetings? Why should a government meeting be different?

I merely replied to this post (jokingly may I add)

If I recall correctly a couple of days ago I read somewhere that the Britons were told to "stay home" which it didn't make any sense to me since so many people there are already vaccinated...perhaps it was some fake news or I didn't pay sufficient attention. Dinivan is right.

Depends what you call a joke.

To me, this is not one.

The prime minister's full remarks, were reported to be: "The reason we have the vaccine success is because of capitalism, because of greed, my friends."

You're literally outraged by anything aren't you?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56505374

Because it's iobviously in very poor taste to champion such things as capitalism and greed, even in a joking manner, when things of such gravity are being discussed. Hence why it was reported in the news and hence why he has now apologised. https://www.theguardian.com/politics...nson-tells-mps

Regardless of any recent vaccine success, Borins is still a gaffe-machine and complete buffoon with a near-inability to behave like a statesman.

We are talking about a 1922 committee meeting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1922_Committee

I think it's meant to be a statement about the private sector providing the vaccines rather than the state. It's not really the time or place but it's hardly a big deal.

Judging by the posts I'd say at least 80% of the people on the forum are not English.

I am glad you are saving our face!

Context is that the UK was accused of being greedy. The UK would say that the success was down to strategic planning. The "joke" is on the people who first said the UK was greedy. That's the context.