A few points I would like to add...
I read over the weekend that the measures in Liverpool that are being put in place are as a consequence of the allegations being made are more serious. The allegations against the ex-mayor, whilst contested, include intimidation as well as bribery. What has gone on in Liverpool is more than incompetence or slight financial irregularities.
The issue of the right to protest is difficult but I think that the people protesting also have an obligation not to facilitate the transmission of the virus. I agree with the issues that are being protested about and, in other circumstances, would have argued that the protests in Bristol had some justification. It is also worthwhile pointing out that the government was democratically elected and is not a dictatorship as has been described on this thread. In this instance, I think that it is a bit irresponsible, especially as there are now others ways to protest as opposed to going out on to the streets.
I love the comment about the French woman thinking that the English never took to the streets. It is a common perception in France that we are more reluctant to protest and are far more accommodating than on the continent. Of course, the French love to assemble en masse and this has been part of their culture since 1789. In the Uk, the protests almost seem quaint in comparison with what happens elsewhere. Even when there were riots throughout the country throughout the summer about ten years ago, the "protest" ultimately transpired to be more about nicking a pair of Nike trainers as to righting any social injustices.
The main problem for me is that no one is really holding the government to account. The fact that parliament is largely operating outside Westminster is making it difficult to scrutinize and this is not helped by the fact that Labour are totally ineffective. At the moment, the most credible opposition is the SNP and the comments made a few days by Len McCluskey are a clear viewed indictment of the failure of Sir Keir Starmer. It is as much a consequence of the failure of our opposition as the opportunism of the government that is allowing the likes of The Police Bill to be passed.
With regard to the longevity of Boris, I still have my doubts. The success with the vaccine and the turmoil in the EU probably demonstrate that the Euro-crats are not fit to govern and we are well shot of them. However, I think we are a long way from seeing the economic impact on trade and will not do so until the pandemic has concluded. The tragedy for me is what a Corbyn government would have been able to do in these circumstances and perhaps genuinely exploit the emergency measures that have necessarily been in place to make the kind of changes that would have benefitted everyone in the long term. I think that he would have nationalised a lot of businesses and not just the utilities as opposed to have introducing the furlough scheme. It would have been an ideal opportunity to recalibrate the country along socialist principles that would shape not only the short term future, but would have improved it in the long term too.