Rarely has the government tried so hard to convince us that the conduct of an individual was within its guidelines - when it clearly wasn't.

Cummings drove about 250 mile to Durham, with his family - and the details only came to light through the investigation and publication of a national newspaper.

For the government to attempt to justify this obvious and serious breach of coronavirus guidelines - is both foolhardy and damaging to them.

And the right course was (and remains) for Cummings to resign - as senior government officials must be seen to observe. Helpfully, there are few precedents.

I agree, Barney. Do they seriously think they can gaslight the whole nation?

vindictive - let it go. (What's the big deal!)

Barney wrote:
Rarely has the government tried so hard to convince us that the conduct of an individual was within its guidelines - when it clearly wasn't.

Cummings drove about 250 mile to Durham, with his family - and the details only came to light through the investigation and publication of a national newspaper.

For the government to attempt to justify this obvious and serious breach of coronavirus guidelines - is both foolhardy and damaging to them.

And the right course was (and remains) for Cummings to resign - as senior government officials must be seen to observe. Helpfully, there are few precedents.




Yes I agree Barney.

Personally I don't give a toss what DC did. But given he has been a key player in the appalling and inept UK response (and all the misery to come) he needs to fall on his sword; or be pushed.

How dare he foist this poisonous situation on us, and then take the piss out of it and us behind the scenes.

Barney wrote:
Cummings drove about 250 mile to Durham, with his family


Now, it's come to light that the family embarked on this long journey - more than once!

I really don’t like politics.. but in this case I think resigning would be an
over reaction. He has an important role in Borris’s government and
experience and to just throw him over deck doesn’t really do anyone much good.

I think £100,000 fine, a slap on the wrists and have him get back to work
is probably an approach to consider.

wjlmarsh wrote:
vindictive - let it go. (What's the big deal!)


Few things are worse - than a government lying to its people...

Little Sausage wrote:
I really don’t like politics.. but in this case I think resigning would be an
over reaction. He has an important role in Borris’s government and
experience and to just throw him over deck doesn’t really do anyone much good.

I think £100,000 fine, a slap on the wrists and have him get back to work
is probably an approach to consider.

A slap in the face from every person who had to stay away from relatives in hospital, and who could not bury them, and had to grieve alone is another approach to consider!

I am at a loss to see how anyone thinks this is ok. Even the Cummings dont think this is ok. If they did, surely Mrs Cummings would have mentioned it when she wrote about their illness in her article?

How does a healthy woman travelling to her other house coming into contact with nobody lose her job, and a man who is not at risk of passing covid on or becoming infected himself, having already had the illness, lose his job for dallying with a girlfriend, yet some dickhead WITH THE VIRUS drives through the country potentially infecting people and this is "doing the right thing" ? Bollocks!

I dont care if we lock down or not. But someone responsible for making the rules should have the decency to follow them.

I'm sure the government can now say lockdown is over. There will be 2 groups of people. 1. Is the grafters and shoppers 2. Is the worry type and dossers.

After my stroll along the glorious Thames in Surrey today I think the lockdown is pretty much over. People have had enough, and after this situation with Cummings there will be even less impetus to follow guidelines.

Let's just get things open as sensibly as possible and get on with things while there are businesses that can still open.

Barney wrote:
Rarely has the government tried so hard to convince us that the conduct of an individual was within its guidelines - when it clearly wasn't.



Until the 5pm Downing Street briefing today, that is!

When Boris was - at best - disingenuous, and made CummingsGate even worse.

Many won't accept his laborious response and spurious explanations.

And it's most surprising that Boris attempted such subterfuge - live on TV.

Barney wrote:
Barney wrote:
Rarely has the government tried so hard to convince us that the conduct of an individual was within its guidelines - when it clearly wasn't.



Until the 5pm Downing Street briefing today, that is!

When Boris was - at best - disingenuous, and made CummingsGate even worse.

Many won't accept his laborious response and spurious explanations.

And it's most surprising that Boris attempted such subterfuge - live on TV.


.

It was a waste of time.

Open up barbers and hairdressers asap.

I'm confused...

Boris held "extensive face to face talks" with Dom today. I thought we are supposed to be working from home whenever we can do so?

Do I need to get my staff all back in the office Tuesday?

Would a phone or skype not have sufficed?

Or could Dom not hold the pistol to the PM's head over the phone? Dom must suremy have some serious shit on him..

Whether you think that Cummings should be sacked or not, the government has handled this very badly. They should have just admitted that Cummings has made a slight breach of the guidelines and apologise(Does the man ever speak!). Putting Grant Shapps on Sky news at 9.00 and then Andrew Marr at 9.30 to say that there was no breach of the rules makes him look ridiculous. Why can't the man speak for himself. How can travelling to Durham be considered as Staying at Home. I don't think there was a major risk from his actions, its not like he was holding a barbecue or party, but it is still a breach of rules that he had a major part in defining.

For a man that is supposed to be a genius, he has made some pretty dumb decisions. Employing someone with past white supremacist views on his twitter feed, and now thinking he can travel up to Durham during a lockdown. I think he should go and it won't be a major loss. Every big decision he has made has come with massive collateral damage (The sign on the side of the bus and the decision to prorogate parliament had very damaging consequencies.).

I suspect that Boris took the apparantly idiotic stance of defending DC because he had no choice.

It will emerge that Boris knew all about Dom's trip(s). If he had sacked DC because of them yesterday, once this news emerges Boris, would be in an impossible position, as opposed to just a totally shit one.

wyot wrote:
I'm confused...

Boris held "extensive face to face talks" with Dom today. I thought we are supposed to be working from home whenever we can do so?

Do I need to get my staff all back in the office Tuesday?



Yes, Wyot. Please do. This farce has gone on far too long.

robbiex wrote:
Every big decision he has made has come with massive collateral damage


Not quite - he coined 'Get Brexit Done'

One of the most successful and effective political slogans

That is why Boris is so grateful - and supportive

Just shows how arrogant they are. The rules don't apply to them. They're just for the little people.

I agree, Barney, about the "Get Brexit done" slogan. That and "Vote Leave, take back control". Very effective at hypnotising the masses. Boris won't want to get rid of his Machiavelli.

Honey wrote:
wyot wrote:
I'm confused...

Boris held "extensive face to face talks" with Dom today. I thought we are supposed to be working from home whenever we can do so?

Do I need to get my staff all back in the office Tuesday?



Yes, Wyot. Please do. This farce has gone on far too long.

Hasn't it just Honey. I feel so bored of it today I could scream. I wish we could just drown out all the media noise from our lives, and someone just let me know when the farce has ended and we are back to normal....

Barney wrote:
robbiex wrote:
Every big decision he has made has come with massive collateral damage


Not quite - he coined 'Get Brexit Done'

One of the most successful and effective political slogans

That is why Boris is so grateful - and supportive





It might well be that there was a justifiable reason to break the rules,and I have no objection to Boris treating him kindly, but there was no need to lie about it.

Boris seems like a good supportive friend to Cummings, but if Cummings cared as much for Boris, or the Conservative party, he would get out quick before they are damaged any further.