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Oh **** off with your 'he was autistic' shit.
Tomorrow I’ll visit my mum and I will hug her. I’ll now do what the * I like for the good of my family.
Ok, I’ve calmed down a bit now after my second cup of coffee. As frustrated as I am, it would be utterly wrong for me to rail against the Government for excusing a blatant contravention of the guidance, and then do the same myself. So I will visit my mum but from a distance; no hug; no introduction of her granddaughter. At least I will know I have done the right thing with nothing to apologise for. Sadly, I think many will react like I did initially and take the Cumming’s debacle as a green light to do what they want.
But Boris can still get *ed.
There seems to be a group of people on here determined to see a collapse of lockdown and all it entails that I don’t see on other social media pages
I have the opposite view. Local Facebook group has a few folk criticising ScotGov for maintaining lockdown, especially as it will impact tourism businesses. Campervan/motor home groups are full of folk who just want their chance to drive all over the country (and Europe). Of course, many of the latter are in the High Risk category too.
This place is very tolerant and restrained by comparison.
Alpha, that is so sad to read, hard to imagine how difficult this has been for a lot of people. Take care my friend. Living 20000 miles from my Mum means we see each other very rarely, but that first hug is always pure magic. Yours will be too, with added magic of a newborn!
Ok, I’ve calmed down a bit now after my second cup of coffee. As frustrated as I am, it would be utterly wrong for me to rail against the Government for excusing a blatant contravention of the guidance, and then do the same myself. So I will visit my mum but from a distance; no hug; no introduction of her granddaughter. At least I will know I have done the right thing with nothing to apologise for. Sadly, I think many will react like I did initially and take the Cumming’s debacle as a green light to do what they want.
I feel like you. I’m as angry as a hungover honey badger & would happily fight a T Rex to the death right now.
But....
Self-control & self-discipline will keep me in check but nobody had better p1ss me off today..
His kid is autistic.
All the more reason not to disrupt his normal routine then? If you can safely drive a car 500 miles you can safely look after your child. If they were ill enough to not be able to do the latter then granny could have driven down to London if there was a genuine need for her help. Whatever way you spin it the excuses are total bollocks.
His kid is autistic.
Which puts a rather different slant on the ability to palm off a nipper at short notice to the neighbours.
Nonsense. There was already guidance allowing extra exercise and other exemptions for people with specific needs. None of that justifies or allows what Cummings did.
And no one has suggested he was going to have to "palm off a nipper at short notice to the neighbours".
My Tory mum is really angry about Cummings, disappointed with Johnson and even had something not wholly negative to say about Nicola Sturgeon.
I think they have underestimated the feeling in the country, but also think that they see the next general election is 4 years away and they believe it will be history by then.
Frankly I don't think they give a **** about the damage to the general consensus on lockdown.
Hey, come on now. He prioritised the child, and Boris says that is right and safeguarding children is more important than anything. Let's move on. What's next on the agenda, ah, getting the schools open next week.
Alpha, you’ve had a torrid time because you followed government rules. Your government doesn’t care. That, in a nutshell is the issue here.
You have every right to be outraged. We share your rage.
Welcome to Trump Britain
Most people seem to be so outraged they are doubling down on staying within the rules. Any idiots using this as an excuse to break them would have broken them anyway.
That's my take on it too, which is actually better. Not just for keeping the virus in check but it will provide a stark contrast to Cummings' behaviour: If the public can follow the rules and behave why can't the guy who helped write them?
Laura has dumped Boris I see. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-52793376
Laura's pretty unambiguous in that piece, have they screwed up, in her opinion, he'll yeah.
“Dominic Goings”
Very good. I still think they’ll be no use for it, unfortunately. He’s going nowhere. This isn’t like moving on yet another advisor to save the government face. If this event has shown people anything, it is that those saying the Cummings is not an advisor, he is at the centre of power and decision making, look to be right.
To those who have offered sympathy and kind words, thank you; I hope it didn’t come across as a hand-wringing woe is me kind of post but I just needed to vent.
Yes, my situation is crap but everyone has a story to tell and most are much worse than my predicament. At least I knew dad’s death was coming and we were able to be there for it. I have numerous friends who have been denied that privilege and it is heart breaking for them.
Being a parent of an autistic child this lockdown has been hard at times, but I'm not sure how that would have changed our approach to self isolation if any of us came down with it. In fact as responsible parents we discussed how we would manage if such circumstances would arose to help him deal with it. None of this involved involving other family members or leaving the house.
Every one is different and I can't speak for Dum Cum but using autism as an excuse is an even lower blow and this **** feels no shame of throwing his child under the bus. He's not using parental instinct he's like a cornered badger using whatever limited intelligence he has to defend himself, missing the fact that he his hurting those around him, be that family or colleagues.
I’ve just written to my MP for the first time in my life. I would encourage everyone to do the same. They work for you, ask them to justify this.
I think one of the most frustrating parts is that I would love to go out and go back to living my normal life with the same disregard as bojo and Cummings have been showing, safe in the knowledge that the rules are actually guidelines and very much open to interpretation/bending/twisting/smashing to pieces
But this would very much be a “cutting my nose off despite my face” moment and definitely not a safe or wise idea
Some very emotional and heart-wrenching stories from members on here. Luckily I’ve only lost out on family contact and we have been ok, but it’s been tough. To say I’m furious does not come close to describing how I feel about this stab in the back.
All I can say is that as soon as Boris backed this vermin, he essentially signed his own execution papers. This villain is what the country voted for and his true colours are now out for all to see. If even the Mail is turning on him then surely, surely this is the end of the rat.
But the question remains, as has been asked here recently, is what does Dom have over Bozza? Dirt? Who really pulls the strings?
You don't have to think of this as a new way of interpreting the rules around covid-19 alone.
As said above, covid-19 is too genuinely important to piss around being silly about. On the other hand...
Consider the case of a NIMBY infested country park near me. Every opportunity, no matter how small or inappropriate, they always reiterate that 'Mountain biking is not allowed. Cycling is only permitted on the main carriageway'.
Thing is, though, 'main carriageway' is not defined in their rules as far as I can see. So my response on being challenged whilst 'off piste' will be "I am interpreting that this is the main carriageway. There is no signage to indicate that it isn't".
It really isn't difficult to see how this stuff can get out of hand now we have been given licence to interpret the law in any manner we see fit.
No doubt the police are going to have to deal with a certain amount of people today at beaches and beauty spots. A fair few of those people may well use the Cummings Defence.
Second lockdown for wave 2 is 3-5 weeks away. 'Lockdown' was scrupulously observed by many first time around whilst a few flaunted it. Second lockdown? Just made much difficult by these clowns.
Johnson has forgotten one basic fact of political life. Its not the actions or the lies that get you. Its the coverup.
This will continue to run until Cummings goes. More and more evidence will dribble out. Every day there will be new revelations and the pressure builds. He cannot even rely on the tory press to help him.
As for why? Cummmings knows where the bodies are buried and used this as a threat to get Johnson to back him. Thats my bet
Tragic, very sorry.
You’ve inspired me to write to my (Tory) MP. I will follow your example and will try to remain civil.
Even my wife's northern, I"'m not racist but" friends have turned on Boris.
He's not only lost the dressing room but the whole country.
It really isn’t difficult to see how this stuff can get out of hand now we have been given licence to interpret the law in any manner we see fit.
No doubt the police are going to have to deal with a certain amount of people today at beaches and beauty spots. A fair few of those people may well use the Cummings Defence.
Second lockdown for wave 2 is 3-5 weeks away. ‘Lockdown’ was scrupulously observed by many first time around whilst a few flaunted it. Second lockdown? Just made much difficult by these clowns.
+1.
Second lockdown looks nigh on impossible to impose. The minority who’ll have broken the 1st will crack on with even greater recklessness & more will feel emboldened to join them.
It’s madness, utter fing madness..
the law on lockdown is really clear.
It's not. It depends on what is considered "reasonable" and I haven't seen any rulings on that yet. We do not have law made by government press conference. We have law made by parliament, regulations delegated to ministers (as in this case) and the judiciary.
outside for one of the 4 stated reasons
There are thirteen defined reasonable excuses but they are not an exhaustive list.
the Police have a duty to act no?
No (there are situations where the police are obliged to act but this is not one of them). But given the allegations of repeated violations and the strong public interest then it would be proportionate for them to do so.
But we are powerless.
In 4 years the mail & telegraph will be fully behind his re-election and they will be claiming glorious success in defeating CV & freedom from Europe
ajaj
"reasonable" has a legally defined meaning which is in effect " what the average person thinks ( Denning - man on the clapham omnibus"
So that clearly bows his excuse of reasonable out of the water
@mehr: whilst I offer my utmost sympathy, the best support I can think of offering to you now is solidarity and to write to my local Conservative MP as you have. Eloquently written, made all the more powerful by you honourable restraint.
@root-n-5th @Alpha1653 Its not my letter but my story is similar. I buried my Dad 10 days ago at a funeral with only 10 people and only got to see him once during lockdown, two-days before he died
Its stories like mine, Alpha's, that letter writers and countless others which, I hope will ultimately bring the whole thing crashing down
My local MP is Sir Mike Penning, i dont think Ive got it in me to write to him as any reply that doesnt say he wants him gone will kick up my anger levels another notch
yes - keep writing to your MP if they are Tory - they will react to and act upon their constituents fears and anger
'There are thirteen defined reasonable excuses but they are not an exhaustive list.'
And every single one of them is trumped by 'If you have symptoms stay at home'.
Simple.
And every single one of them is trumped by ‘If you have symptoms stay at home’.
Not from a criminal law perspective. There is a power to inter infected people but that's different. A blanket rule like that would be difficult, it would be crazy to have thousands of people starve to death at home just because they have a cough.
The original comment was about the law and police powers, not on the moral rights and wrongs of one individual's case. There are a lot of people who seem to think that the government advice is law. It isn't.
Hey, come on now. He prioritised the child, and Boris says that is right and safeguarding children is more important than anything
What specific danger was the child in the required them to drive 250 miles?
I’ve written to my local Tory barsteward - fat lot of good it’ll do..
It’s not. It depends on what is considered “reasonable” and I haven’t seen any rulings on that yet.
Two parents (one certainly infected) driving 250 miles to optimise their childcare would certainly set the bar for 'reasonable' so low that the lockdown would be meaningless.
People not infested have been prosecuted for much less.
Church of England now saying they may refuse to cooperate in future lockdowns.
Kum Bah Yah m'lord meets illegal rave as Sunday services broken up by police?
One other thing I've noticed (and an uncanny number of Tory fanbois do precisely this). Anyone who starts a post on social media with "I am no particular fan of Cummings" is a shill either on the payroll or trying to be talent spotted somehow.
Either ignore (probably best) or needle a bit. The funny thing is, despite not being a 'particular fan' they are practically offering themselves up as a living sacrifice to Saint Dom three replies in.
A thought occurred to me yesterday.
Does Dominic Cummings not have any close protection? Or is at least monitored a bit by the police for his and his family's own safety?
I know he's not actually a minister but He is the chief whisperer in the PMs ear (essentially Boris' brain), and a widely loathed man...
How is it possible that nobody in authority knew that he'd buggered off up north and relayed that info on to BoJo?
Setting aside Dom's behavior, it just doesn't correlate, either they knew all along meaning the narrative of "different rules for those in power" applies or worse still they didn't and our government is massively incompetent...
I’d imagine close protection includes a high degree of privacy and discretion, so that key people don’t chose to forgo it in order to live their lives without feeling constantly surveyed.
Not sure the PM would be bothered with the day to day position of his team, especially while he was ill himself.
Anyway, the PM had the chance yesterday to wash his hands of this, and as predicted he didn’t. What he knew when is irrelevant, he knows enough now, and has lashed himself to Cummings’ mast.
https://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/outbreak-of-coronavirus-at-weston-general-hospital-1-6669079
Second wave? Hope not, but given the incubation period I certainly wouldn't bet against it.
Now with a largely unenforceable lockdown?
Bye bye Boris.
Tw*t.
Written to my (Tory boy) MP, has a 1.4% majority in a previously safe Labour seat.
My thoughts go to a those who have suffered unimaginable losses in the last few months, some of the things I've read on here are just awful.
Does Dominic Cummings not have any close protection?
It would appear not.
did someone (poopscoop) post a cartoon / infographic earlier along the Stay at Home Protect Lives theme but with Cummings loading his cases into the back of the car. It had a swear word in it and I think has been deleted?
What's the link to it - I need that for other purposes!
....and has lashed himself to Cummings’ mast.
Written to my Tory boy MP. I'm not expecting a reply.
LBC is a decent listen just now.
Just been listening to my 76year old landlady planning her recently deceased brother's funeral with her daughter who came over and sat the other side of the hedge (2 metres away).
She had narrowed down the attendees to the number she was allowed to take and discussed which family units could sit together.
David's widow will have to sit on her own.
You are a ****ing arsehole Dominic Cummings!
My BIL died a month ago. Although we knew he only had hours left, my wife couldn't go to see him and neither her nor my MIL could go to his funeral. My wife still hasn't been able to go see his partner.
If the Weston hospital story is the first indication of wave 2 Johnson is gone.
He took a lethal gamble with other people's lives at 5pm by yesterday. Eighteen hours later it would seem that gamble is going to go badly wrong.
This may stop being about Cummings soon and move onto being about Johnson.
My main emotion is anger. Pure anger.
I'm sure the next General Election being 4.5 years away has featured in Boris's [Cummings's] logic.
What specific danger was the child in the required them to drive 250 miles?
Whoooosh......
When something goes wrong we always look for someone to blame.
I feel that anger is falling on Cummings. He looks like a ****, is a **** and the people who stand outside court when a molester is being sentenced will soon be outside his house.
Watch your back.
Commiserations to those ^^ who have lost someone.
DC has had a rather varied 'career', from Klute in Durham to 3 years supposedly setting up an airline in Russia. Oxbridge educated, he has all the attributes required to have been recruited by someone. I haven't dug into this but surely there is info on it out there.
Its not Dom's fault that 60 million people got it wrong and only he got it right. I think people are totally overreacting - clearly the gov't message that its ok to travel to your second home if you DO have covid-19 just got lost among all the people resigning because they travelled to their second homes when they were perfectly healthy.
There's a very strange dynamic here I can't figure out.
Ok, we all know DC has a disproportionate influence / power for an unelected SPAD. However, the polls, churches, previously supportive media outlets and commentators as well as sections of the Tory party have stuck the boot in.
It looks like the PM is rapidly losing the authority to govern. Surely if DC had any loyalty to Boris, he would resign to stem the bleeding?
It increasingly appears to me that DC is the more powerful of the two?
Had to set up a (sanitised) iPad so that my elderly neighbour could watch her sister’s funeral 200 miles away. She’d promised to be there with her when the time came, but she couldn’t be because of lockdown.
So many people have done so many hard, hard things.
@perchy
That guy is Cummings personal protection - he just isn’t very happy about being given the job.
I've had a reply from my MP, he's 'looking into it'.
However,he wants my address before he replies further.
Is this normal?
I’ve had a reply from my MP, he’s ‘looking into it’.
They've resorted to copy/paste replies on Twitter and email saying they have conveyed the strength of feeling to appropriate colleagues and will reply more fully in due course but they'd quite like to be left to run [insert name of constituency].
Bet they're absolutely seething at being dropped in this mess.
My guess would be to make sure you are a constituent not a troll. Doesn't seem too off to me
However,he wants my address before he replies further.
Obviously, give him your address but make it clear that you can only be contacted at your second home in Cornwall because your cat is distressed as it misses the ocean.
Follow your instincts
Cheers folks.
I'll let him know.
but they’d quite like to be left to run [insert name of constituency].
They don't run it.
They represent the , currently pissed off, people who live in it.
@Rusty Spanner
I'd give him your address. As above they are probably trying to make sure 'professional' emails aren't getting sent.
Just make it extremely clear that you do not wish your name, address or email address to appear on any forwarded or reproduced versions. As per your rights under GDPR.
It's convention that they only deal with their own constituents and pass messages on at least initially. Not sure of the case with portfolio ministers, I still think they go better through your local MP - eg when lobbying Gove (the MP whose area the Aldershot military lands come under), and the Defence Minister of the time - Soubry fwiw - I still got better responses by emailing my local MP first.
It's all part of this idea that they represent the views of their constituents. Not just follow party lines. We'll see how that goes shall we. I have a new MP, Anne Milton resigned at the last election to stand as an Indie - Anne was excellent after a shaky period of following the line but eventually conscience won. I wonder if Angela Richardson has a conscience?
It increasingly appears to me that DC is the more powerful of the two?
Or Cummings has something over Bofo.
I've a moment of sympathy for two parents who have contracted this horrific disease, who ran to the (in thier head) the most reliable care for thier young son. Thier family.
That is contrasted with the fact that I know whole families here who came down with it, who took turns with childcare, and were ready should they be unable to cope for friends to step in with a couple of young children. As it turned out, both parents were ill but able to cope. This is not what the Cummings' did - they traveled a long way, seemed to interact with elderly parents AND sister/sil if rumors are correct, AND seemingly returned to London (and I'm ignoring the rumours of a second trip north).
I'm sure other families did what the Cummings' did - the main difference being his role and now his and Bofo reactions.
I'm struggling for the outrage, but he should go and I think Bofo will pay the price of his poor judgement.
Thought this was an interesting take on things from TruePublica, I'm sure there's lots of things going on in the background Brexit related under the cover of the pandemic- this one's a little far fetched and edging into conspiracy land, but there is something very odd about the whole saga... could it be that he was up there doing dodgy deals with GSK based in Barnard Castle...
If I was Kier Starmer, right now i'd be plotting a vote in Parliament to implement some sort of system of parliamentery or civil service oversight and control for all of these "Special Advisors"
I think it'd pass.
It’s all part of this idea that they represent the views of their constituents. Not just follow party lines. We’ll see how that goes shall we. I have a new MP, Anne Milton resigned at the last election to stand as an Indie – Anne was excellent after a shaky period of following the line but eventually conscience won.
This week has given me a new found respect for the Tory MPs who choose to leave (or get booted from) the party rather than back the Johnson & Cummings team. Many of the current MPs know the same as them as regards the character and suitability of this leadership team for office, but sit there on the benches giving him the cover of their support despite that.
https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1264883564144885760?s=19
From the horses mouth, so to speak
I hope he comes out punching
Statement from Cummings later
Statement from Cummings later
That'll either be a carefully choreographed and stage managed pantomime or a complete car crash.
Hope some attack dog of a reporter pokes him hard enough that he shoots from the hip and shows his true colours.
My money's on Channel 4 goading him over the edge
@endoverend barnard Castle is a manufacturing site that doesn't even make vaccines, I can't see why he would go there when the head office is in brentford.
Plus he wouldn't have been allowed on site, skeleton staff only to sustain manufacturing
Well, this statement could be very interesting.
He’s not a natural public speaker is he, and we know he has a temper.
I’m struggling to think what he could say bar “I resign” that would put any fire out, any apology will be laughed as given what has been said in previous days. But I can think of plenty of things that will make things worse....
Might be worth a watch actually...
It increasingly appears to me that DC is the more powerful of the two?
Boris has become so dependent on his advice that he can't take a decision on his own. According to Gavin Williamson, Boris asked Cummings for an assurance that he hadn't broken the law, and accepted that assurance.
" In order to avoid distraction from the crucial work of the PM and government in fighting this virus I have decided to resign" is my best bet.
However, I hope he goes full sneer and renders his own and Bojo's position untenable.
The gsk/Barnard castle story was originally compiled by Craig Murray (friend of every conspiracy theorist).
The “Cummings child has autism” story has its origins in this below, the only disability his child has is being parented by ****s
https://twitter.com/jamiemcleod02/status/1264731537913925632?s=21