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The gove LBC video of him about to say that he drives to test his eyes then suddenly realises that even he cant say it is my favourite defining moment of the Cumgate fiasco.
The gove LBC video of him about to say that he drives to test his eyes then suddenly realises that even he cant say
Only saw it yesterday for the first time - you can see the cogs turning as he realises he's been put in a position of lying and making a complete tit of himself to protect Cummings
Only saw it yesterday for the first time – you can see the cogs turning as he realises he’s been put in a position of lying and making a complete tit of himself to protect Cummings
Which begs the question. If he was an evil genius, don't we think he ought to have seen that one coming?
He looked medicated to me. Or pissed.
He looked medicated to me. Or pissed.
Without being rude doesn’t he always look like that thou 🙂
The rumour is Johnson is a real pisshead
Without being rude doesn’t he always look like that thou
I don't know. My eyesight is a bit 'off' so I'm off for a 60 mile drive to check.
Binners - I just didn't think Johnson would spend that much political capital on Cummings. At some point I thought his ruthless self preservation would take over. I guess the blackmail material Cummings has got is really strong
tj - johnson and his crew have a blind belief that cummings can read the vox populi; add to that the clear fact that johnson is inherently lazy, is unable to prepare for anything and is dim.
That is much closer to reality than any possibility cummings has any dirt on johnson - even though that would be....delightful.
I heard that one about Boris and the bottle, quite Churchillian really. When the latest showed up he had a crate of Dom delivered (true story!), 1400 sovs. He put himself on the waggon before the elections, bit like Ronnie Wood before a Stones tour, always the sign of a lush.
An update from my constituancy of Bury North. Seems that our new Tory MP is as brazen as his boss.
He went to ground for 6 days, not answering any questions from his constituents. H then released a statement, sitting on the fence, saying we shouldn't 'rush to judgment' while the police were conducting inquiries. He's a lawyer, as he never tires of pointing out.
Now that the police have concluded that Cummings did indeed break lockdown rules, I and many others have asked for an updated comment. Not a peep out of him. The shithouse.
His Facebook page and Twitter feed as well as local groups are now full of his constituents asking why their communications are being ignored. Not a great look.
Given that we'er an ultra-marignal seat and his majority is 100, it won't take upsetting many voters to ensure that his parliamentary career is a short one
It doesn't say it but this bloke is a professor of modern history at King's, Cambridge. Doesn't mince his words:
100 seat majority?
Johnson & Cummings have already cost him that then
Cummings advising the Government is like having OJ Simpson fronting for a victims charity.
I was definitely getting the feeling Van-Tam was pretty pissed off with Cummings at the daily briefing, if only the journo had asked him outright at the end if he should be sacked, I don't think he would have held back.
I didn't see tonight's conference but I have wondered why a Whitty or Vallance hasn't had the integrity to have broken cover. "I'm fed up of being asked about Cummings, so here it is straight. What he did was clearly wrong. It's up to the PM to decide whether he should stay on or not but if everyone treated the rules with such abandon we'd soon be facing another lockdown and tens of thousands more deaths. That's the truth, and if I'm not allowed to do any more conferences or removed from post, you can draw your own conclusions. Next question please"
Ok, that’s quite good.
Looks like The Sunday Times have more stories:
https://twitter.com/DavidCollinsST/status/1266796102688399360
Too right!
https://twitter.com/RosieDuffield1/status/1265359414778826752?s=19
Oh. Sorry. Rosie can't come to the phone right now...
Look forward to reading that over breakfast!
greentricky
Looks like The Sunday Times have more stories:> https://twitter.com/DavidCollinsST/status/1266796102688399360
Saddened (but in no way surprised) by a lot of the 'get over it, move on' comments though. The bot farm's been busy...
Saddened (but in no way surprised) by a lot of the ‘get over it, move on’ comments though. The bot farm’s been busy…
Yeah. According to Darren (the Cummings scandal) is a 'non story'
And someone else mentions Stephen Kinnock. (What about?....)
FFS!!!!
That woman in the video clip "In defence of DC" ... you go girl! 🤣
I want to go ghost hunting with her. She is good! 👍
Haven't bothered to watch the defence of cummings vid - you can't defend the indefensible.
He's being moved closer to the exit; my predictions about him and johnson still stand.
Haven’t bothered to watch the defence of cummings vid – you can’t defend the indefensible.
Would you watch it if it were satirical?
I would need to watch to see if it was satirical; all a bit circular really.
If it would help to remove cummings I would watch; otherwise, no point.
He looked medicated to me. Or pissed.
I inferred he had sometimes taken a short test drive to see if he thought the white powder up his nose was impeding his driving?
I would need to watch to see if it was satirical; all a bit circular really.
If it would help to remove cummings I would watch; otherwise, no point.
Umm there is a point. Basically you need to watch it to be qualified to comment on it.
Thats not circular.
But it's not really funny enough to justify watching it, anyone posting about it being a good defence of Short Cummings is clearly a couple of letters away from being a full eye test or a troll bot.
Well it looks like Binners won the bet.
I knew how venal they were. I just thought Johnsons self preservation would kick in after they underestimated the rage from the public. Johnson has ruined his reputation ad lost the tories the shires and the older folk over this.
Enjoy your pies Binbins!
Bah!
I just thought Johnsons self preservation would kick in after they underestimated the rage from the public.
He would rather have the damage but still have Cummings to tell him what to do and how to do it. Yes he would have preserved himself a bit if he had immediately sacked Cummings but then he would be lost for next 5 years and the damage would actually be worse long term.
But it’s not really funny enough to justify watching it
Well I thought it was funny.
anyone posting about it being a good defence of Short Cummings is clearly a couple of letters away from being a full eye test or a troll bot.
It is clearly not a defence of Cummings.
Knowing that in advance ruins the joke though.
I think that’s been ruined anyway 🤔
The Times today publishing 3 witnesses identifying Cummings in BC. Does this agree with his story from the rosegarden?
I only had a quick glance but the daily mail online seems to be leading with an expose of the Barnard castle witnesses, full discredit, made up sightings
Normal service resumed then?
Does the mail on Sunday have a different editorial team (than the weekly paper)?
I only had a quick glance but the daily mail online seems to be leading with an expose of the Barnard castle witnesses, full discredit, made up sightings
Normal service resumed then?
Does the mail on Sunday have a different editorial team (than the weekly paper)?
Don't know about the editorial teams tbh.
At least some of the semi-lucid gammons who read this tripe must be thinking to themselves it is a bit odd that we have gone from 'Cummings must go' to outing witnesses and actively discrediting them.....?
Or are they all swivel-eyed frothing loons?
Does the mail on Sunday have a different editorial team (than the weekly paper)?
Yes, seperate entities
@fingerbang @greentricky MoS has always had a different team. I think the current DM editor was at the MoS when Dacre was at the DM, and is much less Brexity/swivel-eyed.
Heres a thought:
Dom is our unaccountable leader / dictator
The population has turned on him. This probably upset the evil "genius".
Did he just think "F em then", not gonna pander to "science" and end the lockdown, let them have it...save the economy so my farm still gets its 250k subsidy/ all my other interests and pay offs? Hence the ensuing rules chaos?
He is still the one making the decisions and when they report "Gov advice" policy is coming from Dom still isn't it? Not good thats he hates the population even more is it.
This has been shared to me by a friend, not checked the source, but surprised the bigger papers haven't had a go at it?
@morecashthandash I saw that on Twitter this morning, it was retweeted with all the major political reporters tagged. I suspect (sadly) it’s probably bollocks as the media will be all over Cummings background like a rash at the moment.
It's still bizarre watching minister's sacrifice themselves at the altar of Cummings
Raab just claimed to Sophie Ridge that he had no idea where Cummings was, when he was acting PM
Well, anyone can do the online council tax search, and the planning search.
@mehr That’s entirely possible. One of the things that’s come out recently is how few Tory MPs have actually met D.C., and as he’s openly contemptuous of most of them with the possible exception of Gove…
This has been shared to me by a friend, not checked the source, but surprised the bigger papers haven’t had a go at it?
Its county durham. People up here have only a passing acquaintance with the rules that govern the rest of the country. Building something without planning permission would be par for the course.
Well, anyone can do the online council tax search, and the planning search.
That's what I thought.
It seems pretty solid that there is no planning permission record in the archive. Although the online system only goes back to 2003.
The extra building might be suitable for staying in for a week or two… doesn’t mean it could be sold as a habitable property, or needs an official change of use. It’s fudgy, but not unusual on old farms. Lots of barns with double glazing and working sink and toilet out there. As for the property being worth many times the value used for Council Tax… that’s true for half the country I suspect.
But the original docs in that article show that "cottage" didn't exist, so presumably not an old converted barn.
I see the media are reporting that Bojo has told him he is on his last chance and won't tolerate another mistake but I think there are 2 things wrong with that
1 It's probably a lie.
2 It is far too little far too late if it is not a lie
Could look for building regs submissions too. What's the address?
Is any of the property listed? Conservation area? That may be a violation if they undertook work to make a barn habitable?
Still no actual reply from my MP after providing him with my address.
Have chased him during the week.
I'll try again today and then let him know what I think.........
Yep, just sent my 4th attempt to get a response from the Sec State for Wales who is a twunt of an MP. He broke cover recently to attempt to undermine the Welsh government’s rules but hasn’t made a statement about Cummboy.
Seems like the blog addressed many questions but leaves several questions unanswered.
It's a conservation area and coal board (now coal authority) permission for construction is a schedule on the deeds.
The concrete block shed (the cottage) may or may not fall under permitted development rights, may have been built over a swimming pool, may qualify for permission by prescription, but nobody is really sure. The conservation area restrictions would seem the most problematic.
Pete - we’ve all started tagging our invisible Tory MP in Tweets, asking why he won’t answer his emails or make any comment on the Cummings business.
So now his Twitter and Facebook feed are just full of reams of people asking him why he’s ignoring all his constituents.
A bold game to play with a majority of 100
Ours is a young first time MP, Antony Higginbotham.
And yes, a slim majority.
He's tweeted his position, but promised to reply to every email.
He'll be gettinga very snotty response if I don't get a reply soon.......
For those with silent MPs
How an MP has responded to your concerns, or the “standard of service” they have provided.
we’ve all started tagging our invisible Tory MP in Tweets, asking why he won’t answer his emails or make any comment on the Cummings business
I’m still shocked that our MP is repeatedly and publicly calling for Dominic Cummings to go. I’ve thanked him where I could, including on twitter.
My MP was openly called a 'serial candidate' as he tried to become MP for a series of areas he has absolutely no connection with. He got his wish with my constituency. Unfortunately my constituency is Gammon NIMBY central where you could put a blue rosette on the prize winning narrow at the horticultural show and it would get elected.
He is a total yes-man and, from what I can glean is basically someone who decided to be a career politician. He is 100% loyal to the party line. Always. I don't think he has to swallow any principles because I don't think he has any. Safe seat, stay under the radar and profit personally.
****.
Danny - your MP sounds just like mo e in Monmouth. 🙄
Yes, still waiting for a reply from my MP. Dame Elanor Laing. Nothing on her Twitter feed either. I got a "Please give us your address" email but nothing since my reply despite asking again for her position.
Eleanor Laing is a Deputy Speaker so may be expected to stay away from contentious issues
Maybe but she should still be replying?
Fadda.
Mine is called Edward Argar and I am in Charnwood (near Loughborough).
Where his opinion on various matters is known (which he seems to avoid like the plague) it is soon put to one side when he is told what to do by the big boys in the class.
Here, finally, is the generic response from SHart. I asked for a personal reply rather than a copy and paste one. I didn’t get one.
If you can’t be arsed to read it it says:
“I was waiting to see which way the police and my boss would fall before commenting. I’m happy he did nowt wrong. Get back in your box”
“Thank you for writing to me recently on the subject of the Prime Minister’s Chief Adviser, Dominic Cummings.
I understand that many people are concerned by this issue, especially when so many of us have been following Government guidance so diligently for so long. I am therefore sorry that you felt compelled to write to me and that you have had to wait a few days before getting my response - I wanted to see how the issue unfolded and in particular hear what the police had to say about that matter and whether they intended to take any further action. Also, a number of people have written expressing slightly different views, or making a range of points, so I hope this generic response covers as many angles as possible.
I think we can all agree that Covid-19 has proved to be an incredibly testing time for everyone - whether they are at the top of Government, the front line of the NHS or isolating anxiously at home. I am fully aware of the huge difficulties that the pandemic has placed on all of us and the continuing toll of family separation. One of my own close family members has been in Withybush Hospital (and more recently South Pembs) since February, including nearly three weeks of intensive care, with none of us able to see him.
At his Downing Street press conference on Monday, Dominic Cummings described his actions and decisions when confronted with the onset of Corona virus. And, as I have mentioned, we have now all seen the updated statement from the Durham Constabulary regarding his period of isolation at his parents farm. This can be found at: https://www.durham.police.uk/news-and-events/Pages/News Articles/Durham-Constabulary-press-statement--.aspx I am sure that everyone will by now have reached a view, as has the Prime Minister as his employer.
Now that it has been confirmed by the police (and the Prime Minister) that no further action is being taken, my task is to focus all of my attention on defeating Covid-19 and restoring the Welsh economy as quickly and safely as possible. I am sure you will appreciate why this remains my priority.
Best wishes and thank you again for your patience and forbearance.
Simon“
with postbags up to a thousand and more its unrealistic to expect a personal reply
It’s his job; he should tough it out and get on with it. If he’d started replying before checking to see which way the wind was blowing he could have got a lot more done.
I have no sympathy for the man or his workload. He purports to represent me and he’s failing.
Looks like the Beeb are now referring to the Cummings debacle as 'recent events' presumably in an effort to anonymise it and avoid further fanning the flames... Sounds a bit like 'the troubles' bolleux used to describe many years of sectarian violence/state oppression/terrorism (depending on your viewpoint)...
I wouldn't have watched it even if I was at home, but apparently Piers Morgan isn't letting it go (according to a colleague who is working from home!).
I think this is the link:
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/gmbs-piers-morgan-takes-down-18341168
Yep, having someone like Piers on the case is not always a bad thing as he is well known for "not letting it lie"
I couldn't help thinking watching him this morning that the outcome may have been different if he'd have been on last week
Gov lawyers have tried and failed to get Cummings name removed as a respondent in the tribunal for the sacking of Sajid Javid's SPAD last year.
That's it, keep the drip feed of stories. Hopefully some of the more morally sound in the conservative party will start applying pressure from within.
I think it's much better for the opposition to keep Cummings around. If he resigns he'll be gone and forgotten in a week, better to have him tied round the Tories' necks to remind people of who they are.
I think it’s much better for the opposition to keep Cummings around. If he resigns he’ll be gone and forgotten in a week, better to have him tied round the Tories’ necks to remind people of who they are.
I have to say that I agree with that. He's now the living embodiment of shameless entitlement and establishment exceptionalism. They're certainly not going to be able to play their usual trick that they're against 'The Elite', now its glaringly obvious to even the hardest of thinking that they ARE 'The Elite'.
In March, as Magic Grandad bowed out, the Tories had a 26 point poll lead. Polling on Sunday now has that down to 4, and Joris Bohnsons personal ratings are (unsurprisingly) in freefall.
I think labour has played it clever and just kept pretty quiet and let Boris keep digging. I can't wait to see the first PMQ's after the parliamentary recess. Starmer should have a field day.