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He's all over my Twitter feed, yet he's not trending on Twitter - makes you think....
He has to go, surely?
It's about time their was Dom Cummings thread to track his antics on, I appreciate he has his hand up Boris's rear end but he is cluttering up the Boris watch thread.
Fairly sure he'll survive, but the next PMQs should be interesting, hopefully it'll still be a hot topic in two weeks, which suggests that Dom may have orchestrated the timing of this story so that it blows over by the time Keir gets to ask the puppet about it on record...
Dom 10cc was just out to prove it's safe to go back to school and the great unwashed have more immunities than the 'independently' educated. I have nightly entertainment on Houseparty of a local who is terminally incapable of criticizing the tories, the verbal and logical acrobatics are stunning. Let's see what BloJo can come up with in his defence.
He has to go, surely?
You'd think so. The media are tearing into it so it'll be interesting to see what happens.
No doubt they'll do everything they can to fly under the radar and hope it just goes away.
He won’t go, no way. They’ll find a wave to get him off the hook or, more likely, they’ll just ignore it until it goes away.
We all know this, even if we don’t want to admit it.
I reckon he is untouchable but should be ejected in the most aggressive way possible.
He needs to go out principle, not that Tories have any. Even if he goes, he'll still be pulling strings.
He's like that crappy Bond villain in Quantum of Solace.
I hope he has the same ending (using bleach not oil)
Interesting that it's still headlining the daily mail website since the story broke last night. Not checked the telegraph paywall or the other RW papes though
@butcher I was under the impression the media hate him.
And presumably so do a lot of the Tory backbenchers?
they’ll just ignore it until it goes away.
That tactic seems to work very well here and across the pond at the moment. Belligerence works it seems. Especially when you've built up your reputation on it.
It's leading on the Torygraph too
pondo
SubscriberHe’s all over my Twitter feed, yet he’s not trending on Twitter – makes you think….
Posted 21 minutes ago
Reply | Report
Trending now under #dominicgoings on mine 😁
Boris Johnson faced calls to sack his chief aide Dominic Cummings after it emerged he was investigated by police after breaching lockdown rules.
Mr Cummings drove from London to Durham with his wife and son to stay with his elderly parents after developing symptoms of coronavirus.
Downing Street said at the time that Mr Cummings was "at home" in isolation, when in fact he was more than 260 miles away.
Police in Durham were tipped off by a member of the public about Mr Cummings' presence at his parents' house and explained to the family that lockdown rules - imposed by Mr Johnson days earlier - outlawed such visits.
Opposition parties said Mr Cummings’s position was “completely untenable” and that Mr Johnson now faced a “test of leadership” over the matter, with even Government ministers questioning whether Mr Cummings could now stay in his role.
However, Mr Johnson appeared ready to stand by his long-time ally, with Government sources insisting Mr Cummings and his wife, who was also ill, had taken “what they believed to be the right decision in the interests of their young child”.
Earlier this month Prof Neil Ferguson quit his role as a government scientific adviser after The Telegraph disclosed that he had broken lockdown rules to meet his mistress.
Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said at the time that Prof Ferguson’s behaviour had left him “speechless”. Mr Cummings attends meetings of the advisory group from which Prof Ferguson resigned.
The revelation that Mr Cummings broke the Government’s lockdown rules raises serious questions both for him and for Downing Street, which gave journalists the clear impression he was in London despite repeated questions about his whereabouts.
One minister said: “He’s going to have to go. It’s just arrogance.” Another minister said it was "hard to see how [Mr Cummings] can stay based on what we know".
The minister added: "How can any minister ask the public to obey the rules when the adviser closest to the Prime Minister so flagrantly ignores them?"
Mr Cummings, 48, developed coronavirus symptoms at the end of March and had to self-isolate with his wife Mary Wakefield and their young son for 14 days.
On March 31 the Prime Minister’s official spokesman was asked where Mr Cummings was, and said: “I think he’s in touch with No10 but he is at home, he is self-isolating, he has some symptoms.”
In fact, he was in Durham at the time, not at his home in London, as police made clear in a statement following an investigation by the Guardian and Mirror newspapers.
A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “On Tuesday, March 31, our officers were made aware of reports that an individual had travelled from London to Durham and was present at an address in the city.
“Officers made contact with the owners of that address who confirmed that the individual in question was present and was self-isolating in part of the house.
“In line with national policing guidance, officers explained to the family the guidelines around self-isolation and reiterated the appropriate advice around essential travel”.
Ms Wakefield later wrote about how the couple had “emerged from quarantine into the almost comical uncertainty of London lockdown”.
According to the Guardian, Mr Cummings was also spotted near the gate of his parents’ home on April 5, five days after the initial complaint to police and the same day that the Prime Minister was admitted to hospital.
The witness, told the Guardian: “I was really annoyed. I thought ‘it’s OK for you to drive all the way up to Durham and escape from London’. I sympathise with him wanting to do that, but other people are not allowed to do that. It’s one rule for Dominic Cummings and one rule for the rest of us.”
At the time, the Government rules on lockdown stated: “You should not be visiting family members who do not live in your home.
“The only exception is if they need help, such as having shopping or medication dropped off.”
Prof Ferguson is not the only government adviser to resign for breaking lockdown. Scotland’s chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood, quit her role after making two trips to her second home.
But Sir Ed Davey, the acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, said millions of people had made "incredible sacrifices" to stop the spread of the virus, adding: "If Dominic Cummings has broken the guidelines he will have to resign, it is as simple as that."
Ian Blackford, the SNP's Westminster leader, said: "Dominic Cummings' position is completely untenable - he must resign or be sacked."
A Labour Party spokesman said: “If accurate, the Prime Minister’s chief adviser appears to have breached the lockdown rules. The Government’s guidance was very clear: stay at home and no non-essential travel.
"The British people do not expect there to be one rule for them and another rule for Dominic Cummings. Number 10 needs to provide a very swift explanation for his actions.”
As news of Mr Cummings' transgression broke last night, Mr Johnson tweeted a message which said: "Self-isolate and get tested if you have symptoms. Don't risk spreading the virus."
Downing Street was approached for comment.
And presumably so do a lot of the Tory backbenchers?
I think it’s an attack on Boris, not sure it’s all happiness and light in toryland.
The Tory spokesperson Laura Kuenssberg is doing her best to get [s]Dom's version[/s] her sources version out to the worlds media.
It is noticeable on twitter the lack of Tory MPs/MSP posting last night and today
btw, you can bypass the telegraph paywall with this: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/quick-javascript-switcher/geddoclleiomckbhadiaipdggiiccfje?hl=en
I think there's any number in the Cabinet who want him gone. He won't though
He'll sleeze his way out of it
Interesting to see what line starter takes at PMQs
It was kept secret only Johnson & a few others knew
If they felt the need to cover it up.....
But EVEN if he did go, he'd still be pulling the strings
He could be forced to resign very publicly and 'disappear' then Johnson waits a few weeks and appoints a new special advisor/top aide, a burkha clad muslim, who is suspiciously tall and has a pronounced mekon like bulge head apparent through the black cloth. The islamophobia enquiry would be canned forever and the PM would be hailed as the world's most inclusive world leader. All hail rainbow Boris!
Mrs Dom's version of how poorly they were, yet well enough to drive to Durham
https://spectator.us/getting-coronavirus-bring-clarity/amp/?
After the uncertainty of the bug itself, we emerged from quarantine into the almost comical uncertainty of London lockdown.
🤔
I get the argument he needed his parents to look after his children while he had symptoms but if they all travelled 250 miles together in a car together then his children would have been exposed.
Hes 48 years old so his parents will be around 70 or older. Why would you want to potentially infect them? Seems an odd choice.
I suspect they have a rather nice estate with several houses for them to choose from where they all stayed together.
So basically travelled 250 miles when they should have stayed at home.
Everyone else that's done this has fallen on their sword. The media hate him, the opposition hate him, some of boris's camp hate him. This is an opportunity they have been waiting for, I don't think they will let it blow over! Let's see how good a spin Doctor he really is!
There's only 1 solution for him and his wife (ditto Gove and Sarah Vile)
I guarantee he knows enough dirt on everyone else to keep his position and still be able to pull the strings. They all know if he gets booted out against his free will he's capable of causing untold damage to the whole party.
Either way they're all crapping themselves right now.
Ah, the irony when 'special' people discover they are not so special after all.
Although I hope Boris or the Mekon isn't reading this thread because we may see them adopt fingerbang's cunning ruse. We'll never forgive him. 🙂
He could be forced to resign very publicly and ‘disappear’ then Johnson waits a few weeks and appoints a new special advisor/top aide, a burkha clad muslim, who is suspiciously tall and has a pronounced mekon like bulge head apparent through the black cloth. The islamophobia enquiry would be canned forever and the PM would be hailed as the world’s most inclusive world leader. All hail rainbow Boris!
He is a very, very dangerous individual who shouldn't have been able to worm his way up the ranks like he has, but he's there, and this won't be the end of him. He'll get away with it and then it officially puts him above the law,( which I'm sure he was very comfortable with anyway) and nothing will change. Prepare for a new diversion/news event sometime this weekend.
...
I get the argument he needed his parents to look after his children while he had symptoms
Keep up Dom has changed the story now
https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1264093415253385216
I do t care if he stays or goes but he was reckless exposing his parents like that. No way on gods earth would I go to my parents house with symptoms- is he trying to kill them?
I get the argument he needed his parents to look after his children while he had symptoms but if they all travelled 250 miles together in a car together then his children would have been exposed.
Hes 48 years old so his parents will be around 70 or older. Why would you want to potentially infect them? Seems an odd choice.
Presumably they'd already spent time together - otherwise I'm pretty sure Cummins isn't short for cash for childcare.
Guidelines and common sense would be for households to isolate together. Travelling across the length of the country with it doesn't appear a sensible move.
Although Laura doesn't think so.
Jesus Christ L.K, she is a Tory spokesperson end of
He won't go of his own accord. He and his ilk have dug in too deep to quit now. Too much money involved in Brexit and the gains the disaster capitalists will make when the country starts to fall apart.
Alternatively, Blojob might just "demote" him and then he goes away for a while, only to continue pulling the strings from further behind the scenes.
However, never underestimate the malice of a Tory. There are a lot of anti-Brexit Tories who got shafted by the ERG / Hardliner lot who may be exerting pressure for him to go out of spite. Cummstain is hated by a lot of them and is hardly a figure adored by the general public.
Did he make the 5hr journey with no stops at services ?
LK isn't even trying to hide it any more. Please don't sack my source!!!
If you live in a Tory seat now is the time to write to your MP to call for Cummings' resignation. It's all very well sounding off about it on a bike forum but if you want something to actually happen apply pressure yourself rather than depending on the papers to do it.
If this were anyone else it would be the end for them but I fear Cummings will survive it.
What did he do wrong?
A bit like when Boris left his main home when he was recovering. It wasn't against the rules as he didn't go to his second home, he went to his third.
Dear Dom didn't go to his parents, he went to his parents second home inside the grounds of their main home.
Clearly within the rules, surely
I’m no fan of Boris but I think the demands for him to get rid of Cummings are a bit unfair. I can’t think of any other line of work where the spokesman has the authority to fire the boss.
He won’t go of his own accord. He and his ilk have dug in too deep to quit now. Too much money involved in Brexit and the gains the disaster capitalists will make when the country starts to fall apart.
Non of that needs Cummings in the role though.
Cummings is just Boris's handler to make sure he says the right things as their employer doesn't trust Boris to speak.
I've asked mine. I shall report back with his reply 😉
@Christian4BuryS
Just mailed my MP. Don’t see any harm in doing so.
Just emailed mine too-
"I am writing to you to ask that, in your position as Conservative MP for xxx, you call for the resignation of the leader of your party's chief aid following the revelation that he broke the lockdown rules by travelling 250 miles from London to Durham whilst having Covid 19 symptoms.
While he has stated that he did this for reasons of childcare, this seems a spurious excuse - members of the public showing symptoms would look after their own children, a third party is not required in this situation. Cummings has broken the rules clearly set out by his own government for thoses not suffering symptoms by making a journey other than to shop for basic necessities, to work, for a medical need or for exercise. The fact that he had symptoms and the guidance in this situation clearly states "do not leave your home for any reason" shows he is not fit to remain in his position.
I trust you will do the correct thing and write to Boris Johnson to demand he sack Cummings."
Feel free to copy that if you want.
So he and wife were both at "home" isolating but needed child care. At home need child care. That I don't get, well enough to drive 5hours and dump potentially infected kids on parents so he and her could self isolate presumably for 7-14days without the kids.
Baffling isn't it? If I had a kid and showed symptoms, I'd stay at home with the kid. As would basically anyone else. I don't see why that makes it OK.
To be honest, I think the BBC should be facing questions too, reporting that drivel. It's against all logic.
Well enough to drive 5 hours and being ill enough to need child care seem mutually exclusive, especially if it's just the one kid.
Just emailed my mp Alec Shelbrook, with munrobikers text. Cheers.
Just mailed my MP. Don’t see any harm in doing so.
The harm is he will just be replaced by someone with a lower profile.
He's deeply unpopular and almost universally seen as untrustworthy. Even hardcore Borisites are suspicious of anything he's involved in.
My hope would be he stays and brings down Boris but that does then leave the question of who would replace Boris I suppose given the time to a general election.
I emailed my MP with he text too (thanks, munro biker).
David Davies, Monmouth. (that's him, not me!)
Always useful to imagine the fuss had Diane Abbott done the same...
Dear Dom didn’t go to his parents, he went to his parents second home inside the grounds of their main home.
Clearly within the rules, surely
Exactly no rules broken as they don’t explicitly state not to do this.
I’ve emailed Nigel Huddleston with that text, thanks for facilitating my lack of thinking this early in the weekend.
They seem to be quite keen to get people to focus on the childcare issue, presumably because they think they can defend that and it distracts people from the fact that he drove 250 miles when he had symptoms.
Just email my MP Dr Dan Poulter
Cheers Munrobiker,
sent your text to Robert Largan MP, High Peak
lets see if there's a reply....or indeed any action at all!!
I would suggest that anyone else writing to their MP's, don't just cut and paste that text, it dilutes the letters power if everyone just has exactly the same, a cut and paste campaign does not reflect peoples real feelings, just that they like jumping on a bandwagon.
Just write something in your own words.
Exactly no rules broken as they don’t explicitly state not to do this.
Apart from SELF-ISOLATE and DONT LEAVE THE HOUSE for 7 days when suspected (let alone pretty much certain) with cv-19, you’re right nothing at all...
No you’re right I can’t see where it says you specifically can’t drive 250 miles shedding the virus... especially not when you’re too ill to get out your bed... (dangerous driving anyone?)
So, Dom and best mate Laura K reckons he was staying at a different property to his folks.
The police reckon differently, their report states he was in the same house.
And his wife reckons they never left London.
I'm glad we cleared that up.
Anyway, lying through gritted teeth worked for Jenrick. I'm sure Dom'll be fine.
Apart from SELF-ISOLATE and DONT LEAVE THE HOUSE for 7 days when suspected (let alone pretty much certain) with cv-19, you’re right nothing at all…
and anyone else in the household (eg the kids) needs to isolate for 14 days too
Was he fit to drive or did someone else drive?
Does he own a car or did he borrow one?
Hope it wasn't an official car.
Given that plod were stopping the very few cars on motorways at that time how did he get through?
Yeah, if you have got the time to write something individual please do. I put that up to try and push those who are a bit rushed/couldn't quite be arsed enough/were in a Saturday morning fug over the edge but if you've got five minutes write something from scratch. They don't need an essay so it shouldn't take too long.
Where is the house in question and what are the c19 figures like round there? Could a spike in cases be attributed to Cummings?
The beauty/danger of the special adviser system is that they operate outwith the rules that apply to Civil Servants. Even if he's 'sacked' he and his team (he's just the chief bastard) will still be working for Boris.
and anyone else in the household (eg the kids) needs to isolate for 14 days too
The Guardian is reporting that Cummings young son was seen in Durham too.
I've emailed that to mine, thanks
He knows too much to be let go.
Enjoyed from twitter “Look you can’t blame him for this, the Government’s messaging has been really confusing”
Somebody commented on Facebook that he should be sacrificed a la Wicker Man to ensure that brexit goes well with Bojo dancing round in a dress..
'Oh No, oh God, oh Jesus, oh no'
Could a spike in cases be attributed to Cummings?
No. Because ‘someone’ decided that the UK would stop any track/trace/isolate measures, despite the rest of the world, included the WTO, screaming that it was the main thing required to control the virus and save lives. So, when looking at that key time period, no spike in cases can be attributed to any individual. It’s quiet scary to think that the personal action/inaction of Johnson, Dorries and Cummings may have directly led to increased cases amongst the wider population, but there is no way to know either way. Still… good old “British common sense”… “shaking hands with everyone at the hospital”.
Isnt the current hotspot for covid in the NE. There is a rise in cases for the duration of his visit
Shit the bed!
We are ****ed.
No10 is basically going with "he didn't break lockdown rules"!
When he manifestly did.
Looks like the powers that be who pay Cummings to hold Boris's strings really don't give a shit.
😕
Cummings is untouchable. He made the PM PM.
You can just imagine the scene.
In the early hours of this morning Joris is awoken from his alcoholic slumber by the phone. He answers and a familiar voice he could never quite put a name to says:
Voice: Cummings stays.
Joris: Err, err what the hell time is it? Jenn.....I mean Carrie, what time is it? Who is this?
Voice: Cummings stays.
Joris: But....but....he's bang to rights. There's no spinning this one. I won't be able to....
Voice: Cummings stays.
Joris: But....
Voice: Lie. For ****s sake. Lie. Blatant, subtle, whatever. Cummings stays.
Joris: But....
Voice: Lie. You're good at it. You know it and we know it. But what really matters, little boy, is that we can prove it.
Joris: I see....
Voice: Not all of it you don't. We've got proof you only shackled your shitty little wagon to our train to grab some power. We've also got some very short links between you and some very 'interesting' characters. Not to mention some err ladies. But **** all that. You lie. Cummings stays.
<Hangs up>
Joris: Pass that bottle, Carrie.
Exactly no rules broken as they don’t explicitly state not to do this.
Apart from SELF-ISOLATE and DONT LEAVE THE HOUSE for 7 days when suspected (let alone pretty much certain) with cv-19, you’re right nothing at all…
No you’re right I can’t see where it says you specifically can’t drive 250 miles shedding the virus… especially not when you’re too ill to get out your bed… (dangerous driving anyone?)
BTW I’m not condoning his actions(‘twas Irony’), I think it stinks.
It brings to light again how these people implement rules that somehow apply to us but not them.
If you live in a Tory seat now is the time to write to your MP to call for Cummings’ resignation.
Given that my local MP is Jake Berry, I won’t be bothering. I did tweet him to say I’d be interested to hear his views on it. He didn’t reply...
https://twitter.com/jacothenorth/status/1263747106675851269?s=21
Cummings is untouchable. He made the PM PM.
Course the knives could be out For Boris.
Just emailed my MP Edward Argar. Just a pole-climbing yes-man so I don't expect anything to happen.
Cummings is untouchable.
He is indeed. He knows where all the bodies are buried. They can't do anything to upset him