Given up defending Cummings then? CCHQ a bit slow on the next line to take?
Jesus, the mouthpiece of Momentum has the gall to invoke CCHQ
No denial, so what is CCHQ saying now? Just give up?
It says a lot about you that you think people who disagree with you are taking lines from party HQ. For the record I'm not, and I'm not even a party member, although in all other ways I am obviously a massive Tory
And no, I have no intention of giving up: Cummings should stay, the whiners should be told to shove it.
No people that disagree with me are calling for him to go. Only people taking the CCHQ line almost verbatim I am calling out.
You're pathetic - and I think deep down you know this is indefensible.
If it were indefensible, then Cummings by definition could not survive. I think he will, ergo the position is eminently defensible. The impotence of the Opposition to force any other outcome for the next several years is a direct result of the rabbit hole people like you fell down for the last 5 years, and if that's not pathetic, then I don't know what is.
Given up defending Cummings then? CCHQ a bit slow on the next line to take?
Jesus, the mouthpiece of Momentum has the gall to invoke CCHQ
No denial, so what is CCHQ saying now? Just give up?
It says a lot about you that you think people who disagree with you are taking lines from party HQ. For the record I'm not, and I'm not even a party member, although in all other ways I am obviously a massive Tory
And no, I have no intention of giving up: Cummings should stay, the whiners should be told to shove it.
No people that disagree with me are calling for him to go. Only people taking the CCHQ line almost verbatim I am calling out.
You're pathetic - and I think deep down you know this is indefensible.
If it were indefensible, then Cummings by definition could not survive. I think he will, ergo the position is eminently defensible. The impotence of the Opposition to force any other outcome for the next several years is a direct result of the rabbit hole people like you fell down for the last 5 years, and if that's not pathetic, then I don't know what is.
At least I know I got things wrong, you're still in a cult. Poor you.
I've polluted this thread enough with my responses (which frankly are wasted on you) so for the sanity of everyone I will leave things here.
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
@malcolmg - I used to think you were some sort of half-crazed Scottish reactionary. These days I realise the error of my ways because you are absolutely correct. OK, your metaphors and similes are certainly colourful, but I find myself in more and more agreement with you.
Perhaps I have become a half crazed Irish reactionary.....
I know single people who have had really really difficult times in last eight or nine weeks dealing with being alone in isolation and lockdown.
And then this jumped up twat pulls this stunt as the rules don't apply to him and his wife.
Half the country will be absolutely boiling with anger today.
I think this is the real point.
I don’t much care whether Cummings stays or goes. But what ought to have been a fairly minor if deeply embarrassing story, which could have been dealt with by an immediate apology, has completely undermined the government’s ability to be taken seriously by half the country.
Given up defending Cummings then? CCHQ a bit slow on the next line to take?
Jesus, the mouthpiece of Momentum has the gall to invoke CCHQ
No denial, so what is CCHQ saying now? Just give up?
It says a lot about you that you think people who disagree with you are taking lines from party HQ. For the record I'm not, and I'm not even a party member, although in all other ways I am obviously a massive Tory
And no, I have no intention of giving up: Cummings should stay, the whiners should be told to shove it.
No people that disagree with me are calling for him to go. Only people taking the CCHQ line almost verbatim I am calling out.
You're pathetic - and I think deep down you know this is indefensible.
If it were indefensible, then Cummings by definition could not survive. I think he will, ergo the position is eminently defensible. The impotence of the Opposition to force any other outcome for the next several years is a direct result of the rabbit hole people like you fell down for the last 5 years, and if that's not pathetic, then I don't know what is.
At least I know I got things wrong, you're still in a cult. Poor you.
I've polluted this thread enough with my responses (which frankly are wasted on you) so for the sanity of everyone I will leave things here.
At least you've managed to prove one thing - there is a God.
I hope Cummings appreciates the loyalty Boris has shown him. He certainly doesn't encourage ministers to have the same loyalty to their advisers, and many people have been jettisoned for causing less news about themselves than Cummings has, wrongdoing or not.
Given up defending Cummings then? CCHQ a bit slow on the next line to take?
Jesus, the mouthpiece of Momentum has the gall to invoke CCHQ
No denial, so what is CCHQ saying now? Just give up?
It says a lot about you that you think people who disagree with you are taking lines from party HQ. For the record I'm not, and I'm not even a party member, although in all other ways I am obviously a massive Tory
And no, I have no intention of giving up: Cummings should stay, the whiners should be told to shove it.
No people that disagree with me are calling for him to go. Only people taking the CCHQ line almost verbatim I am calling out.
You're pathetic - and I think deep down you know this is indefensible.
If it were indefensible, then Cummings by definition could not survive. I think he will, ergo the position is eminently defensible. The impotence of the Opposition to force any other outcome for the next several years is a direct result of the rabbit hole people like you fell down for the last 5 years, and if that's not pathetic, then I don't know what is.
Defensible means justifiable by argument (certainly in this context).
So your premise is wrong. It is not the case that Cummings surviving would prove it isn't indefensible. It's perfectly possible not to be able to justify your position by argument, but to get your way anyway.
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
@malcolmg - I used to think you were some sort of half-crazed Scottish reactionary. These days I realise the error of my ways because you are absolutely correct. OK, your metaphors and similes are certainly colourful, but I find myself in more and more agreement with you.
Perhaps I have become a half crazed Irish reactionary.....
Bev, more to me than my colourful part for sure, you need to be brisk to survive the nest of vipers on here. Good to see a kindred spirit.@beibheirli_C
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
Quality post. The only bit I disagree with is that I hope you are wrong and he does go. And as you know I say that as someone who is a big fan of him.
Why, thank you. Genuinely touched by that, even more so than the nice things others have said, because after all you and I agree on so little.
I am lucky, and so are those who can get to the Chase or other rural beauty spots easily. I never cease to be conscious of it. One thing we might all reflect on is that this is an ex-council house. It’s very sad that social housing lost its way so badly after the 1960s that very few people in council housing now will be able to enjoy gardens at this time.
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
@malcolmg - I used to think you were some sort of half-crazed Scottish reactionary. These days I realise the error of my ways because you are absolutely correct. OK, your metaphors and similes are certainly colourful, but I find myself in more and more agreement with you.
Perhaps I have become a half crazed Irish reactionary.....
Bev, more to me than my colourful part for sure, you need to be brisk to survive the nest of vipers on here.
Not sure we agree on much either but found myself agreeing with you lately.
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
Yes they are, I detest both Cummings and Johnson, but the media nonsense has to stop. You yourself have critiqued the Unionist media in Scotland for bringing down your own hero. I personally consider Eck to be similar to Johnson and Cummings in the National Scumbaggery League, but the media witch-hunt was still obvious to me.
Given up defending Cummings then? CCHQ a bit slow on the next line to take?
Jesus, the mouthpiece of Momentum has the gall to invoke CCHQ
No denial, so what is CCHQ saying now? Just give up?
It says a lot about you that you think people who disagree with you are taking lines from party HQ. For the record I'm not, and I'm not even a party member, although in all other ways I am obviously a massive Tory
And no, I have no intention of giving up: Cummings should stay, the whiners should be told to shove it.
No people that disagree with me are calling for him to go. Only people taking the CCHQ line almost verbatim I am calling out.
You're pathetic - and I think deep down you know this is indefensible.
If it were indefensible, then Cummings by definition could not survive. I think he will, ergo the position is eminently defensible. The impotence of the Opposition to force any other outcome for the next several years is a direct result of the rabbit hole people like you fell down for the last 5 years, and if that's not pathetic, then I don't know what is.
Defensible means justifiable by argument (certainly in this context).
So your premise is wrong. It is not the case that Cummings surviving would prove it isn't indefensible. It's perfectly possible not to be able to justify your position by argument, but to get your way anyway.
And that's precisely what I meant. As Cersei Lannister once opined, 'Sometimes power is power'.
I really don't care whether Cummings stays or goes. But I really do object to the spin that this was some sort of errand of mercy for the sake of a vulnerable child who may otherwise have had to be taken into care by the local authority or whatever. What a pile of crap; it's an insult to children who really are in vulnerable situations. If there really was nobody in London to help (highly doubtful), and if Mr Cummings and partner were really too ill to cope, then presumably for the sake of the child the Durham sister could have come and collected him/her. Presumably the Cummings household can't get food delivered by Waitrose or Lidl or whatever. The breach of the government guidance was so blatant as to be not worth discussing.
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
Quality post. The only bit I disagree with is that I hope you are wrong and he does go. And as you know I say that as someone who is a big fan of him.
Why, thank you. Genuinely touched by that, even more so than the nice things others have said, because after all you and I agree on so little.
I am lucky, and so are those who can get to the Chase or other rural beauty spots easily. I never cease to be conscious of it. One thing we might all reflect on is that this is an ex-council house. It’s very sad that social housing lost its way so badly after the 1960s that very few people in council housing now will be able to enjoy gardens at this time.
When I read your first post, I was bemused why you were sad others couldn't watch "The Chase" (and why that would be sad for anyone) but then I realised you didn't mean the ITV programme
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
@malcolmg - I used to think you were some sort of half-crazed Scottish reactionary. These days I realise the error of my ways because you are absolutely correct. OK, your metaphors and similes are certainly colourful, but I find myself in more and more agreement with you.
Perhaps I have become a half crazed Irish reactionary.....
Bev, more to me than my colourful part for sure, you need to be brisk to survive the nest of vipers on here. Good to see a kindred spirit.@beibheirli_C
SKS and his team have significantly raised the Opposition's game....
Beginning to look as if they are up against duds and it should be an easy task next time unless some major changes by government who are making Corbyn look as if he was PM material after all.
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
Quality post. The only bit I disagree with is that I hope you are wrong and he does go. And as you know I say that as someone who is a big fan of him.
Why, thank you. Genuinely touched by that, even more so than the nice things others have said, because after all you and I agree on so little.
I am lucky, and so are those who can get to the Chase or other rural beauty spots easily. I never cease to be conscious of it. One thing we might all reflect on is that this is an ex-council house. It’s very sad that social housing lost its way so badly after the 1960s that very few people in council housing now will be able to enjoy gardens at this time.
When I read your first post, I was bemused why you were sad others couldn't watch "The Chase" (and why that would be sad for anyone) but then I realised you didn't mean the ITV programme
Anyone who is not acquainted with Cannock Chase - it is highly recommended. It must be the Midlands’ best kept secret. It’s both beautiful and usually fairly quiet.
No, he didn't, as thousands of tweets of the actual guidelines has shown today.
Totally out of touch with real people. Hopelessly lost. Entire virus strategy in tatters.
I agree,
Have had 2 of the Grandkids round today for first time.
If the Chief Government Advisor can break the rules
Fuck it
The only valid explanation for this crock of a shitshow is that Cummings wants lockdown to end to save the economy and he's come up with the perfect plan that ends it today.
A bigger issue for the public might be where can they go for a shit on a day out, if public toilets near the beach are closed. The whereabouts of Dominic Cummings might not be such a pressing issue.
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
@malcolmg - I used to think you were some sort of half-crazed Scottish reactionary. These days I realise the error of my ways because you are absolutely correct. OK, your metaphors and similes are certainly colourful, but I find myself in more and more agreement with you.
Perhaps I have become a half crazed Irish reactionary.....
Anyone who is not acquainted with Cannock Chase - it is highly recommended. It must be the Midlands’ best kept secret. It’s both beautiful and usually fairly quiet.
Really? The last time I was there it just said "M6 Services" and I did not think much of the cafe...
Wait - so at the time of the Great Drive to Durham, Cummings wasn’t ill but his wife was?
Are they effectively saying that any family with small children who had one parent get sick during the lockdown period were terrible parents if they didn’t break quarantine (in case the other parent might get sick too)?
So anyone who did struggle through suspected symptoms with a small child in the house, or who had a spouse who did likewise, is basically either a bad parent or stupid.
You’d think something this significant - because there are well over a couple of million households in the country with small kids - should have been explicitly instructed:
“If you have any small children in your household and you or a member of your family begin to show any symptoms, do NOT self-isolate, but travel immediately to a family member to hand over your children”
Incidentally, has anyone confirmed that the child in question was indeed handed over to a family member before the self-quarantining began? Otherwise it would be odd to drive all that way for the explicit purpose of ensuring the child had a healthy carer and then keep them in a virus-infested house. Which would ensure that if the two parents were in fact incapacitated simultaneously (as the fear was) that whoever took the child in that circumstance was also exposed to the virus - which was where we came in!
1. The presser wasn’t a car crash 2. There were no more revelations tomorrow
Looks like he hasn’t got past 1. He’s in trouble now
And to be fair to Shapps, it wasn't because the was bad - it's just because the line he had to take was terrible.
Even if Dom's actions were technically within the rules (and they probably weren't, not really), lots of normal people have needed to deal with childcare questions without recourse to piles of money, personal assistants or a relative's spare house at the other end of the country.
People have worried and struggled and the kindest interpretation of the Cummings's actions is that all that worry was unnecessary and people just needed to bend the rules creatively.
Yes, even Callaghan got 269 seats in election 1979 BBC Parliament is now reshowing.
Though of course Labour got about 40 more Scottish seats back then which are now SNP
Will you be commenting on the re-run of 1997 election night due next Saturday?
Perhaps you can tell us when Labour gain Hornchurch.
I commented on the 1964 general election rerun last Saturday when Wilson took Labour back to power after 13 years and the 1959 election rerun the week before when Macmillan won and the 2010 general election rerun when Cameron got in the week before that, so yes
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
Yes they are, I detest both Cummings and Johnson, but the media nonsense has to stop. You yourself have critiqued the Unionist media in Scotland for bringing down your own hero. I personally consider Eck to be similar to Johnson and Cummings in the National Scumbaggery League, but the media witch-hunt was still obvious to me.
However Cummings is well guilty having admitted it, Alex had to fight tooth and nail to prove his despite media , establishment and both governments against him
SKS and his team have significantly raised the Opposition's game....
Beginning to look as if they are up against duds and it should be an easy task next time unless some major changes by government who are making Corbyn look as if he was PM material after all.
They're so far ahead it won't be easy even if they are duds. But the range of options looks to be widening.
Given up defending Cummings then? CCHQ a bit slow on the next line to take?
Jesus, the mouthpiece of Momentum has the gall to invoke CCHQ
No denial, so what is CCHQ saying now? Just give up?
It says a lot about you that you think people who disagree with you are taking lines from party HQ. For the record I'm not, and I'm not even a party member, although in all other ways I am obviously a massive Tory
And no, I have no intention of giving up: Cummings should stay, the whiners should be told to shove it.
No people that disagree with me are calling for him to go. Only people taking the CCHQ line almost verbatim I am calling out.
You're pathetic - and I think deep down you know this is indefensible.
If it were indefensible, then Cummings by definition could not survive. I think he will, ergo the position is eminently defensible. The impotence of the Opposition to force any other outcome for the next several years is a direct result of the rabbit hole people like you fell down for the last 5 years, and if that's not pathetic, then I don't know what is.
Defensible means justifiable by argument (certainly in this context).
So your premise is wrong. It is not the case that Cummings surviving would prove it isn't indefensible. It's perfectly possible not to be able to justify your position by argument, but to get your way anyway.
Quite. ‘We’ve got a majority, so screw public opinion’ isn’t exactly a defence.
I know single people who have had really really difficult times in last eight or nine weeks dealing with being alone in isolation and lockdown.
And then this jumped up twat pulls this stunt as the rules don't apply to him and his wife.
Half the country will be absolutely boiling with anger today.
I think this is the real point.
I don’t much care whether Cummings stays or goes. But what ought to have been a fairly minor if deeply embarrassing story, which could have been dealt with by an immediate apology, has completely undermined the government’s ability to be taken seriously by half the country.
Bit of a strategic oversight not to have a comms genius in charge of their messaging.
Wait - so at the time of the Great Drive to Durham, Cummings wasn’t ill but his wife was?
Are they effectively saying that any family with small children who had one parent get sick during the lockdown period were terrible parents if they didn’t break quarantine (in case the other parent might get sick too)?
So anyone who did struggle through suspected symptoms with a small child in the house, or who had a spouse who did likewise, is basically either a bad parent or stupid.
You’d think something this significant - because there are well over a couple of million households in the country with small kids - should have been explicitly instructed:
“If you have any small children in your household and you or a member of your family begin to show any symptoms, do NOT self-isolate, but travel immediately to a family member to hand over your children”
Incidentally, has anyone confirmed that the child in question was indeed handed over to a family member before the self-quarantining began? Otherwise it would be odd to drive all that way for the explicit purpose of ensuring the child had a healthy carer and then keep them in a virus-infested house. Which would ensure that if the two parents were in fact incapacitated simultaneously (as the fear was) that whoever took the child in that circumstance was also exposed to the virus - which was where we came in!
That’s a basic flaw in the story. He was widely reported in the press to be self isolating on 30 March. The events in question are alleged to have taken place on the 31st.
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
@malcolmg - I used to think you were some sort of half-crazed Scottish reactionary. These days I realise the error of my ways because you are absolutely correct. OK, your metaphors and similes are certainly colourful, but I find myself in more and more agreement with you.
Perhaps I have become a half crazed Irish reactionary.....
Bev, more to me than my colourful part for sure, you need to be brisk to survive the nest of vipers on here.
Not sure we agree on much either but found myself agreeing with you lately.
Apart from my penchant for independence I am pretty centre type guy and can see absolute arseholes wherever they are. Too many on here with Tory only blinkers.
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
@malcolmg - I used to think you were some sort of half-crazed Scottish reactionary. These days I realise the error of my ways because you are absolutely correct. OK, your metaphors and similes are certainly colourful, but I find myself in more and more agreement with you.
Perhaps I have become a half crazed Irish reactionary.....
Bev, more to me than my colourful part for sure, you need to be brisk to survive the nest of vipers on here.
Not sure we agree on much either but found myself agreeing with you lately.
Apart from my penchant for independence I am pretty centre type guy and can see absolute arseholes wherever they are. Too many on here with Tory only blinkers.
I hope you don't consider me one of the arseholes
I freely admit I got blinkered the other way in the run up to the last election and that makes me look very foolish now. But I would like to think admitting that and holding my hands up is a good first step.
Like I said at the time, I voted for SKS to kick the Corbynites out. He was by far the best option on offer.
The problem is, we're not in an election campaign. We're in a pandemic.
Governments acting like they are in constant campaigning is one reason they are so weak, even when they are in a position of great strength. It's one reason they appear so terrified of any whiff of unpopularity or policy disagreement even though they should expect to become unpopular and have the numbers to accept pretty significant rebellions.
Even if Cummings were the genius svengali he thinks he is I don't get why he is treated with such reverence by Boris and his team. Advisers tend to get bogeyman status from opponents anyway, but that can be useful when they slip up and draw heat.
Yes, even Callaghan got 269 seats in election 1979 BBC Parliament is now reshowing.
Though of course Labour got about 40 more Scottish seats back then which are now SNP
Will you be commenting on the re-run of 1997 election night due next Saturday?
Perhaps you can tell us when Labour gain Hornchurch.
I commented on the 1964 general election rerun last Saturday when Wilson took Labour back to power after 13 years and the 1959 rerun the week before when Macmillan won, so yes
Can you stop spoiling it for the rest of us by giving us the results in advance though?
Wait - so at the time of the Great Drive to Durham, Cummings wasn’t ill but his wife was?
Are they effectively saying that any family with small children who had one parent get sick during the lockdown period were terrible parents if they didn’t break quarantine (in case the other parent might get sick too)?
So anyone who did struggle through suspected symptoms with a small child in the house, or who had a spouse who did likewise, is basically either a bad parent or stupid.
You’d think something this significant - because there are well over a couple of million households in the country with small kids - should have been explicitly instructed:
“If you have any small children in your household and you or a member of your family begin to show any symptoms, do NOT self-isolate, but travel immediately to a family member to hand over your children”
Incidentally, has anyone confirmed that the child in question was indeed handed over to a family member before the self-quarantining began? Otherwise it would be odd to drive all that way for the explicit purpose of ensuring the child had a healthy carer and then keep them in a virus-infested house. Which would ensure that if the two parents were in fact incapacitated simultaneously (as the fear was) that whoever took the child in that circumstance was also exposed to the virus - which was where we came in!
That’s a basic flaw in the story. He was widely reported in the press to be self isolating on 30 March. The events in question are alleged to have taken place on the 31st.
If his wife had it, he should have been self-isolating eve without symptoms. Or may have started getting very mild ones - if your wife goes down with Covid and you get a sore throat, you probably know what it is. So, yes, he may well have been well enough to drive on the 31st.
Wait - so at the time of the Great Drive to Durham, Cummings wasn’t ill but his wife was?
Are they effectively saying that any family with small children who had one parent get sick during the lockdown period were terrible parents if they didn’t break quarantine (in case the other parent might get sick too)?
So anyone who did struggle through suspected symptoms with a small child in the house, or who had a spouse who did likewise, is basically either a bad parent or stupid.
You’d think something this significant - because there are well over a couple of million households in the country with small kids - should have been explicitly instructed:
“If you have any small children in your household and you or a member of your family begin to show any symptoms, do NOT self-isolate, but travel immediately to a family member to hand over your children”
Incidentally, has anyone confirmed that the child in question was indeed handed over to a family member before the self-quarantining began? Otherwise it would be odd to drive all that way for the explicit purpose of ensuring the child had a healthy carer and then keep them in a virus-infested house. Which would ensure that if the two parents were in fact incapacitated simultaneously (as the fear was) that whoever took the child in that circumstance was also exposed to the virus - which was where we came in!
No, they kept the child in the house with them and got him to help to take care of Cummings when he fell ill, according to his wife: " this might be my only really useful advice for other double-Covid parents or single mothers with pre-schoolers: get out the doctor’s kit and make it your child’s job to take your temperature"
Wait - so at the time of the Great Drive to Durham, Cummings wasn’t ill but his wife was?
Are they effectively saying that any family with small children who had one parent get sick during the lockdown period were terrible parents if they didn’t break quarantine (in case the other parent might get sick too)?
So anyone who did struggle through suspected symptoms with a small child in the house, or who had a spouse who did likewise, is basically either a bad parent or stupid.
You’d think something this significant - because there are well over a couple of million households in the country with small kids - should have been explicitly instructed:
“If you have any small children in your household and you or a member of your family begin to show any symptoms, do NOT self-isolate, but travel immediately to a family member to hand over your children”
Incidentally, has anyone confirmed that the child in question was indeed handed over to a family member before the self-quarantining began? Otherwise it would be odd to drive all that way for the explicit purpose of ensuring the child had a healthy carer and then keep them in a virus-infested house. Which would ensure that if the two parents were in fact incapacitated simultaneously (as the fear was) that whoever took the child in that circumstance was also exposed to the virus - which was where we came in!
No, they kept the child in the house with them and got him to help to take care of Cummings when he fell ill, according to his wife: " this might be my only really useful advice for other double-Covid parents or single mothers with pre-schoolers: get out the doctor’s kit and make it your child’s job to take your temperature"
I thought they fitted wheels to the house and drove it to Co. Durham so that they never left the house whilst travelling north?
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
@malcolmg - I used to think you were some sort of half-crazed Scottish reactionary. These days I realise the error of my ways because you are absolutely correct. OK, your metaphors and similes are certainly colourful, but I find myself in more and more agreement with you.
Perhaps I have become a half crazed Irish reactionary.....
Malcolm does, inexplicably, grow on one.
Why thank you Nigel , I also enjoy your posts and you sound like a gentleman and a scholar , I am sure we would enjoy a pint together. I could not say that to Bev being a married man.
Anyone who is not acquainted with Cannock Chase - it is highly recommended. It must be the Midlands’ best kept secret. It’s both beautiful and usually fairly quiet.
Really? The last time I was there it just said "M6 Services" and I did not think much of the cafe...
It is an area of outstanding natural beauty (and designated as such), but so small that most drive right past it without noticing.
Wait - so at the time of the Great Drive to Durham, Cummings wasn’t ill but his wife was?
Are they effectively saying that any family with small children who had one parent get sick during the lockdown period were terrible parents if they didn’t break quarantine (in case the other parent might get sick too)?
So anyone who did struggle through suspected symptoms with a small child in the house, or who had a spouse who did likewise, is basically either a bad parent or stupid.
You’d think something this significant - because there are well over a couple of million households in the country with small kids - should have been explicitly instructed:
“If you have any small children in your household and you or a member of your family begin to show any symptoms, do NOT self-isolate, but travel immediately to a family member to hand over your children”
Incidentally, has anyone confirmed that the child in question was indeed handed over to a family member before the self-quarantining began? Otherwise it would be odd to drive all that way for the explicit purpose of ensuring the child had a healthy carer and then keep them in a virus-infested house. Which would ensure that if the two parents were in fact incapacitated simultaneously (as the fear was) that whoever took the child in that circumstance was also exposed to the virus - which was where we came in!
That’s a basic flaw in the story. He was widely reported in the press to be self isolating on 30 March. The events in question are alleged to have taken place on the 31st.
I think the timeline is meant to be that Mrs Cummings developed symptoms on 27 March (the day it was announced Johnson had tested positive) and Cummings himself the following day.
I commented on the 1964 general election last Saturday when Wilson took Labour back to power after 13 years too so yes
I imagine you were far too young to have been politically active back then - it won't be pleasant viewing for the average Conservative.
My recollection of the Thursday night and following morning was of course very different and my most successful night's political betting ever.
I will concede for the most part the Conservatives took the result well - many were tired after 18 years of Government and of course for some it was the first time they had ever known what it was like to lose an election. Others were completely stunned by the scale of what happened.
The problem is, we're not in an election campaign. We're in a pandemic.
I can save them convening a focus group. The response will be a stream of abuse and swearing and red faces.
Just carry it out in two weeks' time - few will remember, and fewer will care.
People remember " crisis what crisis " even though he did not say that a generation after. This crisis and the hypocrisy will be remembered .What ever you say.
I know single people who have had really really difficult times in last eight or nine weeks dealing with being alone in isolation and lockdown.
And then this jumped up twat pulls this stunt as the rules don't apply to him and his wife.
Half the country will be absolutely boiling with anger today.
I think this is the real point.
I don’t much care whether Cummings stays or goes. But what ought to have been a fairly minor if deeply embarrassing story, which could have been dealt with by an immediate apology, has completely undermined the government’s ability to be taken seriously by half the country.
Bit of a strategic oversight not to have a comms genius in charge of their messaging.
There's a lot riding on that word "access". Did he have "access" to family. If the nearest family was that far away I would argue "no" and he should have, as the next resort, to the local authority.
the nearest family are in London
And he is a key worker so would have access to local council childcare.
Please answer this
Would you hand your children to the local council rather than family, irrespective of how far they are away
There's this old thing, called honour. It used to be highly thought of.
If we give Cummings the benefit and he genuinely did this for his child's sake, he should do the honourable thing and resign, as he has clearly extremely seriously undermined the national effort and his entire government's virus strategy.
Yep Agree with that.
Is it still the case that the last Government Minister to resign as a matter of honour (and I know Cummings isn't a minister) was Carrington over the Falklands War? Has anyone else from either party acted in that way since? It would be rather nice to see a return to Ministerial responsibility.
Robin Cook?
Surely that was over a matter of policy rather than because he felt he had done something wrong and failed in his job? Not quite was I was talking about.
Oh right, just a guess, I am not an expert. Just remembered him quitting over Iraq, which I took as a matter of honour.
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
@malcolmg - I used to think you were some sort of half-crazed Scottish reactionary. These days I realise the error of my ways because you are absolutely correct. OK, your metaphors and similes are certainly colourful, but I find myself in more and more agreement with you.
Perhaps I have become a half crazed Irish reactionary.....
Bev, more to me than my colourful part for sure, you need to be brisk to survive the nest of vipers on here.
Not sure we agree on much either but found myself agreeing with you lately.
Apart from my penchant for independence I am pretty centre type guy and can see absolute arseholes wherever they are. Too many on here with Tory only blinkers.
I hope you don't consider me one of the arseholes
I freely admit I got blinkered the other way in the run up to the last election and that makes me look very foolish now. But I would like to think admitting that and holding my hands up is a good first step.
Like I said at the time, I voted for SKS to kick the Corbynites out. He was by far the best option on offer.
Not at all, though at times I get carried away a bit , however I usually only reply in kind and would apologise if I was rude to you unnecessarily. I hope SKS can hold this lots feet to the fire, they have had it easy for far too long, the country will be an empty shell by the time they are finished. PS: Many on here have no sense of humour either and take things literally.
I do wonder whethger the beeb would be running a story headlined "Coronavirus: Nurse 'hasn't hugged son, two, in five weeks'" were it not for the Cummings incident. One rule for the rich...
Yes, even Callaghan got 269 seats in election 1979 BBC Parliament is now reshowing.
Though of course Labour got about 40 more Scottish seats back then which are now SNP
Will you be commenting on the re-run of 1997 election night due next Saturday?
Perhaps you can tell us when Labour gain Hornchurch.
I commented on the 1964 general election rerun last Saturday when Wilson took Labour back to power after 13 years and the 1959 election rerun the week before when Macmillan won and the 2010 general election rerun when Cameron got in the week before that, so yes
Yes, even Callaghan got 269 seats in election 1979 BBC Parliament is now reshowing.
Though of course Labour got about 40 more Scottish seats back then which are now SNP
Will you be commenting on the re-run of 1997 election night due next Saturday?
Perhaps you can tell us when Labour gain Hornchurch.
I commented on the 1964 general election rerun last Saturday when Wilson took Labour back to power after 13 years and the 1959 election rerun the week before when Macmillan won and the 2010 general election rerun when Cameron got in the week before that, so yes
I did not watch the 1959 rerun recently , but from memory there are big gaps in it. The recording is far from complete - with no coverage at all of Day 2 for the Friday results.
The problem is, we're not in an election campaign. We're in a pandemic.
It is this polling and focus group work that caused Dominics reverse ferret from advocating "herd immunity" to lockdown now. Not that lockdown should apply to himself.
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
@malcolmg - I used to think you were some sort of half-crazed Scottish reactionary. These days I realise the error of my ways because you are absolutely correct. OK, your metaphors and similes are certainly colourful, but I find myself in more and more agreement with you.
Perhaps I have become a half crazed Irish reactionary.....
Bev, more to me than my colourful part for sure, you need to be brisk to survive the nest of vipers on here.
Not sure we agree on much either but found myself agreeing with you lately.
Apart from my penchant for independence I am pretty centre type guy and can see absolute arseholes wherever they are. Too many on here with Tory only blinkers.
I hope you don't consider me one of the arseholes
I freely admit I got blinkered the other way in the run up to the last election and that makes me look very foolish now. But I would like to think admitting that and holding my hands up is a good first step.
Like I said at the time, I voted for SKS to kick the Corbynites out. He was by far the best option on offer.
I don't think you got blinkered; I think you're so tribally Labour that you'd support a bowl of porridge if it wore a red rosette. You can talk about how awful Corbyn was now, but it's pretty clear that the only thing Corbyn really did to warrant your disavowal was not win enough seats. That's it. You'll support Starmer through thick and thin for the same reason. That's fine as far as it goes, but it limits somewhat the degree of insight (not to mention surprise and delight) we can expect from reading your posts.
I commented on the 1964 general election last Saturday when Wilson took Labour back to power after 13 years too so yes
I imagine you were far too young to have been politically active back then - it won't be pleasant viewing for the average Conservative.
My recollection of the Thursday night and following morning was of course very different and my most successful night's political betting ever.
I will concede for the most part the Conservatives took the result well - many were tired after 18 years of Government and of course for some it was the first time they had ever known what it was like to lose an election. Others were completely stunned by the scale of what happened.
I was 6 months married living in Edinburgh and had no interest in politics.
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
@malcolmg - I used to think you were some sort of half-crazed Scottish reactionary. These days I realise the error of my ways because you are absolutely correct. OK, your metaphors and similes are certainly colourful, but I find myself in more and more agreement with you.
Perhaps I have become a half crazed Irish reactionary.....
Malcolm does, inexplicably, grow on one.
Why thank you Nigel , I also enjoy your posts and you sound like a gentleman and a scholar , I am sure we would enjoy a pint together. I could not say that to Bev being a married man.
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
@malcolmg - I used to think you were some sort of half-crazed Scottish reactionary. These days I realise the error of my ways because you are absolutely correct. OK, your metaphors and similes are certainly colourful, but I find myself in more and more agreement with you.
Perhaps I have become a half crazed Irish reactionary.....
Bev, more to me than my colourful part for sure, you need to be brisk to survive the nest of vipers on here.
Not sure we agree on much either but found myself agreeing with you lately.
Apart from my penchant for independence I am pretty centre type guy and can see absolute arseholes wherever they are. Too many on here with Tory only blinkers.
I hope you don't consider me one of the arseholes
I freely admit I got blinkered the other way in the run up to the last election and that makes me look very foolish now. But I would like to think admitting that and holding my hands up is a good first step.
Like I said at the time, I voted for SKS to kick the Corbynites out. He was by far the best option on offer.
I don't think you got blinkered; I think you're so tribally Labour that you'd support a bowl of porridge if it wore a red rosette. You can talk about how awful Corbyn was now, but it's pretty clear that the only thing Corbyn really did to warrant your disavowal was not win enough seats. That's it. You'll support Starmer through thick and thin for the same reason. That's fine as far as it goes, but it limits somewhat the degree of insight (not to mention surprise and delight) we can expect from reading your posts.
Well you interpret my posts as you wish, I know I have changed.
I think I am pro-Labour but I'm not anymore pro-Labour than a lot of the Tories here are pro-Tory. Yet they don't get attacked for that, except by me (when they say ridiculous things).
I think the idea I am anymore or less blinkered than anyone else is a bit ridiculous, that is what I am saying. I made the point so fine for you to respond to it as you have - but I will maintain I am not in any way unique.
My contribution isn't less valuable in some respect because I am pro-Labour, anymore than anyone else's. I like to think I provide a bit of contrast to what is a pro-Tory site.
Wait - so at the time of the Great Drive to Durham, Cummings wasn’t ill but his wife was?
Are they effectively saying that any family with small children who had one parent get sick during the lockdown period were terrible parents if they didn’t break quarantine (in case the other parent might get sick too)?
So anyone who did struggle through suspected symptoms with a small child in the house, or who had a spouse who did likewise, is basically either a bad parent or stupid.
You’d think something this significant - because there are well over a couple of million households in the country with small kids - should have been explicitly instructed:
“If you have any small children in your household and you or a member of your family begin to show any symptoms, do NOT self-isolate, but travel immediately to a family member to hand over your children”
Incidentally, has anyone confirmed that the child in question was indeed handed over to a family member before the self-quarantining began? Otherwise it would be odd to drive all that way for the explicit purpose of ensuring the child had a healthy carer and then keep them in a virus-infested house. Which would ensure that if the two parents were in fact incapacitated simultaneously (as the fear was) that whoever took the child in that circumstance was also exposed to the virus - which was where we came in!
No, they kept the child in the house with them and got him to help to take care of Cummings when he fell ill, according to his wife: " this might be my only really useful advice for other double-Covid parents or single mothers with pre-schoolers: get out the doctor’s kit and make it your child’s job to take your temperature"
So - they dashed across the country to make sure they could hand their child to a family member to look after him in case both of them fell ill... and then, well, didn’t?
The entire rationale was that one was already ill, the other was exposed, due to being around them, so they were worried both of them might be ill and therefore the kid needed to be in the hands of a family member.
And then, having got there... they didn’t do that, hung on to the kid, and went through the illness exactly as they would have done if they’d obeyed the guidelines and stayed put in London.
Right. Okay.
Yeah, anyone with a kid would have rushed across the country to NOT ensure they had childcare available. Fantastic defence, that.
Anyone who is not acquainted with Cannock Chase - it is highly recommended. It must be the Midlands’ best kept secret. It’s both beautiful and usually fairly quiet.
Really? The last time I was there it just said "M6 Services" and I did not think much of the cafe...
I understand why he may have done this but the riight thing to do is resign
Big G, we all understand why he did it. He did it because he didn’t want to be ill and in quarantine in a cramped townhouse in London. He wanted somewhere with a garden for the little one to play in, a view and the chance to get out a bit.
And I do understand that. How often have I come on here counting my blessings that I have a lovely big house, with a garden, and a cycle trail to Cannock Chase less than 200 yards away? When I see people on the Chase, we actually comment on how lucky we are and reflect on those poor sods stuck in little flats in Walsall, whom we can actually see, but who until a few days ago couldn’t join us.
The problem is that (a) flatly contradicts everything the government is doing and (b) he’s come up with just about the stupidest and most implausible set of lies imaginable to excuse it.
But as it is Cummings and that is what he has always done, I agree there is a high chance he survives.
You're a good person, you have my respect and thanks for your understanding of people with less than yourself. 10/10 post.
Shame on Big G for supporting him, I expected better from him given his previous posting.
I have said he should resign Malc.
If he goes BigG the media will want an even bigger scalp next time- and you know who that is. The media tail wagging the government dog has to stop!
Pete they need to clean their act up and they would not be at risk, they are a bunch of cheating lying bad uns.
@malcolmg - I used to think you were some sort of half-crazed Scottish reactionary. These days I realise the error of my ways because you are absolutely correct. OK, your metaphors and similes are certainly colourful, but I find myself in more and more agreement with you.
Perhaps I have become a half crazed Irish reactionary.....
Bev, more to me than my colourful part for sure, you need to be brisk to survive the nest of vipers on here.
Not sure we agree on much either but found myself agreeing with you lately.
Apart from my penchant for independence I am pretty centre type guy and can see absolute arseholes wherever they are. Too many on here with Tory only blinkers.
I hope you don't consider me one of the arseholes
I freely admit I got blinkered the other way in the run up to the last election and that makes me look very foolish now. But I would like to think admitting that and holding my hands up is a good first step.
Like I said at the time, I voted for SKS to kick the Corbynites out. He was by far the best option on offer.
I don't think you got blinkered; I think you're so tribally Labour that you'd support a bowl of porridge if it wore a red rosette. You can talk about how awful Corbyn was now, but it's pretty clear that the only thing Corbyn really did to warrant your disavowal was not win enough seats. That's it. You'll support Starmer through thick and thin for the same reason. That's fine as far as it goes, but it limits somewhat the degree of insight (not to mention surprise and delight) we can expect from reading your posts.
Well you interpret my posts as you wish, I know I have changed.
I think I am pro-Labour but I'm not anymore pro-Labour than a lot of the Tories here are pro-Tory. Yet they don't get attacked for that, except by me (when they say ridiculous things).
I think the idea I am anymore or less blinkered than anyone else is a bit ridiculous, that is what I am saying. I made the point so fine for you to respond to it as you have - but I will maintain I am not in any way unique.
My contribution isn't less valuable in some respect because I am pro-Labour, anymore than anyone else's. I like to think I provide a bit of contrast to what is a pro-Tory site.
You think you are the only poster fighting against the hordes of PB Tories?
I commented on the 1964 general election last Saturday when Wilson took Labour back to power after 13 years too so yes
I imagine you were far too young to have been politically active back then - it won't be pleasant viewing for the average Conservative.
My recollection of the Thursday night and following morning was of course very different and my most successful night's political betting ever.
I will concede for the most part the Conservatives took the result well - many were tired after 18 years of Government and of course for some it was the first time they had ever known what it was like to lose an election. Others were completely stunned by the scale of what happened.
I was 6 months married living in Edinburgh and had no interest in politics.
Comments
I've polluted this thread enough with my responses (which frankly are wasted on you) so for the sanity of everyone I will leave things here.
Perhaps I have become a half crazed Irish reactionary.....
Can't wait for 10pm and tomorrow's news headlines.
"Johnson rewrites lockdown to save Durham Dominic"
https://twitter.com/RobynLStewart/status/1264218756408119296/photo/1
I don’t much care whether Cummings stays or goes. But what ought to have been a fairly minor if deeply embarrassing story, which could have been dealt with by an immediate apology, has completely undermined the government’s ability to be taken seriously by half the country.
Having this presser wasn't a very good idea.
So your premise is wrong. It is not the case that Cummings surviving would prove it isn't indefensible. It's perfectly possible not to be able to justify your position by argument, but to get your way anyway.
Where is Boris hiding?
Good to see a kindred spirit.@beibheirli_C
I am lucky, and so are those who can get to the Chase or other rural beauty spots easily. I never cease to be conscious of it. One thing we might all reflect on is that this is an ex-council house. It’s very sad that social housing lost its way so badly after the 1960s that very few people in council housing now will be able to enjoy gardens at this time.
Perhaps you can tell us when Labour gain Hornchurch.
The breach of the government guidance was so blatant as to be not worth discussing.
Have had 2 of the Grandkids round today for first time.
If the Chief Government Advisor can break the rules
Fuck it
Anyone who is not acquainted with Cannock Chase - it is highly recommended. It must be the Midlands’ best kept secret. It’s both beautiful and usually fairly quiet.
Edit. It's clear from the briefing that Johnson knew Cummings broke quarantine rules.
The problem is, we're not in an election campaign. We're in a pandemic.
Imagine being the CMO and imploring people to get back to sticking to the guidelines.
Are they effectively saying that any family with small children who had one parent get sick during the lockdown period were terrible parents if they didn’t break quarantine (in case the other parent might get sick too)?
So anyone who did struggle through suspected symptoms with a small child in the house, or who had a spouse who did likewise, is basically either a bad parent or stupid.
You’d think something this significant - because there are well over a couple of million households in the country with small kids - should have been explicitly instructed:
“If you have any small children in your household and you or a member of your family begin to show any symptoms, do NOT self-isolate, but travel immediately to a family member to hand over your children”
Incidentally, has anyone confirmed that the child in question was indeed handed over to a family member before the self-quarantining began? Otherwise it would be odd to drive all that way for the explicit purpose of ensuring the child had a healthy carer and then keep them in a virus-infested house. Which would ensure that if the two parents were in fact incapacitated simultaneously (as the fear was) that whoever took the child in that circumstance was also exposed to the virus - which was where we came in!
Even if Dom's actions were technically within the rules (and they probably weren't, not really), lots of normal people have needed to deal with childcare questions without recourse to piles of money, personal assistants or a relative's spare house at the other end of the country.
People have worried and struggled and the kindest interpretation of the Cummings's actions is that all that worry was unnecessary and people just needed to bend the rules creatively.
He's got to go.
‘We’ve got a majority, so screw public opinion’ isn’t exactly a defence.
It worked out so well in the past, after all.
It is clear to me the peak in Government approval has passed, I wonder how low it might fall.
I freely admit I got blinkered the other way in the run up to the last election and that makes me look very foolish now. But I would like to think admitting that and holding my hands up is a good first step.
Like I said at the time, I voted for SKS to kick the Corbynites out. He was by far the best option on offer.
Even if Cummings were the genius svengali he thinks he is I don't get why he is treated with such reverence by Boris and his team. Advisers tend to get bogeyman status from opponents anyway, but that can be useful when they slip up and draw heat.
Ha, this is trending
" this might be my only really useful advice for other double-Covid parents or single mothers with pre-schoolers: get out the doctor’s kit and make it your child’s job to take your temperature"
Or has the govt not used that excuse yet?
I could not say that to Bev being a married man.
https://twitter.com/shaunwalker7/status/1264178669595090944?s=20
My recollection of the Thursday night and following morning was of course very different and my most successful night's political betting ever.
I will concede for the most part the Conservatives took the result well - many were tired after 18 years of Government and of course for some it was the first time they had ever known what it was like to lose an election. Others were completely stunned by the scale of what happened.
This crisis and the hypocrisy will be remembered .What ever you say.
PS: Many on here have no sense of humour either and take things literally.
His focus groups didn't fancy dying for Britain.
I think I am pro-Labour but I'm not anymore pro-Labour than a lot of the Tories here are pro-Tory. Yet they don't get attacked for that, except by me (when they say ridiculous things).
I think the idea I am anymore or less blinkered than anyone else is a bit ridiculous, that is what I am saying. I made the point so fine for you to respond to it as you have - but I will maintain I am not in any way unique.
My contribution isn't less valuable in some respect because I am pro-Labour, anymore than anyone else's. I like to think I provide a bit of contrast to what is a pro-Tory site.
The entire rationale was that one was already ill, the other was exposed, due to being around them, so they were worried both of them might be ill and therefore the kid needed to be in the hands of a family member.
And then, having got there... they didn’t do that, hung on to the kid, and went through the illness exactly as they would have done if they’d obeyed the guidelines and stayed put in London.
Right. Okay.
Yeah, anyone with a kid would have rushed across the country to NOT ensure they had childcare available. Fantastic defence, that.