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edited May 2020 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » In other news Starmer moves to a net 24% lead over Johnson in latest Opinium approval ratings

The latest Opinium poll carried out before the Cummings lockdown affair came out overnight and the big change has been in the approval ratings of the PM and LOTO. The charts above show the recent trends.

Read the full story here


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Comments

  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    edited May 2020
    I was hoping for a 6th successive Dom themed header.

    Mind you, I expect the next iteration of this poll will be pretty Dom themed, and not in a good way.
  • TomsToms Posts: 2,478
    edited May 2020
    It says "no comments" so I guess I'd better not make one.
  • El_CapitanoEl_Capitano Posts: 4,251
    In which Johnson's government is thrown into the cracks of Mount Dom.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/PaulBrandITV/status/1264456317210701832
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1264456249560743937
  • eekeek Posts: 30,941
    And for Boris it's all downhill from here.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/ShippersUnbound/status/1264456654936031234
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/LJ_Skipper/status/1264455839919878144
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    El_Capitano said:

    In which Johnson's government is thrown into the cracks of Mount Dom.

    Cummings is Dollum to Boris's Frodo.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 74,877
    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1264456249560743937

    Not a very astute tweet, really. He’s saying things need to change because they’re damaging the government. Which of course is the calculation most of them will make, but it would have been more sensible to say that in the national interest at this time of emergency, improvements are needed.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 74,877
    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/LJ_Skipper/status/1264455839919878144

    As long as it’s about the A4 not the A1, he’s safe enough.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/MarkFrancois12/status/1264441095196479488
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 74,877
    IshmaelZ said:

    El_Capitano said:

    In which Johnson's government is thrown into the cracks of Mount Dom.

    Cummings is Dollum to Boris's Frodo.
    But there’s no Sam. None of them are in any way wise.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 32,341
    Locking a child in a car for several hours with two coronavirus-carrying parents seems an odd way of going about things, especially if the intention is to hand him over his grandparents for whom covid-19 is more likely to be fatal.

    So if Cummings is rational but not wholly truthful, maybe the more obvious explanation is that he thought the green fields of somewhere near Durham a better place to self-isolate for weeks or months than a terraced house in inner London.

    Like lots of other people with two or more homes, for instance, other Cabinet members and politicians generally. If I were CCHQ I'd ask a tame journalist to find out where the Shadow Cabinet is holed up. After doing the same for the blue team. Perhaps an enterprising hack might even compare these with MPs' designated first homes on their mortgage and expense claims.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 52,614
    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/LJ_Skipper/status/1264455839919878144

    To be fair on Shapps, at least he hasn't gone into self isolation, like the rest of the cabinet including the PM.

    He is doing the Barry Gardiner job of defending the indefensible.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/JohnRentoul/status/1264458087961964544
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/Gabriel_Pogrund/status/1264458383622656002
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 32,341
    edited May 2020
    ydoethur said:

    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1264456249560743937

    Not a very astute tweet, really. He’s saying things need to change because they’re damaging the government. Which of course is the calculation most of them will make, but it would have been more sensible to say that in the national interest at this time of emergency, improvements are needed.
    Depends whom it is addressed to. Boris might pay more attention to "damages the government" than to "harms the national interest".
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 74,877
    DecrepiterJohnL said:


    So if Cummings is rational but not wholly truthful, maybe the more obvious explanation is that he thought the green fields of somewhere near Durham a better place to self-isolate for weeks or months than a terraced house in inner London.

    Well, of course he did. So would anyone have preferred to.

    The problem is that you’re not allowed to do that, and certainly not when one person in the group is spewing virus everywhere.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/JohnRentoul/status/1264458882606391296
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 74,877
    Labour’s shadow policing spokesperson getting into a bit of a tangle trying to say Cummings should resign without actually saying it out loud.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/LadPolitics/status/1264459396857372672
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 25,053
    ydoethur said:

    DecrepiterJohnL said:


    So if Cummings is rational but not wholly truthful, maybe the more obvious explanation is that he thought the green fields of somewhere near Durham a better place to self-isolate for weeks or months than a terraced house in inner London.

    Well, of course he did. So would anyone have preferred to.

    The problem is that you’re not allowed to do that, and certainly not when one person in the group is spewing virus everywhere.
    I do wonder if he was ever ill at all, I am beginning to doubt it, and think because of underlying health conditions he felt safer in Durham. Human nature, but the right thing to do would then have been resign or take a sabbatical based on being high risk.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,752
    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1264456249560743937

    Steve "Brexit Hardman" Baker is the only tory MP I would not piss on if he were allergic to piss.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/robpowellnews/status/1264459855328432128
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    ydoethur said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    El_Capitano said:

    In which Johnson's government is thrown into the cracks of Mount Dom.

    Cummings is Dollum to Boris's Frodo.
    But there’s no Sam. None of them are in any way wise.
    That book is actually a hymn to Brexitry throughout. "The Scouring of the Shire" is an uncomfortable chapter heading now that "ethnic cleansing" has entered the language.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 74,877
    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    El_Capitano said:

    In which Johnson's government is thrown into the cracks of Mount Dom.

    Cummings is Dollum to Boris's Frodo.
    But there’s no Sam. None of them are in any way wise.
    That book is actually a hymn to Brexitry throughout. "The Scouring of the Shire" is an uncomfortable chapter heading now that "ethnic cleansing" has entered the language.
    It’s also a hammering of the Socialists.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    The timing of this is interesting

    https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1264460021557051393

    Despite having a majority of 80, BoZo is weak, and potentially now rudderless.

    I do think they fear the entire edifice will collapse.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    JRM is lucky the virtual Parliament vote was last week

    After this I suspect MPs would have told him to piss off, "for the kids"...
  • MikeSmithsonMikeSmithson Posts: 7,382
    The danger for Dom is if more hard evidence comes out to back up the claims that he was in Barnard Castle. Surely there must be some CCTV footage somewhere to back up the allegation.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/carolinejmolloy/status/1264453664170704896
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/EmporersNewC/status/1264461976618573833
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 74,877
    MikeSmithson said:

    The danger for Dom is if more hard evidence comes out to back up the claims that he was in Barnard Castle. Surely there must be some CCTV footage somewhere to back up the allegation.

    As I recall, parking is a bugger in Barnard Castle. I wonder where he parked and how he paid.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 25,053
    MikeSmithson said:

    The danger for Dom is if more hard evidence comes out to back up the claims that he was in Barnard Castle. Surely there must be some CCTV footage somewhere to back up the allegation.

    There will be cctv, anpr and mobile phone records so should be trivial to prove or disprove.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/samjoiner/status/1264458206207713281
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/BBCHelenCatt/status/1264463046480728064
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 7,109
    Scott_xP said:

    The timing of this is interesting

    https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1264460021557051393

    Despite having a majority of 80, BoZo is weak, and potentially now rudderless.

    I do think they fear the entire edifice will collapse.

    Do you think you said thst because you are a diehard remainer who would do or say anything to damage Boris...
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    ydoethur said:

    MikeSmithson said:

    The danger for Dom is if more hard evidence comes out to back up the claims that he was in Barnard Castle. Surely there must be some CCTV footage somewhere to back up the allegation.

    As I recall, parking is a bugger in Barnard Castle. I wonder where he parked and how he paid.
    If he is telling the truth, it shouldn't be hard for him to take up the simple sword of truth and prove it from his phone's location on the day in question.
  • eekeek Posts: 30,941
    ydoethur said:

    MikeSmithson said:

    The danger for Dom is if more hard evidence comes out to back up the claims that he was in Barnard Castle. Surely there must be some CCTV footage somewhere to back up the allegation.

    As I recall, parking is a bugger in Barnard Castle. I wonder where he parked and how he paid.
    ??? On street parking is free and the car park by Morrisons and behind the high street / Witham charges but it's a council car park with dumb ticket machines
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 16,735
    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/LJ_Skipper/status/1264455839919878144

    Perhaps the trauma will see him retreat into one of his multiple personalities. "Andrew, this is Michael Green. Grant was feeling very sad this morning and he couldn't make it out of bed."
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,752
    Foxy said:

    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/LJ_Skipper/status/1264455839919878144

    To be fair on Shapps, at least he hasn't gone into self isolation, like the rest of the cabinet including the PM.

    He is doing the Barry Gardiner job of defending the indefensible.
    Shapps just needs to keep denying that the second trip and the Barnard Castle excursion never took place despite any evidence to the contrary. We are now in a post facts era so it probably won't matter that much.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 74,877
    eek said:

    ydoethur said:

    MikeSmithson said:

    The danger for Dom is if more hard evidence comes out to back up the claims that he was in Barnard Castle. Surely there must be some CCTV footage somewhere to back up the allegation.

    As I recall, parking is a bugger in Barnard Castle. I wonder where he parked and how he paid.
    ??? On street parking is free and the car park by Morrisons and behind the high street / Witham charges but it's a council car park with dumb ticket machines
    Really? That’s interesting. I had a terrible time trying to find a place to park when I was last there.

    Admittedly, that was in tourist season.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 25,053
    edited May 2020
    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/JohnRentoul/status/1264458087961964544

    Despite him having few supporters on here, especially amongst former remain voters, I have a bit of time for Steve Baker. As I remember it, nothing he did during the Brexit process was dishonest, incompetent or disloyal, he just had an opinion I strongly disagree with on no deal Brexit and argued for it. The same cant be said for JRM, Boris, Davis, Raab, Francois etc
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/helenpidd/status/1264463532965474304
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/robpowellnews/status/1264464205316534273
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 56,469
    Just taken some of the evens on Cummings lasting out the month.

    Unlike most PMs and advisors, I'm not too sure that either Boris or Dominic give a rat's arse that the advisor is the story - and the DC story's doing a great job of keeping the press pack engaged in trivialities.

    (The assumption there is that the advisor has been totally honest with the PM - if that's not the case and it comes out, he'll be the proverbial cooked bread).
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/Simon_Nixon/status/1264461478553403392
  • eekeek Posts: 30,941
    ydoethur said:

    eek said:

    ydoethur said:

    MikeSmithson said:

    The danger for Dom is if more hard evidence comes out to back up the claims that he was in Barnard Castle. Surely there must be some CCTV footage somewhere to back up the allegation.

    As I recall, parking is a bugger in Barnard Castle. I wonder where he parked and how he paid.
    ??? On street parking is free and the car park by Morrisons and behind the high street / Witham charges but it's a council car park with dumb ticket machines
    Really? That’s interesting. I had a terrible time trying to find a place to park when I was last there.

    Admittedly, that was in tourist season.
    The issue is that the car parks are hidden unless you know where they are you really won't spot them.

    I find it easier when directing visitors to just go to the Bowes museum first as they are easier to spot on the way back out.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 33,546
    ydoethur said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    El_Capitano said:

    In which Johnson's government is thrown into the cracks of Mount Dom.

    Cummings is Dollum to Boris's Frodo.
    But there’s no Sam. None of them are in any way wise.
    Sunak?
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/adampayne26/status/1264456160213635072
  • eekeek Posts: 30,941
    squareroot2 said:

    Scott_xP said:

    The timing of this is interesting

    https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1264460021557051393

    Despite having a majority of 80, BoZo is weak, and potentially now rudderless.

    I do think they fear the entire edifice will collapse.

    Do you think you said thst because you are a diehard remainer who would do or say anything to damage Boris...
    I doubt it. As I posted earlier today for Boris it's all downhill from here.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 25,053
    Sandpit said:

    Just taken some of the evens on Cummings lasting out the month.

    Unlike most PMs and advisors, I'm not too sure that either Boris or Dominic give a rat's arse that the advisor is the story - and the DC story's doing a great job of keeping the press pack engaged in trivialities.

    (The assumption there is that the advisor has been totally honest with the PM - if that's not the case and it comes out, he'll be the proverbial cooked bread).

    Its not just the story it probably ends hopes of schools re-opening in June (or at least opened with many more children in them).

    Parents will simply do "what is best for their kids" in their opinion and the government wont dare push them.
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 7,109
    eek said:

    squareroot2 said:

    Scott_xP said:

    The timing of this is interesting

    https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1264460021557051393

    Despite having a majority of 80, BoZo is weak, and potentially now rudderless.

    I do think they fear the entire edifice will collapse.

    Do you think you said thst because you are a diehard remainer who would do or say anything to damage Boris...
    I doubt it. As I posted earlier today for Boris it's all downhill from here.
    Its all downhill for any PM or for that mstter any political.career. they all end up gone and largely forgotten.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/BBCHelenCatt/status/1264465424793640961
  • CorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorseBattery Posts: 21,436
    https://twitter.com/SteveBakerHW/status/1264454424770076673
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    Mexicanpete said:

    ydoethur said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    El_Capitano said:

    In which Johnson's government is thrown into the cracks of Mount Dom.

    Cummings is Dollum to Boris's Frodo.
    But there’s no Sam. None of them are in any way wise.
    Sunak?
    Priti for Lobelia Sackville-Baggins.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/SebastianEPayne/status/1264465698849513472
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 67,321
    Morning all,

    Thankfully we have a PM-in-waiting as this government slowly disintegrates over next year or so.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,827
    Good morning, everyone.

    Instead of worrying about the PM going, perhaps the Cabinet should be welcoming such an eventuality.

    Boris Johnson isn't up to the job. From a party political perspective, as well as a national one, the Conservatives are better off with someone else.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 74,877
    Baker on.

    Popcorn on standby...
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1264466262559797248
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 32,341
    edited May 2020
    Sandpit said:

    Just taken some of the evens on Cummings lasting out the month.

    Unlike most PMs and advisors, I'm not too sure that either Boris or Dominic give a rat's arse that the advisor is the story - and the DC story's doing a great job of keeping the press pack engaged in trivialities.

    (The assumption there is that the advisor has been totally honest with the PM - if that's not the case and it comes out, he'll be the proverbial cooked bread).

    I'd decided on 6/4 as the value price so have stayed out so far, though things may change as politicians wake up, read the papers and watch Marr. (ETA I've already backed Dom to go.)

    Looking at things from the other end, what actual value is Cummings adding right now? He's been involved in the pandemic response but most observers agree that has been a bit of a shambles and we are near the top of the covid-19 league tables. If Cummings is not doing anything useful, just shunt him sideways or kick him upstairs to be founding head of UKARPA or suchlike.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    Morris_Dancer said:

    Good morning, everyone.

    Instead of worrying about the PM going, perhaps the Cabinet should be welcoming such an eventuality.

    Boris Johnson isn't up to the job. From a party political perspective, as well as a national one, the Conservatives are better off with someone else.

    But not somebody else from the current cabinet, is the point.
  • eekeek Posts: 30,941
    edited May 2020
    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/BBCHelenCatt/status/1264465424793640961

    At least with them resigning it saves the hassle of firing Cummings sycophants
  • CorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorseBattery Posts: 21,436
    You would not think this Government had just won an 80 seat majority.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1264466280377192449
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/mrjamesob/status/1264449511621001218
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 74,877
    Blimey.

    When Steve Baker sounds almost reasonable on a subject, there’s something very wrong somewhere.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 56,469
    noneoftheabove said:

    Sandpit said:

    Just taken some of the evens on Cummings lasting out the month.

    Unlike most PMs and advisors, I'm not too sure that either Boris or Dominic give a rat's arse that the advisor is the story - and the DC story's doing a great job of keeping the press pack engaged in trivialities.

    (The assumption there is that the advisor has been totally honest with the PM - if that's not the case and it comes out, he'll be the proverbial cooked bread).

    Its not just the story it probably ends hopes of schools re-opening in June (or at least opened with many more children in them).

    Parents will simply do "what is best for their kids" in their opinion and the government wont dare push them.
    I think the government are more interested in pressing teachers than parents at this point, but that's fair enough.

    In a list of stories the government would prefer everyone to be talking about this morning, SKS sending his own children to school while arguing that everyone else shouldn't have that choice is probably towards the top.
  • eekeek Posts: 30,941
    noneoftheabove said:

    Sandpit said:

    Just taken some of the evens on Cummings lasting out the month.

    Unlike most PMs and advisors, I'm not too sure that either Boris or Dominic give a rat's arse that the advisor is the story - and the DC story's doing a great job of keeping the press pack engaged in trivialities.

    (The assumption there is that the advisor has been totally honest with the PM - if that's not the case and it comes out, he'll be the proverbial cooked bread).

    Its not just the story it probably ends hopes of schools re-opening in June (or at least opened with many more children in them).

    Parents will simply do "what is best for their kids" in their opinion and the government wont dare push them.
    +1 - given that it's one rule for those in power and another for those not in power a lot of people are going to completely ignore what the old advice was ans do what's best in their opinion.

    Which means one lot of people are going to want all their children in school and others won't want any there.
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 12,807
    This is another reason why the Cummings story matters -


  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 7,109
    edited May 2020
    CorrectHorseBattery said:

    You would not think this Government had just won an 80 seat majority.

    They havent ..it was nearly 6 months ago..there has been a medical disaster not seen of its ilk for 100 years ..do.keep.up...
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 67,321
    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/Simon_Nixon/status/1264461478553403392

    Now we know what they were all doing during the 12 hours of silence after Mirror/Guardian broke the story.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1264467187022036998
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/_katedevlin/status/1264467203832844289
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 67,321
    noneoftheabove said:

    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/JohnRentoul/status/1264458087961964544

    Despite him having few supporters on here, especially amongst former remain voters, I have a bit of time for Steve Baker. As I remember it, nothing he did during the Brexit process was dishonest, incompetent or disloyal, he just had an opinion I strongly disagree with on no deal Brexit and argued for it. The same cant be said for JRM, Boris, Davis, Raab, Francois etc
    Well, he has certainly gone up in my estimation over this issue.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,752
    ydoethur said:

    Blimey.

    When Steve Baker sounds almost reasonable on a subject, there’s something very wrong somewhere.

    It is quite astounding that he is outside the cabinet while Patel is in it.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    edited May 2020
    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1264466280377192449

    Gosh.

    What he actually said was "not indispensable" btw.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 33,546
    IshmaelZ said:

    Morris_Dancer said:

    Good morning, everyone.

    Instead of worrying about the PM going, perhaps the Cabinet should be welcoming such an eventuality.

    Boris Johnson isn't up to the job. From a party political perspective, as well as a national one, the Conservatives are better off with someone else.

    But not somebody else from the current cabinet, is the point.
    Sunak?
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 12,807
    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1264467187022036998

    Indeed. You reap what you sow. If the MSM is as irrelevant as Cummings thinks, this will go away. If not, then it won’t.
  • CorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorseBattery Posts: 21,436
    This Government can't even competently manage one of their own team, how on Earth do they intend to negotiate a Brexit deal that isn't shit
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 52,614
    eek said:

    ydoethur said:

    MikeSmithson said:

    The danger for Dom is if more hard evidence comes out to back up the claims that he was in Barnard Castle. Surely there must be some CCTV footage somewhere to back up the allegation.

    As I recall, parking is a bugger in Barnard Castle. I wonder where he parked and how he paid.
    ??? On street parking is free and the car park by Morrisons and behind the high street / Witham charges but it's a council car park with dumb ticket machines
    Leicester Council car parking ticket machines are switched off, presumably for Covid-19 reasons. I parked for free on Vicky Park the other day.
  • eekeek Posts: 30,941
    Sandpit said:

    noneoftheabove said:

    Sandpit said:

    Just taken some of the evens on Cummings lasting out the month.

    Unlike most PMs and advisors, I'm not too sure that either Boris or Dominic give a rat's arse that the advisor is the story - and the DC story's doing a great job of keeping the press pack engaged in trivialities.

    (The assumption there is that the advisor has been totally honest with the PM - if that's not the case and it comes out, he'll be the proverbial cooked bread).

    Its not just the story it probably ends hopes of schools re-opening in June (or at least opened with many more children in them).

    Parents will simply do "what is best for their kids" in their opinion and the government wont dare push them.
    I think the government are more interested in pressing teachers than parents at this point, but that's fair enough.

    In a list of stories the government would prefer everyone to be talking about this morning, SKS sending his own children to school while arguing that everyone else shouldn't have that choice is probably towards the top.
    A lot of teachers have children in year groups that aren't going back to school - that is a perfect excuse for them to be militant.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 67,321
    eek said:

    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/BBCHelenCatt/status/1264465424793640961

    At least with them resigning it saves the hassle of firing Cummings sycophants
    Yeh, clears out the whackos and weirdos in one morning.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 67,321
    edited May 2020
    Shapps looks sick.

  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    Mexicanpete said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    Morris_Dancer said:

    Good morning, everyone.

    Instead of worrying about the PM going, perhaps the Cabinet should be welcoming such an eventuality.

    Boris Johnson isn't up to the job. From a party political perspective, as well as a national one, the Conservatives are better off with someone else.

    But not somebody else from the current cabinet, is the point.
    Sunak?
    Very young.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 25,053
    rottenborough said:

    noneoftheabove said:

    Scott_xP said:

    https://twitter.com/JohnRentoul/status/1264458087961964544

    Despite him having few supporters on here, especially amongst former remain voters, I have a bit of time for Steve Baker. As I remember it, nothing he did during the Brexit process was dishonest, incompetent or disloyal, he just had an opinion I strongly disagree with on no deal Brexit and argued for it. The same cant be said for JRM, Boris, Davis, Raab, Francois etc
    Well, he has certainly gone up in my estimation over this issue.
    I think he is always polite, which is a very good starter, and genuinely polite unlike JRM who is rude with a mask of great politeness.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,752
    Shapps has apparently run out of macassar oil for his wig. The crises just keep coming for the government.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1264468566319005698
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 74,877
    edited May 2020
    Somebody said that he didn’t crash his car on the way to Durham.

    I am watching Grant Shapps.

    I can confirm there is now a car crash involved.

    He has just said that if you are ill you should self isolate where you are.

    And therefore he has just admitted Cummings broke the law...

    Edit. - now he’s saying he can’t even answer questions when he’s been given the questions in advance because he doesn’t know the answers?
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/tarajaneoreilly/status/1264468598065704960
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    Be kind to everyone on the way up; you'll meet the same people on the way down.

    Dom's Rasputin moment coming up.
  • CorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorseBattery Posts: 21,436
    Of course if Johnson sacks Cummings now he just reinforces the idea he follows, rather than leads.

    "Weak, weak, weak"
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 56,469
    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    Sandpit said:

    Just taken some of the evens on Cummings lasting out the month.

    Unlike most PMs and advisors, I'm not too sure that either Boris or Dominic give a rat's arse that the advisor is the story - and the DC story's doing a great job of keeping the press pack engaged in trivialities.

    (The assumption there is that the advisor has been totally honest with the PM - if that's not the case and it comes out, he'll be the proverbial cooked bread).

    I'd decided on 6/4 as the value price so have stayed out so far, though things may change as politicians wake up, read the papers and watch Marr. (ETA I've already backed Dom to go.)

    Looking at things from the other end, what actual value is Cummings adding right now? He's been involved in the pandemic response but most observers agree that has been a bit of a shambles and we are near the top of the covid-19 league tables. If Cummings is not doing anything useful, just shunt him sideways or kick him upstairs to be founding head of UKARPA or suchlike.
    With hindsight I should have taken some of the 3/1 on him going, that was available yesterday. But hindsight in betting is a wonderful thing! ;)

    The reason for the PM standing by Cummings, is that the advisor is the architect of a lot of the reforms the government were planning for this year. Top of the list being a very unpopular (with those affected) turning upside-down of the senior civil service and standing bureaucracy/quangocracy. This article from yesterday gives an idea of what the PM and DC are thinking:
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/05/22/covid-proves-urgently-need-new-quango-bonfire-starting-public/
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 67,321
    Shapps claiming he doesn't know the dates and details of Cummings.

    Unbelievable.



  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 35,488
    IshmaelZ said:

    Mexicanpete said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    Morris_Dancer said:

    Good morning, everyone.

    Instead of worrying about the PM going, perhaps the Cabinet should be welcoming such an eventuality.

    Boris Johnson isn't up to the job. From a party political perspective, as well as a national one, the Conservatives are better off with someone else.

    But not somebody else from the current cabinet, is the point.
    Sunak?
    Very young.
    William Pitt The Younger?
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/Simon_Nixon/status/1264467691362017280
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/Aiannucci/status/1264469508825194496
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,591
    https://twitter.com/EmporersNewC/status/1264469601099943937
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 52,614
    eek said:

    noneoftheabove said:

    Sandpit said:

    Just taken some of the evens on Cummings lasting out the month.

    Unlike most PMs and advisors, I'm not too sure that either Boris or Dominic give a rat's arse that the advisor is the story - and the DC story's doing a great job of keeping the press pack engaged in trivialities.

    (The assumption there is that the advisor has been totally honest with the PM - if that's not the case and it comes out, he'll be the proverbial cooked bread).

    Its not just the story it probably ends hopes of schools re-opening in June (or at least opened with many more children in them).

    Parents will simply do "what is best for their kids" in their opinion and the government wont dare push them.
    +1 - given that it's one rule for those in power and another for those not in power a lot of people are going to completely ignore what the old advice was ans do what's best in their opinion.

    Which means one lot of people are going to want all their children in school and others won't want any there.
    The only realistic way to open schools is to make attendance voluntary. It would help with class sizes too.
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