Schapps just waffling crap about wanting to get on and talk about transport, in between waffling on about how careful Dom was probably whilst driving 250 miles.
...but isn't that exactly the reason Boris cannot let the baying press pack win this time. With Cummings blood on their tongues they will have a taste for an even bigger kill.
What the Baker interview does clearly demonstrate is what a capricious, self-preserving bunch Tory MPs are.
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.
I agree. I’m sure your morning was hinging on that validation
Gove at 15.5 stands out - he’d definitely be a runner. Lay Sunak at 6.6 - he almost certainly won’t be. Lay favourite Starmer at 2.9 - if Boris goes then the next PM will be a Conservative.
...but isn't that exactly the reason Boris cannot let the baying press pack win this time. With Cummings blood on their tongues they will have a taste for an even bigger kill.
What the Baker interview does clearly demonstrate is what a capricious, self-preserving bunch Tory MPs are.
It reveals that Tory Brexiters haven’t forgotten the contempt Cummings showed for them during the referendum.
You do have to respect Shapps' fealty (or utter lack of self-worth) that he would go on television and humiliate himself in this way for Johnson of all people.
They were already in lockdown in London. Someone in the household developed symptoms and they were allowed to drive to the other end of the country to self-isolate?
That's a direct challenge to those papers to stand up their stories. If DC hasn't been totally honest with Johnson (and Raab) about his movements, then yes he's toast.
Johnson being off sick might be a driver of this story, I can well imagine that DC wouldn't consider himself as reporting to a temp stand-in when the boss wasn't there.
You do have to respect Shapps' fealty (or utter lack of self-worth) that he would go on television and humiliate himself in this way for Johnson of all people.
It's OK. Michael Green can permanently dispense with the Grant Shapps alias and the interview need never be referred to again.
Of course if Johnson sacks Cummings now he just reinforces the idea he follows, rather than leads.
"Weak, weak, weak"
Indeed, this is what I was saying last night. OGH thinks it makes Boris look week if DC stays, I think it makes him look week if, after all this, he bows to pressure.
At the end of the day, Boris has an 80 seat majority and the fish and chips this news will be wrapped around tomorrow will be four years old by the time of the next election.
When you fill your cabinet full of yes men and women, with no collective intelligence between them, this is what you get when you fall into a crisis.
It is becoming painfully clear this Government exists entirely because of Cummings.
Whatever Johnson intends to do it needs to be decided by lunchtime. Richard Nixon's ultimatum to Eisenhower is in play, ''piss or get off the pot".
If Johnson is running with Cummings he needs lockdown to be fully over by 9 am tomorrow to save both their blushes. If he lets Cummings go he better have a good handle on what he knew and when he knew about it. Sacrificing Cummings will just beg more uncomfortable questions for Boris.
the DC story's doing a great job of keeping the press pack engaged in trivialities.
Yes, triviality indeed. It's a Westminster bubble story, something that too many on PB seem to be trapped inside. Basically it's all about what to do in response to someone having made probably the wrong decision while seeking to resolve a dilemma about how to do the best for their family while under great personal pressure and in less than full health themselves.
So the story is giving Johnson some breathing space. I don't think that the government will be rushing to shut it down, as they then might be at risk of creating more room for the sort of real stories that have crucified their claims to competance over the past few weeks. The sort that have the potential to shift voting intention.
What did revolt me yesterday was Ian Blackford's claim that Cummings actions represented far worse behaviour than that of the Scottish public health chief who Sturgeon defended initially. In the Scottish case it was all about a couple of utterly unavoidable leisure trips for personal gratification, an absolutely blatant breach under no pressure and with no difficult difficult dilemma to resolve. So utter hypocrisy from the SNP's Westminster leader there.
the DC story's doing a great job of keeping the press pack engaged in trivialities.
Yes, triviality indeed. It's a Westminster bubble story, something that too many on PB seem to be trapped inside. Basically it's all about what to do in response to someone having made probably the wrong decision while seeking to resolve a dilemma about how to do the best for their family while under great personal pressure and in less than full health themselves.
So the story is giving Johnson some breathing space. I don't think that the government will be rushing to shut it down, as they then might be at risk of creating more room for the sort of real stories that have crucified their claims to competance over the past few weeks. The sort that have the potential to shift voting intention.
What did revolt me yesterday was Ian Blackford's claim that Cummings actions represented far worse behaviour than that of the Scottish public health chief who Sturgeon defended initially. In the Scottish case it was all about a couple of utterly unavoidable leisure trips for personal gratification, an absolutely blatant breach under no pressure and with no difficult difficult dilemma to resolve. So utter hypocrisy from the SNP's Westminster leader there.
It's not a bubble story.
It's one rule for those in power and another for everyone else. Watch for the beaches to be full and the local police to say sod this and find some proper crimes to solve.
the DC story's doing a great job of keeping the press pack engaged in trivialities.
Yes, triviality indeed. It's a Westminster bubble story,
Oh in some ways I'd love to agree with you because, fwiw, I really couldn't care a less about where Cummings went.
However I'm afraid you are wrong. Everyone I know is talking about it: on social media, in phone conversations, emails, in jokes being passed around.
This is a big story because the Gov't made SUCH a huge thing about staying at home. 'Ordinary people' were fined for lesser misdemeanours. It has touched a very raw nerve because it smacks of precisely what Dom was supposed to be against: an out of touch elite who do what they want in contrast to the rest of us.
It's very very toxic for this Gov't and I will bet you now that they will never recover their level of support to pre-month-of-May levels after this.
Wrong again. Major only had a majority of about 20. You are doing well today.
The Tories have an 80 seat majority. Boris is ill and things are about to seriously fall apart - tomorrow is a bank holiday and people want to go out, get a change of scenario and see their friends.
And if those in power have completely ignored the law and done so, why shouldn't those not in power especially now the risk will be perceived by a lot of people to be lower.
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
All this time I thought they were talking about Bayard’s Castle in London!
This government is responsible for thousands of unnecessary deaths.
I am not sure Boris and Cummings are smart enough to pull off such brilliant subterfuge by deliberately burying the Times story behind the Cummings indescretions?
Of course if Johnson sacks Cummings now he just reinforces the idea he follows, rather than leads.
"Weak, weak, weak"
Indeed, this is what I was saying last night. OGH thinks it makes Boris look week if DC stays, I think it makes him look week if, after all this, he bows to pressure.
At the end of the day, Boris has an 80 seat majority and the fish and chips this news will be wrapped around tomorrow will be four years old by the time of the next election.
Yep - time to show strength. If Boris and Cummings manage to sail through the worst the press and Opposition can throw at them now, they will be utterly invincible.
Elated anti-Tories should also remember how they felt the day of Lady Hale's verdict concerning the prorogation, when many thought that Cummings and Boris were finished, and that both Brexit and the Conservative Government - which at that time had no majority whatsoever - were doomed.
the DC story's doing a great job of keeping the press pack engaged in trivialities.
Yes, triviality indeed. It's a Westminster bubble story, something that too many on PB seem to be trapped inside. Basically it's all about what to do in response to someone having made probably the wrong decision while seeking to resolve a dilemma about how to do the best for their family while under great personal pressure and in less than full health themselves.
So the story is giving Johnson some breathing space. I don't think that the government will be rushing to shut it down, as they then might be at risk of creating more room for the sort of real stories that have crucified their claims to competance over the past few weeks. The sort that have the potential to shift voting intention.
What did revolt me yesterday was Ian Blackford's claim that Cummings actions represented far worse behaviour than that of the Scottish public health chief who Sturgeon defended initially. In the Scottish case it was all about a couple of utterly unavoidable leisure trips for personal gratification, an absolutely blatant breach under no pressure and with no difficult difficult dilemma to resolve. So utter hypocrisy from the SNP's Westminster leader there.
MailOnline does not talk to the Westminster Bubble Julia Hartley-Brewer does not talk to the Westminster Bubble Heart FM hourly new bulletins do not talk to the Westminster Bubble
Also, you appear to be trapped in yesterday. The story has moved far beyond the 31 March trip made “for the kid”.
This government is responsible for thousands of unnecessary deaths.
This Government has made such a cock-up of Coronavirus. Frankly they don't deserve to be polling so highly, I am glad some of the public are starting to see sense.
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
All this time I thought they were talking about Bayard’s Castle in London!
Nope Barnard Castle home of the Bowes Museum.
On the way from Durham to Barnie, is Bishop Auckland which would also be home to some new art galleries if it wasn't for this crisis. At least Jonathan Ruffer has the money to keep things going.
Of course if Johnson sacks Cummings now he just reinforces the idea he follows, rather than leads.
"Weak, weak, weak"
Indeed, this is what I was saying last night. OGH thinks it makes Boris look week if DC stays, I think it makes him look week if, after all this, he bows to pressure.
At the end of the day, Boris has an 80 seat majority and the fish and chips this news will be wrapped around tomorrow will be four years old by the time of the next election.
If Boris looks week, Cummings looks day to me.
I would quietly withdraw from the "nothing to see here, fish and chip wrapper" argument if I were you. I can assure you that in 1997 voters had an adequate memory of events in 1992.
Also, feel free to resile from the "It won't change a single vote" claim. I have voted tory in every GE bar one since 1979, being a sound finance and foxhunting kinda guy. With Sunak spending like a drunk duke on his birthday and that arse Raab heading tories against hunting or whatever it's called, it is down to a straight choice whether to trust Boris or the forensicator with the economy. Not the hardest decision, is it?.
the DC story's doing a great job of keeping the press pack engaged in trivialities.
Yes, triviality indeed. It's a Westminster bubble story, something that too many on PB seem to be trapped inside. Basically it's all about what to do in response to someone having made probably the wrong decision while seeking to resolve a dilemma about how to do the best for their family while under great personal pressure and in less than full health themselves.
So the story is giving Johnson some breathing space. I don't think that the government will be rushing to shut it down, as they then might be at risk of creating more room for the sort of real stories that have crucified their claims to competance over the past few weeks. The sort that have the potential to shift voting intention.
What did revolt me yesterday was Ian Blackford's claim that Cummings actions represented far worse behaviour than that of the Scottish public health chief who Sturgeon defended initially. In the Scottish case it was all about a couple of utterly unavoidable leisure trips for personal gratification, an absolutely blatant breach under no pressure and with no difficult difficult dilemma to resolve. So utter hypocrisy from the SNP's Westminster leader there.
MailOnline does not talk to the Westminster Bubble Julia Hartley-Brewer does not talk to the Westminster Bubble Heart FM hourly new bulletins do not talk to the Westminster Bubble
Also, you appear to be trapped in yesterday. The story has moved far beyond the 31 March trip made “for the kid”.
Of course if Johnson sacks Cummings now he just reinforces the idea he follows, rather than leads.
"Weak, weak, weak"
Indeed, this is what I was saying last night. OGH thinks it makes Boris look week if DC stays, I think it makes him look week if, after all this, he bows to pressure.
At the end of the day, Boris has an 80 seat majority and the fish and chips this news will be wrapped around tomorrow will be four years old by the time of the next election.
Yep - time to show strength. If Boris and Cummings manage to sail through the worst the press and Opposition can throw at them now, they will be utterly invincible.
Elated anti-Tories should also remember how they felt the day of Lady Hale's verdict concerning the prorogation, when many thought that Cummings and Boris were finished, and that both Brexit and the Conservative Government - which at that time had no majority whatsoever - were doomed.
Spoiler alert: they weren't.
As I said yesterday, Cummings staying in post is all the anti-Tory dreams come true. Amongst much else it will cause further fighting in your party. Anyone seen HYUFD on here defending Cummings? You are not a united front at the moment.
Of course if Johnson sacks Cummings now he just reinforces the idea he follows, rather than leads.
"Weak, weak, weak"
Indeed, this is what I was saying last night. OGH thinks it makes Boris look week if DC stays, I think it makes him look week if, after all this, he bows to pressure.
At the end of the day, Boris has an 80 seat majority and the fish and chips this news will be wrapped around tomorrow will be four years old by the time of the next election.
Elated anti-Tories should also remember how they felt the day of Lady Hale's verdict concerning the prorogation, when many thought that Cummings and Boris were finished, and that both Brexit and the Conservative Government - which at that time had no majority whatsoever - were doomed.
Spoiler alert: they weren't.
Indeed although as I said at the time, the Opposition made the fatal error of letting them off the ropes. They should have gone for the jugular with a VONC, which at that time in that week they would have won.
The problems as we know centred around Jeremy Corbyn and Jo Swinson.
It's like being at one of those bombastic meetings where no-one speaks up for ages in opposition then one person rather meekly does and then there is suddenly a torrent.
the DC story's doing a great job of keeping the press pack engaged in trivialities.
Yes, triviality indeed. It's a Westminster bubble story,
Oh in some ways I'd love to agree with you because, fwiw, I really couldn't care a less about where Cummings went.
However I'm afraid you are wrong. Everyone I know is talking about it: on social media, in phone conversations, emails, in jokes being passed around.
This is a big story because the Gov't made SUCH a huge thing about staying at home. 'Ordinary people' were fined for lesser misdemeanours. It has touched a very raw nerve because it smacks of precisely what Dom was supposed to be against: an out of touch elite who do what they want in contrast to the rest of us.
It's very very toxic for this Gov't and I will bet you now that they will never recover their level of support to pre-month-of-May levels after this.
Excellent post.
It turns out that anti-elite, populists are just another elite. Only worse.
And they looked from pig to man, and man to pig etc etc.
Of course if Johnson sacks Cummings now he just reinforces the idea he follows, rather than leads.
"Weak, weak, weak"
Indeed, this is what I was saying last night. OGH thinks it makes Boris look week if DC stays, I think it makes him look week if, after all this, he bows to pressure.
At the end of the day, Boris has an 80 seat majority and the fish and chips this news will be wrapped around tomorrow will be four years old by the time of the next election.
Yep - time to show strength. If Boris and Cummings manage to sail through the worst the press and Opposition can throw at them now, they will be utterly invincible.
Elated anti-Tories should also remember how they felt the day of Lady Hale's verdict concerning the prorogation, when many thought that Cummings and Boris were finished, and that both Brexit and the Conservative Government - which at that time had no majority whatsoever - were doomed.
Spoiler alert: they weren't.
Seriously reprising your back catalogue now. Got anything a bit newer?
Very large numbers of Tory MPs have so far said nothing at all on twitter in the last day or two, or if commenting have focused on bicycle maintenance vouchers or closure of agricultural colleges. I should think they have all been asked to help and those who have not include new MPs who ought to be easily bullied. It is an interesting non- barking dog.
Of course if Johnson sacks Cummings now he just reinforces the idea he follows, rather than leads.
"Weak, weak, weak"
Indeed, this is what I was saying last night. OGH thinks it makes Boris look week if DC stays, I think it makes him look week if, after all this, he bows to pressure.
At the end of the day, Boris has an 80 seat majority and the fish and chips this news will be wrapped around tomorrow will be four years old by the time of the next election.
Yep - time to show strength. If Boris and Cummings manage to sail through the worst the press and Opposition can throw at them now, they will be utterly invincible.
Elated anti-Tories should also remember how they felt the day of Lady Hale's verdict concerning the prorogation, when many thought that Cummings and Boris were finished, and that both Brexit and the Conservative Government - which at that time had no majority whatsoever - were doomed.
Spoiler alert: they weren't.
As I said yesterday, Cummings staying in post is all the anti-Tory dreams come true. Amongst much else it will cause further fighting in your party. Anyone seen HYUFD on here defending Cummings? You are not a united front at the moment.
There's a wonderful Asterix story, Asterix and the Roman Agent where one individual causes such constant in-fighting and internecine warfare that he does the job of the enemy.
"At a meeting with his associates, it is suggested to Caesar that causing internal conflict between the Gauls will lead to their breakdown. He is then told by another Official about Tortuous Convolvulus, a natural troublemaker whose mere presence causes arguments, quarrels and fights. This had him sentenced to the lions in the circus, but his ability had the lions eat each other and he is still in prison. Impressed by his abilities, Caesar sends him to the Gauls. On the way, Convolvulus has the whole ship arguing, from the captain to the galley slaves; and when the pirates attack the ship, Convolvulus represents one of them as having been bribed earlier by himself, and thus provokes them to sink their own ship. "
Comments
What the Baker interview does clearly demonstrate is what a capricious, self-preserving bunch Tory MPs are.
"If you are going to lockdown, you lockdown at the place you travel to to lockdown"
The hole is being dug by a massive spade.
Now he’s just said Cummings was ill at the time of the move as well!
So that's a yes then
Now: "It was ok to travel to somewhere to lockdown, when you decided you were ready to lockdown"
LOL
It is becoming painfully clear this Government exists entirely because of Cummings.
Boris has always been a figure of fun, now he will be treated as a figure of fun.
Schapps now saying Cummings father phoned the police!!!
I think we've now beaten Corbyn's Andrew Neil interview for car crash. Does it outdo Abbott's?
Marr better up his game for later.
That's if Schapps turns up.
https://www.betfair.com/exchange/politics/event/29513080/multi-market?marketIds=1.160843673
Gove at 15.5 stands out - he’d definitely be a runner.
Lay Sunak at 6.6 - he almost certainly won’t be.
Lay favourite Starmer at 2.9 - if Boris goes then the next PM will be a Conservative.
Indeed, he’s contradicting himself. Three minutes ago he said they were both ill.
So who is lying?
They were already in lockdown in London. Someone in the household developed symptoms and they were allowed to drive to the other end of the country to self-isolate?
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Sophy: "Thanks for the job tips"
Ouch!!!
Come on Grant, stand up, say, ‘Actually, you know what, he broke all the rules and should go.’
Take a small revenge on him for what he’s done to you here.
He’s even giving a wry smile over the short straws joke.
https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1263914724305055745?s=19
Johnson being off sick might be a driver of this story, I can well imagine that DC wouldn't consider himself as reporting to a temp stand-in when the boss wasn't there.
You didn't believe it when you wrote that it was going to be a hung Parliament, but you still predicted it...
At the end of the day, Boris has an 80 seat majority and the fish and chips this news will be wrapped around tomorrow will be four years old by the time of the next election.
https://youtu.be/yo22l4wJdx8
If Johnson is running with Cummings he needs lockdown to be fully over by 9 am tomorrow to save both their blushes. If he lets Cummings go he better have a good handle on what he knew and when he knew about it. Sacrificing Cummings will just beg more uncomfortable questions for Boris.
So the story is giving Johnson some breathing space. I don't think that the government will be rushing to shut it down, as they then might be at risk of creating more room for the sort of real stories that have crucified their claims to competance over the past few weeks. The sort that have the potential to shift voting intention.
What did revolt me yesterday was Ian Blackford's claim that Cummings actions represented far worse behaviour than that of the Scottish public health chief who Sturgeon defended initially. In the Scottish case it was all about a couple of utterly unavoidable leisure trips for personal gratification, an absolutely blatant breach under no pressure and with no difficult difficult dilemma to resolve. So utter hypocrisy from the SNP's Westminster leader there.
It's one rule for those in power and another for everyone else. Watch for the beaches to be full and the local police to say sod this and find some proper crimes to solve.
This individual is trading on his police service to imply that the police are opposed to the government
That is wrong
However I'm afraid you are wrong. Everyone I know is talking about it: on social media, in phone conversations, emails, in jokes being passed around.
This is a big story because the Gov't made SUCH a huge thing about staying at home. 'Ordinary people' were fined for lesser misdemeanours. It has touched a very raw nerve because it smacks of precisely what Dom was supposed to be against: an out of touch elite who do what they want in contrast to the rest of us.
It's very very toxic for this Gov't and I will bet you now that they will never recover their level of support to pre-month-of-May levels after this.
https://twitter.com/pmdfoster/status/1264459136441430016?s=21
This government is responsible for thousands of unnecessary deaths.
And if those in power have completely ignored the law and done so, why shouldn't those not in power especially now the risk will be perceived by a lot of people to be lower.
Elated anti-Tories should also remember how they felt the day of Lady Hale's verdict concerning the prorogation, when many thought that Cummings and Boris were finished, and that both Brexit and the Conservative Government - which at that time had no majority whatsoever - were doomed.
Spoiler alert: they weren't.
Julia Hartley-Brewer does not talk to the Westminster Bubble
Heart FM hourly new bulletins do not talk to the Westminster Bubble
Also, you appear to be trapped in yesterday. The story has moved far beyond the 31 March trip made “for the kid”.
On the way from Durham to Barnie, is Bishop Auckland which would also be home to some new art galleries if it wasn't for this crisis. At least Jonathan Ruffer has the money to keep things going.
[This message sponsored by Labour HQ, you can pay for your own ad]
I would quietly withdraw from the "nothing to see here, fish and chip wrapper" argument if I were you. I can assure you that in 1997 voters had an adequate memory of events in 1992.
Also, feel free to resile from the "It won't change a single vote" claim. I have voted tory in every GE bar one since 1979, being a sound finance and foxhunting kinda guy. With Sunak spending like a drunk duke on his birthday and that arse Raab heading tories against hunting or whatever it's called, it is down to a straight choice whether to trust Boris or the forensicator with the economy. Not the hardest decision, is it?.
He is posting constantly about this disgrace.
(Do you have a link to that film you referenced in the PM?)
The problems as we know centred around Jeremy Corbyn and Jo Swinson.
Hunt said he was looking to having a 3-4 year break from front line politics “to be a better Dad”.
That was a very interesting timeline. Bridges the likely next election date.
It turns out that anti-elite, populists are just another elite. Only worse.
And they looked from pig to man, and man to pig etc etc.
Remember how confident you were after the prorogation was rescinded? Kind of similar to how you're feeling now, right?
"At a meeting with his associates, it is suggested to Caesar that causing internal conflict between the Gauls will lead to their breakdown. He is then told by another Official about Tortuous Convolvulus, a natural troublemaker whose mere presence causes arguments, quarrels and fights. This had him sentenced to the lions in the circus, but his ability had the lions eat each other and he is still in prison. Impressed by his abilities, Caesar sends him to the Gauls. On the way, Convolvulus has the whole ship arguing, from the captain to the galley slaves; and when the pirates attack the ship, Convolvulus represents one of them as having been bribed earlier by himself, and thus provokes them to sink their own ship. "
Dom Cummings = Tortuous Convolvulus