When a government becomes a laughing stock, they are done.
Government's have always been laughed at. Politicians have always been laughed at. Its healthy to laugh at politics. Its healthy to laugh.
Going to age myself here, but when I was a child Spitting Image was on TV. When I started voting Bremner, Bird and Fortune was on TV. Through that whole time Have I Got News For You has been on TV. Mock The Week, Good News Week, Russell Howard's Good News etc, etc, etc have all made their stock in trade in laughing at politics.
No chance they lose the Telegraph. Most of the writers have been fairly supportive.
I agree with the conclusion, but it's sweet that you believe it matters a damn what the writers think!
You know full well it's over and the press didn't get their man. Their chance was Sunday or Monday and they failed. Yes damage was done, but Boris clearly felt it was worth it to keep his programme on track.
Anyone who thinks if Cummings goes this will draw a line in the sand is a naive fool.
There'd be blood in the water and the sharks will keep looking for anyone who's done the slightest transgression to be snitched on and ousted.
Evidence? Did Professor Ferguson's resignation lead to a feeding frenzy? The point about Cummings is not that he broke the rules but that he broke the rules he himself set and that caused considerable hardship to the public.
He's then rubbed salt in the wound with explanations that are incredible and almost bizarre rather than simply apologise for a lapse in judgement.
Neither Ferguson nor the Scottish CMO should have resigned. Hopefully we can see the end of gotcha journalism if they tough it out.
Anyone who thinks if Cummings goes this will draw a line in the sand is a naive fool.
There'd be blood in the water and the sharks will keep looking for anyone who's done the slightest transgression to be snitched on and ousted.
Evidence? Did Professor Ferguson's resignation lead to a feeding frenzy? The point about Cummings is not that he broke the rules but that he broke the rules he himself set and that caused considerable hardship to the public.
He's then rubbed salt in the wound with explanations that are incredible and almost bizarre rather than simply apologise for a lapse in judgement.
Prof Ferguson wasn't the victim of a partisan witch hunt. But yes, this has followed that.
If Cummings goes anyone else who's done anything the slightest bit wrong will be lined up next. The Mirror etc will already be looking for others if they can find them.
Could be why Starmer is being quiet now. If he knows stuff about his own side he might think it best not to make too much noise now that can be turned around when the tables turn.
The PB thread when this story first broke and so many were taking the “Westminter bubble” line will be one for the annals. Similar to those shortly before the 2017 GE and the 100+ Tory majority nailed on.
Anyone who thinks if Cummings goes this will draw a line in the sand is a naive fool.
There'd be blood in the water and the sharks will keep looking for anyone who's done the slightest transgression to be snitched on and ousted.
No.
Had he apologised, and had he and the PM done a "I should resign", "No Dom- your country needs you" pas-de-deux on Saturday, he could have survived. It would have been embarrassing, and the government would have suffered some damage, and the Dom Swagger would have to be toned down a bit, but he could have survived. There is a reason that political types in a fix resign; swallowing some humble pie keeps them in the game.
What appears to be doing for Dom is is refusal to say sorry, his naivety about the press (he should have known on Saturday that there'd be more to come out on Sunday) and the risible contortions of his story yesterday. By treating the Great British Public like muppets he has brought three (and counting) days of hell on his government and ensured that it's more likely that he has to go and never surface again.
In which case, the questions are: 1. When? 2. How? Can he be allowed to resign, or must he be sacked to make a point? 3. Who does he take down with him?
Shame in many ways. He was bright and had some interesting ideas.
9 points in a week but nothing to see here say PB Tories
Sorry but you predicted Jezza PM. A 6 point lead and 80 majority after the toughest week. Wait til the Labour 38 drops back when normal service resumes. Plus I believe that isn't the only poll out today covering the Cummings period...
The PB thread when this story first broke and so many were taking the “Westminter bubble” line will be one for the annals. Similar to those shortly before the 2017 GE and the 100+ Tory majority nailed on.
I think my favourite bit was Cummings Downing Street refusing to comment on Saturday night. Not worth responding...
Anyone who thinks if Cummings goes this will draw a line in the sand is a naive fool.
There'd be blood in the water and the sharks will keep looking for anyone who's done the slightest transgression to be snitched on and ousted.
Evidence? Did Professor Ferguson's resignation lead to a feeding frenzy? The point about Cummings is not that he broke the rules but that he broke the rules he himself set and that caused considerable hardship to the public.
He's then rubbed salt in the wound with explanations that are incredible and almost bizarre rather than simply apologise for a lapse in judgement.
Neither Ferguson nor the Scottish CMO should have resigned. Hopefully we can see the end of gotcha journalism if they tough it out.
We will see the end of a few things if they "tough it out".
Anyone who thinks if Cummings goes this will draw a line in the sand is a naive fool.
There'd be blood in the water and the sharks will keep looking for anyone who's done the slightest transgression to be snitched on and ousted.
No.
Had he apologised, and had he and the PM done a "I should resign", "No Dom- your country needs you" pas-de-deux on Saturday, he could have survived. It would have been embarrassing, and the government would have suffered some damage, and the Dom Swagger would have to be toned down a bit, but he could have survived. There is a reason that political types in a fix resign; swallowing some humble pie keeps them in the game.
What appears to be doing for Dom is is refusal to say sorry, his naivety about the press (he should have known on Saturday that there'd be more to come out on Sunday) and the risible contortions of his story yesterday. By treating the Great British Public like muppets he has brought three (and counting) days of hell on his government and ensured that it's more likely that he has to go and never surface again.
In which case, the questions are: 1. When? 2. How? Can he be allowed to resign, or must he be sacked to make a point? 3. Who does he take down with him?
Shame in many ways. He was bright and had some interesting ideas.
No, its over. Even the Mail isn't bothering with it on the front page anymore.
Boris would lose a lot of my respect if he caves now.
Can anybody remember Alastair Campbell's dictum about how many days in the headines a miscreant Minister could survive before they got the chop? I seem to remember it was five but my memory might be playing tricks.
9 points in a week but nothing to see here say PB Tories
Can you qualify your generalisations. There are plenty conservatives both here and in public including myself demanding Cummings goes and Boris can follow if he does not get a grip
And it is not polls that matter 4 years out, it is the lack of awareness and rank stupidity that matters and those responsible must pay a price
Can anybody remember Alastair Campbell's dictum about how many days in the headines a miscreant Minister could survive before they got the chop? I seem to remember it was five but my memory might be playing tricks.
Anything to stop them asking Cummings about his fucking eyesight test method and his blog revising and his 4 1/2 hour drive without a toilet break and the lack of a single person to help with childcare in a city of eight million where your wife works for a leading magazine and the child care regulations that were revised the day the Guardian phoned and the blue bell wood and the phone call from the father and... etc etc etc.
I wouldn't be surprised if we aren't announcing a UK manned mission to Mars by Friday.
9 points in a week but nothing to see here say PB Tories
Biggest drop in a decade!
Like to see anyone except BoZo do that, eh!
Reaches parts other Tories can only dream of...
someone never got over losing Brexit and the election. I remember you being excited about the people's vote and look how that turned out. I'm sure there's a tweet for that. A poll might make the left giddy but the facts are Boris is in a stronger position in the long run by keeping Cummings then he is keeping a few extra polling points. His opponents know that which is why they have everything to get rid of him.
9 points in a week but nothing to see here say PB Tories
Can you qualify your generalisations. There are plenty conservatives both here and in public including myself demanding Cummings goes and Boris can follow if he does not get a grip
And it is not polls that matter 4 years out, it is the lack of awareness and rank stupidity that matters and those responsible must pay a price
It does remind me of the Diana hysteria, Cummings probably less popular than Ian Huntley and Rose West right now. The lockdown has sent everyone stir crazy and the story is now a lightning conductor for the public's pent up frustration out of all proportion to his alleged transgression.
9 points in a week but nothing to see here say PB Tories
Still a Tory lead. Red Ed had managed multiple leads by this point.
You keep parroting this nonsense comparison with Milliband. Quite aside from the fact that we’re in the middle of an unprecedented global pandemic, at this point in the Coalition government, the cuts and economic pain had really started to bite. Wait until the (far worse) economic pain starts to be fished out by the government, not to mention the looming fiasco of WTO Brexit.
If a 6-point Tory lead at the apex of the outrage is the best Labour can do with the entire media pulling for them, then toughing it out will work just fine.
Those who lack courage and imagination are welcome to disagree. As as those who think there's a general election next week, rather than in 2024.
Anyone who thinks if Cummings goes this will draw a line in the sand is a naive fool.
There'd be blood in the water and the sharks will keep looking for anyone who's done the slightest transgression to be snitched on and ousted.
Evidence? Did Professor Ferguson's resignation lead to a feeding frenzy? The point about Cummings is not that he broke the rules but that he broke the rules he himself set and that caused considerable hardship to the public.
He's then rubbed salt in the wound with explanations that are incredible and almost bizarre rather than simply apologise for a lapse in judgement.
Prof Ferguson wasn't the victim of a partisan witch hunt. But yes, this has followed that.
If Cummings goes anyone else who's done anything the slightest bit wrong will be lined up next. The Mirror etc will already be looking for others if they can find them.
Could be why Starmer is being quiet now. If he knows stuff about his own side he might think it best not to make too much noise now that can be turned around when the tables turn.
Anything to stop them asking Cummings about his fucking eyesight test method and his blog revising and his 4 1/2 hour drive without a toilet break and the lack of a single person to help with childcare in a city of eight million where your wife works for a leading magazine and the child care regulations that were revised the day the Guardian phoned and the blue bell wood and the phone call from the father and... etc etc etc.
I wouldn't be surprised if we aren't announcing a UK manned mission to Mars by Friday.
Yes, or a Bridge to New York. Boris likes Bridges.
9 points in a week but nothing to see here say PB Tories
Tories still ahead and main movement from the LDs and Greens to Labour since 2019 it seems but if the lead slips further than it will be of greater concern
Anyone who thinks if Cummings goes this will draw a line in the sand is a naive fool.
There'd be blood in the water and the sharks will keep looking for anyone who's done the slightest transgression to be snitched on and ousted.
No.
Had he apologised, and had he and the PM done a "I should resign", "No Dom- your country needs you" pas-de-deux on Saturday, he could have survived. It would have been embarrassing, and the government would have suffered some damage, and the Dom Swagger would have to be toned down a bit, but he could have survived. There is a reason that political types in a fix resign; swallowing some humble pie keeps them in the game.
What appears to be doing for Dom is is refusal to say sorry, his naivety about the press (he should have known on Saturday that there'd be more to come out on Sunday) and the risible contortions of his story yesterday. By treating the Great British Public like muppets he has brought three (and counting) days of hell on his government and ensured that it's more likely that he has to go and never surface again.
In which case, the questions are: 1. When? 2. How? Can he be allowed to resign, or must he be sacked to make a point? 3. Who does he take down with him?
Shame in many ways. He was bright and had some interesting ideas.
No, its over. Even the Mail isn't bothering with it on the front page anymore.
Boris would lose a lot of my respect if he caves now.
Boris has lost huge amounts of respect and he has even lost his USP
If he sacks Cummings he will plod on, but if not they will both be gone by the end of the year
For the second night running, my mum brought up the story spontaneously on the phone. We’d been talking about the difficulties of parents with small children and I said how it must be particularly bad for those parents who lived in flats in inner London.
“What do they do with them?”, I said.
“They get in their car and drive to Durham, don’t they?”, mum replied.
I do hope the Prime Minister is not planning on winning the next election by inspiring the people.
If a 6-point Tory lead at the apex of the outrage is the best Labour can do with the entire media pulling for them, then toughing it out will work just fine.
Those who lack courage and imagination are welcome to disagree. As as those who think there's a general election next week, rather than in 2024.
You speak like a man who thinks this is the last pickle the Johnson government will get into.
Anyone who thinks if Cummings goes this will draw a line in the sand is a naive fool.
There'd be blood in the water and the sharks will keep looking for anyone who's done the slightest transgression to be snitched on and ousted.
Evidence? Did Professor Ferguson's resignation lead to a feeding frenzy? The point about Cummings is not that he broke the rules but that he broke the rules he himself set and that caused considerable hardship to the public.
He's then rubbed salt in the wound with explanations that are incredible and almost bizarre rather than simply apologise for a lapse in judgement.
Prof Ferguson wasn't the victim of a partisan witch hunt. But yes, this has followed that.
If Cummings goes anyone else who's done anything the slightest bit wrong will be lined up next. The Mirror etc will already be looking for others if they can find them.
Could be why Starmer is being quiet now. If he knows stuff about his own side he might think it best not to make too much noise now that can be turned around when the tables turn.
Have you considered Breitbart?
Philip is showing worrying signs of being the new Plato
Anyone who thinks if Cummings goes this will draw a line in the sand is a naive fool.
There'd be blood in the water and the sharks will keep looking for anyone who's done the slightest transgression to be snitched on and ousted.
No.
Had he apologised, and had he and the PM done a "I should resign", "No Dom- your country needs you" pas-de-deux on Saturday, he could have survived. It would have been embarrassing, and the government would have suffered some damage, and the Dom Swagger would have to be toned down a bit, but he could have survived. There is a reason that political types in a fix resign; swallowing some humble pie keeps them in the game.
What appears to be doing for Dom is is refusal to say sorry, his naivety about the press (he should have known on Saturday that there'd be more to come out on Sunday) and the risible contortions of his story yesterday. By treating the Great British Public like muppets he has brought three (and counting) days of hell on his government and ensured that it's more likely that he has to go and never surface again.
In which case, the questions are: 1. When? 2. How? Can he be allowed to resign, or must he be sacked to make a point? 3. Who does he take down with him?
Shame in many ways. He was bright and had some interesting ideas.
No, its over. Even the Mail isn't bothering with it on the front page anymore.
Boris would lose a lot of my respect if he caves now.
It's over, it's dropped down the BBC most read. The sun and mail are less interested. No point sacking him now. The PB bubble would have assumed Dom got sacked every day while Twitter was raging but they clearly feel the damage is worth it.
The public appetite for the story is tiring, so if the mirror and guardian want to run with it til Friday they can but Boris has made up his mind and is not for turning IMO. That's why the odds on Cummings going with Ladbrokes have drifted.
Anyone who thinks if Cummings goes this will draw a line in the sand is a naive fool.
There'd be blood in the water and the sharks will keep looking for anyone who's done the slightest transgression to be snitched on and ousted.
No.
Had he apologised, and had he and the PM done a "I should resign", "No Dom- your country needs you" pas-de-deux on Saturday, he could have survived. It would have been embarrassing, and the government would have suffered some damage, and the Dom Swagger would have to be toned down a bit, but he could have survived. There is a reason that political types in a fix resign; swallowing some humble pie keeps them in the game.
What appears to be doing for Dom is is refusal to say sorry, his naivety about the press (he should have known on Saturday that there'd be more to come out on Sunday) and the risible contortions of his story yesterday. By treating the Great British Public like muppets he has brought three (and counting) days of hell on his government and ensured that it's more likely that he has to go and never surface again.
In which case, the questions are: 1. When? 2. How? Can he be allowed to resign, or must he be sacked to make a point? 3. Who does he take down with him?
Shame in many ways. He was bright and had some interesting ideas.
No, its over. Even the Mail isn't bothering with it on the front page anymore.
Boris would lose a lot of my respect if he caves now.
Boris has lost huge amounts of respect and he has even lost his USP
If he sacks Cummings he will plod on, but if not they will both be gone by the end of the year
What odds would you offer that both are still in place by the end of the year?
Gap closing, but given wall to wall coverage of that bloody fool Cummings, is it a surprise?
Had thought that Cummings was stepping back from politics in October for medical reasons, did he have an operation before the GE last December.
Yes, I think it is a surprise.
For many of us this isn't a left versus right thing, or leave versus remain. It's simply right versus wrong, in which case there is no reason to expect a big party political impact unless any of the Parties screw it up. Starmer has wisely kept his head down. Boris could have killed it, but hasn't so I guess that accounts for the slippage. Even so the shift in VI is small compared with the other key indicators.
Anything to stop them asking Cummings about his fucking eyesight test method and his blog revising and his 4 1/2 hour drive without a toilet break and the lack of a single person to help with childcare in a city of eight million where your wife works for a leading magazine and the child care regulations that were revised the day the Guardian phoned and the blue bell wood and the phone call from the father and... etc etc etc.
I wouldn't be surprised if we aren't announcing a UK manned mission to Mars by Friday.
Yes, that's...strange. Surrey is one of the 11 pilot areas for track and trace. Borough councils are supposed to help, and we have just been contacted. We're supposed to be operational the day after tomorrow?? This is like that "Go back to work tomorrow morning" thing.
For the second night running, my mum brought up the story spontaneously on the phone. We’d been talking about the difficulties of parents with small children and I said how it must be particularly bad for those parents who lived in flats in inner London.
“What do they do with them?”, I said.
“They get in their car and drive to Durham, don’t they?”, mum replied.
I do hope the Prime Minister is not planning on winning the next election by inspiring the people.
I'm assuming now he wont be around to fight the next election. A reason will be found.
If a 6-point Tory lead at the apex of the outrage is the best Labour can do with the entire media pulling for them, then toughing it out will work just fine.
Those who lack courage and imagination are welcome to disagree. As as those who think there's a general election next week, rather than in 2024.
You speak like a man who thinks this is the last pickle the Johnson government will get into.
Governments go through crises from time to time.
Governments that collapse at the first sniff of trouble are not good governments.
That Boris has managed to ride this out is a strength not a weakness.
9 points in a week but nothing to see here say PB Tories
Can you qualify your generalisations. There are plenty conservatives both here and in public including myself demanding Cummings goes and Boris can follow if he does not get a grip
And it is not polls that matter 4 years out, it is the lack of awareness and rank stupidity that matters and those responsible must pay a price
You've been sacked from the PB Tories mate
I cannot be sacked as I have my membership in tact and I am not a mate.
There are plenty of us who will fight Cummings from within and Boris if needs be
I actually thought the VI polls would be much WORSE for the Tories: maybe a small Labour lead
But the ancillary polls are grim. They have to hope that the Joy of Unlockdowning puts this in the past very soon.
Why the F didn't Boris do what I suggested, sack Dom on Friday, for a few weeks/months, use him quietly as an advisor on the phone, rehire him in August in some different role but basically the same one.
A terrific error.
Yeah, pulling a Mandelson was such an obvious way out of this. So dumb.
To be fair, just because the public are not happy with the Government, it does not mean they are going to vote for Sir Keir’s Labour. However it certainly makes it more likely.
9 points in a week but nothing to see here say PB Tories
Tories still ahead and main movement from the LDs and Greens to Labour since 2019 it seems but if the lead slips further than it will be of greater concern
Even you cannot accept this utter car crash.
I hope you will join me now in demanding Cummings goes
This is massively significant. The Star rarely dabbles in politics because the people who buy it aren't much interested. If it knows that Cummings's antics have cut through to its readership then it will have cut through to everyone. This will probably be the biggest political story of the century.
This is massively significant. The Star rarely dabbles in politics because the people who buy it aren't much interested. If it knows that Cummings's antics have cut through to its readership then it will have cut through to everyone. This will probably be the biggest political story of the century.
If a 6-point Tory lead at the apex of the outrage is the best Labour can do with the entire media pulling for them, then toughing it out will work just fine.
Those who lack courage and imagination are welcome to disagree. As as those who think there's a general election next week, rather than in 2024.
You speak like a man who thinks this is the last pickle the Johnson government will get into.
Governments go through crises from time to time.
Governments that collapse at the first sniff of trouble are not good governments.
That Boris has managed to ride this out is a strength not a weakness.
I agree. Strength is either sacking him by Saturday or keeping him. Weakness would be sacking him today or yesterday.
He is over reliant on Cummings but he has not been indecisive in this case. The Tories biggest critics will regret letting this moment slip through their fingers. Boris and Cummings are proven winners and have taken a huge hit to stay intact. Would anti Brexit or Labour supporters rather gain 4 points in a poll or have Cummings ousted? We all know the answer. I don't think they're getting both.
Anything to stop them asking Cummings about his fucking eyesight test method and his blog revising and his 4 1/2 hour drive without a toilet break and the lack of a single person to help with childcare in a city of eight million where your wife works for a leading magazine and the child care regulations that were revised the day the Guardian phoned and the blue bell wood and the phone call from the father and... etc etc etc.
I wouldn't be surprised if we aren't announcing a UK manned mission to Mars by Friday.
Yes, that's...strange. Surrey is one of the 11 pilot areas for track and trace. Borough councils are supposed to help, and we have just been contacted. We're supposed to be operational the day after tomorrow?? This is like that "Go back to work tomorrow morning" thing.
BoZo did rather unwisely commit to Track and Trace being in place and "world leading" by Monday.
Yep. Seems set up to fail once again. Starmer is beginning to grow on me a little. He is clever enough to not interrupt an enemy making a mistake. At present that means keeping fairly quiet and letting the Tories stew.
Tis a pity though. Track and Trace could have been quite a step forward if Isolation wasn't a laughing stock.
Anyone who thinks if Cummings goes this will draw a line in the sand is a naive fool.
There'd be blood in the water and the sharks will keep looking for anyone who's done the slightest transgression to be snitched on and ousted.
No.
Had he apologised, and had he and the PM done a "I should resign", "No Dom- your country needs you" pas-de-deux on Saturday, he could have survived. It would have been embarrassing, and the government would have suffered some damage, and the Dom Swagger would have to be toned down a bit, but he could have survived. There is a reason that political types in a fix resign; swallowing some humble pie keeps them in the game.
What appears to be doing for Dom is is refusal to say sorry, his naivety about the press (he should have known on Saturday that there'd be more to come out on Sunday) and the risible contortions of his story yesterday. By treating the Great British Public like muppets he has brought three (and counting) days of hell on his government and ensured that it's more likely that he has to go and never surface again.
In which case, the questions are: 1. When? 2. How? Can he be allowed to resign, or must he be sacked to make a point? 3. Who does he take down with him?
Shame in many ways. He was bright and had some interesting ideas.
No, its over. Even the Mail isn't bothering with it on the front page anymore.
Boris would lose a lot of my respect if he caves now.
It's over, it's dropped down the BBC most read. The sun and mail are less interested. No point sacking him now. The PB bubble would have assumed Dom got sacked every day while Twitter was raging but they clearly feel the damage is worth it.
The public appetite for the story is tiring, so if the mirror and guardian want to run with it til Friday they can but Boris has made up his mind and is not for turning IMO. That's why the odds on Cummings going with Ladbrokes have drifted.
When most Tory MPs want Cummings out, most voters want Cummings out and the Tories poll lead has plunged almost 10% overnight this is not over
Anything to stop them asking Cummings about his fucking eyesight test method and his blog revising and his 4 1/2 hour drive without a toilet break and the lack of a single person to help with childcare in a city of eight million where your wife works for a leading magazine and the child care regulations that were revised the day the Guardian phoned and the blue bell wood and the phone call from the father and... etc etc etc.
I wouldn't be surprised if we aren't announcing a UK manned mission to Mars by Friday.
Yes, that's...strange. Surrey is one of the 11 pilot areas for track and trace. Borough councils are supposed to help, and we have just been contacted. We're supposed to be operational the day after tomorrow?? This is like that "Go back to work tomorrow morning" thing.
They you go. Thanks for the info. They have rushed forward track and trace in an effort to throw the cat once again on the table.
If a 6-point Tory lead at the apex of the outrage is the best Labour can do with the entire media pulling for them, then toughing it out will work just fine.
Those who lack courage and imagination are welcome to disagree. As as those who think there's a general election next week, rather than in 2024.
You cannot govern without consent and right now, and in a pandemic, Cummings has trashed the party's support.
This is massively significant. The Star rarely dabbles in politics because the people who buy it aren't much interested. If it knows that Cummings's antics have cut through to its readership then it will have cut through to everyone. This will probably be the biggest political story of the century.
Well you didn't lose your sense of humour after losing the election so fair play to you. Readership will have a giggle at Cummings but they'll still vote Tory if there was an election next week.
Quite aside from the personality issues that Cummings inspires I cannot help but think that a great many backbench Tory MPs believe, probably correctly, that no one in the leadership would stick up for them so hard. Gratitude for the GE victory only goes so far.
Damning for the Government. Labour is coming back and this is Johnson's Black Wednesday
It speaks to the common sense of people and Cummings has to go and the 1922 can start inviting letters as far as I am concerned
Wow. You have turned and no mistake. I did not see that coming. Perhaps my antenna needs a re-tune.
Much as I disagree with Big_G on a number of issues, I have to say that when he changes his view on something it often seems to be the case that a large swathe of the country has reached a similar view.
This is massively significant. The Star rarely dabbles in politics because the people who buy it aren't much interested. If it knows that Cummings's antics have cut through to its readership then it will have cut through to everyone. This will probably be the biggest political story of the century.
I hope not, what a crappy century for scandals that would be.
Comments
Going to age myself here, but when I was a child Spitting Image was on TV. When I started voting Bremner, Bird and Fortune was on TV. Through that whole time Have I Got News For You has been on TV. Mock The Week, Good News Week, Russell Howard's Good News etc, etc, etc have all made their stock in trade in laughing at politics.
Very sorry to hear about your losses.
Gove admitting to repeated motoring offences live on air
Or
Hancock lying to a vicar live on telly
If Cummings goes anyone else who's done anything the slightest bit wrong will be lined up next. The Mirror etc will already be looking for others if they can find them.
Could be why Starmer is being quiet now. If he knows stuff about his own side he might think it best not to make too much noise now that can be turned around when the tables turn.
Oh wait...
Gap closing, but given wall to wall coverage of that bloody fool Cummings, is it a surprise?
Had thought that Cummings was stepping back from politics in October for medical reasons, did he have an operation before the GE last December.
Like to see anyone except BoZo do that, eh!
Reaches parts other Tories can only dream of...
Had he apologised, and had he and the PM done a "I should resign", "No Dom- your country needs you" pas-de-deux on Saturday, he could have survived. It would have been embarrassing, and the government would have suffered some damage, and the Dom Swagger would have to be toned down a bit, but he could have survived. There is a reason that political types in a fix resign; swallowing some humble pie keeps them in the game.
What appears to be doing for Dom is is refusal to say sorry, his naivety about the press (he should have known on Saturday that there'd be more to come out on Sunday) and the risible contortions of his story yesterday. By treating the Great British Public like muppets he has brought three (and counting) days of hell on his government and ensured that it's more likely that he has to go and never surface again.
In which case, the questions are:
1. When?
2. How? Can he be allowed to resign, or must he be sacked to make a point?
3. Who does he take down with him?
Shame in many ways. He was bright and had some interesting ideas.
CummingsDowning Street refusing to comment on Saturday night. Not worth responding...Boris would lose a lot of my respect if he caves now.
How many days has it been for Dom now anyway?
And it is not polls that matter 4 years out, it is the lack of awareness and rank stupidity that matters and those responsible must pay a price
Boris is a twerp
He's half-barmy
So's Dom Cummings
Whistle while you work!
Anything to stop them asking Cummings about his fucking eyesight test method and his blog revising and his 4 1/2 hour drive without a toilet break and the lack of a single person to help with childcare in a city of eight million where your wife works for a leading magazine and the child care regulations that were revised the day the Guardian phoned and the blue bell wood and the phone call from the father and... etc etc etc.
I wouldn't be surprised if we aren't announcing a UK manned mission to Mars by Friday.
Oh, and the use of Red Ed is seriously childish.
If a 6-point Tory lead at the apex of the outrage is the best Labour can do with the entire media pulling for them, then toughing it out will work just fine.
Those who lack courage and imagination are welcome to disagree. As as those who think there's a general election next week, rather than in 2024.
I said this afternoon that Boris has moved 3m voters from the Tory column into the undecided one. I stand by that.
When is your "driving while visually impaired, Yes or no?" exam?
If he sacks Cummings he will plod on, but if not they will both be gone by the end of the year
“What do they do with them?”, I said.
“They get in their car and drive to Durham, don’t they?”, mum replied.
I do hope the Prime Minister is not planning on winning the next election by inspiring the people.
The public appetite for the story is tiring, so if the mirror and guardian want to run with it til Friday they can but Boris has made up his mind and is not for turning IMO. That's why the odds on Cummings going with Ladbrokes have drifted.
We are told Johnson craves being liked and popular and people laughing along with him.
This must be killing him.
For many of us this isn't a left versus right thing, or leave versus remain. It's simply right versus wrong, in which case there is no reason to expect a big party political impact unless any of the Parties screw it up. Starmer has wisely kept his head down. Boris could have killed it, but hasn't so I guess that accounts for the slippage. Even so the shift in VI is small compared with the other key indicators.
Governments that collapse at the first sniff of trouble are not good governments.
That Boris has managed to ride this out is a strength not a weakness.
There are plenty of us who will fight Cummings from within and Boris if needs be
Pity labourites didn't do the same with Corbyn
I hope you will join me now in demanding Cummings goes
He is over reliant on Cummings but he has not been indecisive in this case. The Tories biggest critics will regret letting this moment slip through their fingers. Boris and Cummings are proven winners and have taken a huge hit to stay intact. Would anti Brexit or Labour supporters rather gain 4 points in a poll or have Cummings ousted? We all know the answer. I don't think they're getting both.
Yep. Seems set up to fail once again. Starmer is beginning to grow on me a little. He is clever enough to not interrupt an enemy making a mistake. At present that means keeping fairly quiet and letting the Tories stew.
Tis a pity though. Track and Trace could have been quite a step forward if Isolation wasn't a laughing stock.
PB Tories insist, there is nothing to be seen here
Well done Keir, you've already halved the Tory majority