politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » While we await the Cummings presser my nomination for the book
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The "Led by Donkeys" demo and neighbours heckling last night have helped him in his point that his London house is not a particularly "safe" location.1
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That's interesting, because he comes across as unusually calm and level-headed to me. Just shows how different people can view things differently.CorrectHorseBattery said:The statement was fine - but he comes across as so arrogant when he answers questions.
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It is so weak that they avoided admitting it until today - and clearly would have denied it if possible. The justification given is very weak. Exercise would have been a better excuse, though still with problems.DougSeal said:
With impaired eyesight?eadric said:The Barnard Castle thing is the weak link. If he can secure that, he's OK
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I was thinking more that Cummings is mentioning his importance to government. So was Ferguson.Mexicanpete said:0 -
Greater London boundary quite hard to learn 100%.algarkirk said:
Quite. SH didn't know or care whether the earth went round the sun or the sun round the earth. (Study in Scarlet)Andy_JS said:Cummings strikes me as a Sherlock Holmes type figure, in the sense that he's a genius on some subjects but doesn't know the first thing about other subjects, such as where the boundary of London is.
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On his wife's birthday.eadric said:Why did he take a child on a potentially dangerous test drive?
To a well known local beauty spot.
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Without the castle visit, I think he might have got away with it.0
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It’s total nonsense. Hilarious really.rottenborough said:
On his wife's birthday.eadric said:Why did he take a child on a potentially dangerous test drive?
To a well known local beauty spot.0 -
He is reminding me of Sir Charles Dilke, who acquitted of a criminal offence most unwisely sued for libel, lost spectacularly and ruined his life and career as a result.nico67 said:Started off okay and it then turned into a train wreck . Refusing to apologize and some pathetic excuse for popping off to Barnard Castle will be what most people remember .
He might have got away with the statement. The questions are a total train wreck.2 -
The snowball has started rolling!HYUFD said:
This is not Black Wednesday.RochdalePioneers said:This is epic. Really couldn't be better. He isn't going anywhere but has made the situation a whole load worse for the government.
"I left wifey who had symptoms and went back to work (at Downing Street FFS)" - not allowed
"I drove 260 miles" - not allowed.
"I had conversations with my parents" - not allowed.
"I took a test drive with the sprog in the car to test I could see well enough to drive" - illegal
"I didn't stop at all in the 5 hour trip to Durham yet the sprog needed a piss after my illegal can I see 30 minute test drive" - fuck off
Epic epic fail. I remember Black Wednesday destroying the Tories financial reputation for 2 decades. And at no point on Black Wednesday did leading SPAD David Cameron push his way to the front of Lamont's press conference and take a Giant Shit before the cameras
Millions lost their homes and jobs after Black Wednesday (and Labour was already ahead in the polls beforehand).
WTO terms Brexit combined with the economic effects of the lockdown and the deaths from Covid might be Black Wednesday but Cummings' actions are not, at most they might be the equivalent of bad tabloid headlines over Ministers' indiscretions0 -
Plausible deniability. Not telling the PM gives Boris an out when the shit hits the fan. What Dom has done today is ensure Boris doesn't go down with him when the eventual resignation comes in a couple of days.DougSeal said:Should you have told the Prime Minister...?
"I don't know... I have to protect the Prime Minister's time".
How long does a text message take to read?0 -
Is the current interviewer crying?1
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Except Belgium and Spain also have higher death rates per head than the UK and the Tories had a 12% lead still in the latest poll at the weekendrpjs said:
The UK government’s worst-in-class (except for parts of the US) response to coronavirus is Black Wednesday. This is singing in the bath. That was what everyone remembered.HYUFD said:
This is not Black Wednesday.RochdalePioneers said:This is epic. Really couldn't be better. He isn't going anywhere but has made the situation a whole load worse for the government.
"I left wifey who had symptoms and went back to work (at Downing Street FFS)" - not allowed
"I drove 260 miles" - not allowed.
"I had conversations with my parents" - not allowed.
"I took a test drive with the sprog in the car to test I could see well enough to drive" - illegal
"I didn't stop at all in the 5 hour trip to Durham yet the sprog needed a piss after my illegal can I see 30 minute test drive" - fuck off
Epic epic fail. I remember Black Wednesday destroying the Tories financial reputation for 2 decades. And at no point on Black Wednesday did leading SPAD David Cameron push his way to the front of Lamont's press conference and take a Giant Shit before the cameras
Millions lost their homes and jobs after Black Wednesday (and Labour was already ahead in the polls beforehand).
WTO terms Brexit combined with the economic effects of the lockdown and the deaths from Covid might be Black Wednesday but Cummings' actions are not, at most they might be the equivalent of bad tabloid headlines over Ministers' indiscretions0 -
You want to like him, I really do not like him. So I don't think either of us is particularly impartial.Andy_JS said:
That's interesting, because he comes across as unusually calm and level-headed to me. Just shows how different people can view things differently.CorrectHorseBattery said:The statement was fine - but he comes across as so arrogant when he answers questions.
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Let's wait for the next YouGov before concluding that.Big_G_NorthWales said:
I think he was unwise, made mistakes, but he will have some sympathy following this interviewCorrectHorseBattery said:So the conclusion from PB is.
Those who always thought Cummings was innocent still do.
Those who thinks Cummings was guilty still do.
Have I missed anyone?1 -
He is a valued public servant. Couldn't he have been chauffered back to London?nico67 said:Started off okay and it then turned into a train wreck . Refusing to apologize and some pathetic excuse for popping off to Barnard Castle will be what most people remember .
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I disagree. Boris will be going with him.MaxPB said:
Plausible deniability. Not telling the PM gives Boris an out when the shit hits the fan. What Dom has done today is ensure Boris doesn't go down with him when the eventual resignation comes in a couple of days.DougSeal said:Should you have told the Prime Minister...?
"I don't know... I have to protect the Prime Minister's time".
How long does a text message take to read?0 -
Can a journalist please ask if his wife can drive0
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How did we get here?!0
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The musings of a 'career psychopath'?
I think I need to thank the other DC for that idea.0 -
Does his wife drive?Peter_the_Punter said:
He is a valued public servant. Couldn't he have been chauffered back to London?nico67 said:Started off okay and it then turned into a train wreck . Refusing to apologize and some pathetic excuse for popping off to Barnard Castle will be what most people remember .
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He comes across as sad and geeky and humble in a way I hadn't expected at all. I feel more sympathetic than I expected, but doesn't change my mind. I am a lot angrier with Johnson than with him but then I always was0
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We need some polling damnit.0
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Its one rule for Cummings and one rule for the rest of us.
The rest of us don;t have to run the gauntlet of threats and people who hate us knowing where we and our families live.
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Fair enough. Personally he reminds me of a lot of Software Engineers I've met, an inability to deal with people well but they tend to know their limitations and don't bother.IshmaelZ said:He comes across as sad and geeky and humble in a way I hadn't expected at all. I feel more sympathetic than I expected, but doesn't change my mind. I am a lot angrier with Johnson than with him but then I always was
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A menacing note. Are you associated with the whips' office?BluestBlue said:
'Plenty' is how many Boris once expelled from the party in a single day for defying him. That was a big scandal then too.DougSeal said:
Except that there are plenty of backbench Tories baying for Cummings blood.
I predict they'll back down.0 -
The polls will be a car crashEl_Capitano said:
Let's wait for the next YouGov before concluding that.Big_G_NorthWales said:
I think he was unwise, made mistakes, but he will have some sympathy following this interviewCorrectHorseBattery said:So the conclusion from PB is.
Those who always thought Cummings was innocent still do.
Those who thinks Cummings was guilty still do.
Have I missed anyone?0 -
You're hilarious.Big_G_NorthWales said:
I think he was unwise, made mistakes, but he will have some sympathy following this interviewCorrectHorseBattery said:So the conclusion from PB is.
Those who always thought Cummings was innocent still do.
Those who thinks Cummings was guilty still do.
Have I missed anyone?
The guardian have questions to answer0 -
Making us hate unelected elites. Classic Dom.1
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I think he’s been warned he needs to cool it. Yesterday he just came across as mind bending ly arrogant.IshmaelZ said:He comes across as sad and geeky and humble in a way I hadn't expected at all. I feel more sympathetic than I expected, but doesn't change my mind. I am a lot angrier with Johnson than with him but then I always was
But the admissions he has made are devastating.1 -
Good question. Did he ask anyone in London to help
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I didn't even ask any friends in London to help out. Ouch.0
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He can't answer that one.0
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I will be fascinated to see polling after this.0
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Ooof. Not as devastating as that was.SirNorfolkPassmore said:I didn't even ask any friends in London to help out. Ouch.
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Do any of his nieces drive?0
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He can't remember when or where he refuelled? His credit card records should answer that.1
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Boris needs to take a break and go on paternity leavetlg86 said:
I disagree. Boris will be going with him.MaxPB said:
Plausible deniability. Not telling the PM gives Boris an out when the shit hits the fan. What Dom has done today is ensure Boris doesn't go down with him when the eventual resignation comes in a couple of days.DougSeal said:Should you have told the Prime Minister...?
"I don't know... I have to protect the Prime Minister's time".
How long does a text message take to read?0 -
Random politics nerd, I'm afraid. But I imagine that what happened at the end of last year hasn't entirely faded from backbenchers' minds.NickPalmer said:
A menacing note. Are you associated with the whips' office?BluestBlue said:
'Plenty' is how many Boris once expelled from the party in a single day for defying him. That was a big scandal then too.DougSeal said:
Except that there are plenty of backbench Tories baying for Cummings blood.
I predict they'll back down.
EDIT: I couldn't be a whip anyway, because it's already been established that I'm Dominic Cummings. I'm currently typing this using my knees
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More likely they inspired the authors of that part of the story. Literally every MP and journalist could use the same excuse.CarlottaVance said:The "Led by Donkeys" demo and neighbours heckling last night have helped him in his point that his London house is not a particularly "safe" location.
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He won't, Boris is the best Tory election winner since Thatchertlg86 said:
I disagree. Boris will be going with him.MaxPB said:
Plausible deniability. Not telling the PM gives Boris an out when the shit hits the fan. What Dom has done today is ensure Boris doesn't go down with him when the eventual resignation comes in a couple of days.DougSeal said:Should you have told the Prime Minister...?
"I don't know... I have to protect the Prime Minister's time".
How long does a text message take to read?1 -
The questions session has been the real mistake in all of this. I can't think who advised him to do that0
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Some of the questioners have been excellent, some on the other hand have been direCorrectHorseBattery said:The statement was fine - but he comes across as so arrogant when he answers questions.
What have we learned? It is all the fault of the media. So that clears everything up0 -
maybe he drove off without paying?williamglenn said:He can't remember when or where he refuelled? His credit card records should answer that.
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Only that aspect?SirNorfolkPassmore said:
That aspect of the story is transparent BS. It was a day trip.eadric said:Why did he take a child on a potentially dangerous test drive?
I've never heard such a conglomeration of whopping lies in my life.1 -
Still a bit iffy, but half as iffy as the press scrum around his house. Where was the social distancing then? One law for the oress, and one for the plebs. Did any of the channels not see that, or did they ignore it because they are special? Hypocrites.1
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Given the current timeline of events is it possible that Dom was the superspreader in Downing Street? His wife had symptoms and he then went to work in Downing Street. Does the timeline match up for that?0
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The petrol stuff seems implausible. He drives a Range Rover, the fuel economy on those is dreadful.0
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Has he got any friends? As opposed to associates?SirNorfolkPassmore said:I didn't even ask any friends in London to help out. Ouch.
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Yeah it goes to Georgemass then Thurso, back to Georgemass then Wick. Which is a bit of a shame as Thurso is the most northerly station in Great Britain, and the train stays there for barely 5 minutes!ydoethur said:
When I was last there in 2015 it went to Thurso and reversed.Carnyx said:
Do the trains still split to Thurso and Wick or is there now the one which shuffles back to Thurso from Wick? I think it did that the last time.Sunil_Prasannan said:
You plebs can go to the pub!Ave_it said:It's a non story.
Now - let's get the economy restarted and the pubs open!
I just want to feel safe enough to be able to complete my conquest of ScotRail by doing those last two trains west and north of Inverness.
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"I was just testing my eyesight by driving to Barnard’s Castle” is the going to be the new "We just went to Salisbury to see the lovely cathedral" at this rate.7
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You may not like it but that is a fair commentChris said:
You're hilarious.Big_G_NorthWales said:
I think he was unwise, made mistakes, but he will have some sympathy following this interviewCorrectHorseBattery said:So the conclusion from PB is.
Those who always thought Cummings was innocent still do.
Those who thinks Cummings was guilty still do.
Have I missed anyone?
The guardian have questions to answer0 -
There's a more famous example of that, surely? "Posing as somdomite" (sic).ydoethur said:
He is reminding me of Sir Charles Dilke, who acquitted of a criminal offence most unwisely sued for libel, lost spectacularly and ruined his life and career as a result.nico67 said:Started off okay and it then turned into a train wreck . Refusing to apologize and some pathetic excuse for popping off to Barnard Castle will be what most people remember .
He might have got away with the statement. The questions are a total train wreck.0 -
Bit defensive, isn't he! Never seen him like that before.ydoethur said:
I think he’s been warned he needs to cool it. Yesterday he just came across as mind bending ly arrogant.IshmaelZ said:He comes across as sad and geeky and humble in a way I hadn't expected at all. I feel more sympathetic than I expected, but doesn't change my mind. I am a lot angrier with Johnson than with him but then I always was
But the admissions he has made are devastating.
He's cleared up a lot of the facts, but he still broke the guidelines, more than once. The 'reasonable excuse' defence doesn't really hold for someone in his position. He ought to resign, but he won't.
That's very bad for the Government, and for those trying to beat this Virus.3 -
Big_G_NorthWales said:
You may not like it but that is a fair commentChris said:
You're hilarious.Big_G_NorthWales said:
I think he was unwise, made mistakes, but he will have some sympathy following this interviewCorrectHorseBattery said:So the conclusion from PB is.
Those who always thought Cummings was innocent still do.
Those who thinks Cummings was guilty still do.
Have I missed anyone?
The guardian have questions to answer
I know what it's like when your hero gets attacked mate, been there with Corbyn. So do have sympathy for you.Big_G_NorthWales said:
You may not like it but that is a fair commentChris said:
You're hilarious.Big_G_NorthWales said:
I think he was unwise, made mistakes, but he will have some sympathy following this interviewCorrectHorseBattery said:So the conclusion from PB is.
Those who always thought Cummings was innocent still do.
Those who thinks Cummings was guilty still do.
Have I missed anyone?
The guardian have questions to answer0 -
These questions are throwing up more questions.CorrectHorseBattery said:The petrol stuff seems implausible. He drives a Range Rover, the fuel economy on those is dreadful.
Persistently refusing to consider his future. Clearly doesn’t think he needs to apologise or show contrition.1 -
How the fuck did he distance him? BoJo said he spoke extensively with him about it yesterday.Scott_xP said:0 -
Agreed. Screwed up the politics of this but that's what it is now: politics.CarlottaVance said:
People on a witch-hunt will still seek to get a political scalp. But a father wanting to look after his young family is reasonable.
If the media and dickheads like Led By Donkeys weren't constantly acting like twats outside his London home maybe he'd have felt safer there too.4 -
https://twitter.com/LBC/status/1264955606512873472
In actual fact, it would have made his position untenable and he would have had to resign.0 -
Nearly an hour in, he's still coming across as terribly reasonable, for someone who doesn't spend their days doing press conferences. His lack of media polish is possibly even a point in his favour.4
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A dwindling number seemingly, given the number of people out and about in the past few days.Peter_the_Punter said:
Bit defensive, isn't he! Never seen him like that before.ydoethur said:
I think he’s been warned he needs to cool it. Yesterday he just came across as mind bending ly arrogant.IshmaelZ said:He comes across as sad and geeky and humble in a way I hadn't expected at all. I feel more sympathetic than I expected, but doesn't change my mind. I am a lot angrier with Johnson than with him but then I always was
But the admissions he has made are devastating.
He's cleared up a lot of the facts, but he still broke the guidelines, more than once. The 'reasonable excuse' defence doesn't really hold for someone in his position. He ought to resign, but he won't.
That's very bad for the Government, and for those trying to beat this Virus.1 -
Boris?CorrectHorseBattery said:The questions session has been the real mistake in all of this. I can't think who advised him to do that
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Wick much nicer than Thurso IMO.Sunil_Prasannan said:
Yeah it goes to Georgemass then Thurso, back to Georgemass then Wick. Which is a bit of a shame as Thurso is the most northerly station in Great Britain, and the train stays there for barely 5 minutes!ydoethur said:
When I was last there in 2015 it went to Thurso and reversed.Carnyx said:
Do the trains still split to Thurso and Wick or is there now the one which shuffles back to Thurso from Wick? I think it did that the last time.Sunil_Prasannan said:
You plebs can go to the pub!Ave_it said:It's a non story.
Now - let's get the economy restarted and the pubs open!
I just want to feel safe enough to be able to complete my conquest of ScotRail by doing those last two trains west and north of Inverness.
It was best when they used to split the train one bit going to Thurso one bit to Wick0 -
The issue is not 'is this nonsense' - of course it is. Everyone with a bit of nous can see that. It's 'can he get away with it'. It's feel more like criminal proceedings than is healthy really. The Castle thing is easily the weakest bit in that the rest of it has a charge of emotional justification which can't be wholly denied. The Barnard Castle thing hasn't and is plainly a post hoc ratiocination.Gallowgate said:
It’s total nonsense. Hilarious really.rottenborough said:
On his wife's birthday.eadric said:Why did he take a child on a potentially dangerous test drive?
To a well known local beauty spot.2 -
The government is paying a hefty price to keep him. When we look back on this period the government will be remembered as doing its own thing, whilst we locked down.0
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Every gyration of the weathercock is.Big_G_NorthWales said:
You may not like it but that is a fair commentChris said:
You're hilarious.Big_G_NorthWales said:
I think he was unwise, made mistakes, but he will have some sympathy following this interviewCorrectHorseBattery said:So the conclusion from PB is.
Those who always thought Cummings was innocent still do.
Those who thinks Cummings was guilty still do.
Have I missed anyone?
The guardian have questions to answer0 -
So I guess there are two views on this.
On the one hand you think the media have been horrible to him and he deserves sympathy.
On the other hand, he chose to break the rules and act arrogantly, really leaving the media no choice.1 -
Even Thatcher had to resign eventually!HYUFD said:
He won't, Boris is the best Tory election winner since Thatchertlg86 said:
I disagree. Boris will be going with him.MaxPB said:
Plausible deniability. Not telling the PM gives Boris an out when the shit hits the fan. What Dom has done today is ensure Boris doesn't go down with him when the eventual resignation comes in a couple of days.DougSeal said:Should you have told the Prime Minister...?
"I don't know... I have to protect the Prime Minister's time".
How long does a text message take to read?0 -
wah wah its not fair he's not resigning when I want him to.ydoethur said:
These questions are throwing up more questions.CorrectHorseBattery said:The petrol stuff seems implausible. He drives a Range Rover, the fuel economy on those is dreadful.
Persistently refusing to consider his future. Clearly doesn’t think he needs to apologise or show contrition.2 -
New advertising campaign: "Barnard Castle? Should've gone to Specsavers."Phil said:"I was just testing my eyesight by driving to Barnard’s Castle” is the going to be the new "We just went to Salisbury to see the lovely cathedral" at this rate.
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He has colleagues. Roger Gale MP said on R4 that he was entitled to ask the Head of the Civil Service for help in a family crisis. Why didn't he?OldKingCole said:
Has he got any friends? As opposed to associates?SirNorfolkPassmore said:I didn't even ask any friends in London to help out. Ouch.
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Land Rover USA quotes combined MPG of 21, with a usable capacity of 17.7 gallons (US) which comes out to a range of about 370 miles by my reckoning. So I think it’s plausible.CorrectHorseBattery said:The petrol stuff seems implausible. He drives a Range Rover, the fuel economy on those is dreadful.
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She was Prime Minister for 11 years, Boris just 1 so far. So only another decade to go.Sunil_Prasannan said:
Even Thatcher had to resign eventually!HYUFD said:
He won't, Boris is the best Tory election winner since Thatchertlg86 said:
I disagree. Boris will be going with him.MaxPB said:
Plausible deniability. Not telling the PM gives Boris an out when the shit hits the fan. What Dom has done today is ensure Boris doesn't go down with him when the eventual resignation comes in a couple of days.DougSeal said:Should you have told the Prime Minister...?
"I don't know... I have to protect the Prime Minister's time".
How long does a text message take to read?1 -
Where has hero come from.CorrectHorseBattery said:Big_G_NorthWales said:
You may not like it but that is a fair commentChris said:
You're hilarious.Big_G_NorthWales said:
I think he was unwise, made mistakes, but he will have some sympathy following this interviewCorrectHorseBattery said:So the conclusion from PB is.
Those who always thought Cummings was innocent still do.
Those who thinks Cummings was guilty still do.
Have I missed anyone?
The guardian have questions to answer
I know what it's like when your hero gets attacked mate, been there with Corbyn. So do have sympathy for you.Big_G_NorthWales said:
You may not like it but that is a fair commentChris said:
You're hilarious.Big_G_NorthWales said:
I think he was unwise, made mistakes, but he will have some sympathy following this interviewCorrectHorseBattery said:So the conclusion from PB is.
Those who always thought Cummings was innocent still do.
Those who thinks Cummings was guilty still do.
Have I missed anyone?
The guardian have questions to answer
I have never supported Cummings and Boris lost me last night
But I try to be fair in my comments (unless Corbyn is involved)0 -
Is he over-egging the 'threats in London' thing a bit I wonder...Sandpit said:Nearly an hour in, he's still coming across as terribly reasonable, for someone who doesn't spend their days doing press conferences. His lack of media polish is possibly even a point in his favour.
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Its a good lesson to a society to never make draconian laws because everyone breaks them and its just politics and who you know as to whether you go down for them. thats why the phrase " well if you have nothing to hide " is such a bad one - everyone breaks the law sometimes , so don't make too many of them!1
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You keep saying this, but answer the question: in what way does driving to a beauty spot in Barnard Castle on his wife’s birthday “to test his eyesight” have anything to do with looking after his young family.Philip_Thompson said:
Agreed. Screwed up the politics of this but that's what it is now: politics.CarlottaVance said:
People on a witch-hunt will still seek to get a political scalp. But a father wanting to look after his young family is reasonable.
If the media and dickheads like Led By Donkeys weren't constantly acting like twats outside his London home maybe he'd have felt safer there too.
I’ll tell you the answer: nothing.
This whole thing is total bollocks.3 -
You still here? I was hoping after @Philip_Thompson and I slapped you down over the 1919 pandemic you had gone away to grow up.contrarian said:
wah wah its not fair he's not resigning when I want him to.ydoethur said:
These questions are throwing up more questions.CorrectHorseBattery said:The petrol stuff seems implausible. He drives a Range Rover, the fuel economy on those is dreadful.
Persistently refusing to consider his future. Clearly doesn’t think he needs to apologise or show contrition.0 -
No, the majority view is that he broke the rules and should resign, the media doesn't even come into the picture.CorrectHorseBattery said:So I guess there are two views on this.
On the one hand you think the media have been horrible to him and he deserves sympathy.
On the other hand, he chose to break the rules and act arrogantly, really leaving the media no choice.1 -
Daily Mirror will be working overtime to prove the Castle story is bollocks0
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We could have had that "worm" thing they had in the TV debatesGallowgate said:We need some polling damnit.
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Yes agree. Sounds very reasonable.IshmaelZ said:He comes across as sad and geeky and humble in a way I hadn't expected at all. I feel more sympathetic than I expected, but doesn't change my mind. I am a lot angrier with Johnson than with him but then I always was
Were it not the case that all of that notwithstanding he broke at least the spirit of the laws he helped to formulate he would deserve some sympathy. But I'm guessing thousands of people with equally sympathetic and plausible stories stayed put.3 -
I suppose it depends whether the Tory MPs can stomach him staying or whether they show some backbone.algarkirk said:
The issue is not 'is this nonsense' - of course it is. Everyone with a bit of nous can see that. It's 'can he get away with it'. It's feel more like criminal proceedings than is healthy really. The Castle thing is easily the weakest bit in that the rest of it has a charge of emotional justification which can't be wholly denied. The Barnard Castle thing hasn't and is plainly a post hoc ratiocination.Gallowgate said:
It’s total nonsense. Hilarious really.rottenborough said:
On his wife's birthday.eadric said:Why did he take a child on a potentially dangerous test drive?
To a well known local beauty spot.
He'll get away with it, I think. But the story will probably unravel a bit more over a few days, and it will get a bit more evident just how much he's got away with.0 -
It really isn't. The Guardian reporting witnesses reporting him somewhere isn't as yet in question. Dom says he wasn't. But so what as he's telling an absolute load of cobblers and explicitly made statements that haven't transpired to be true.Big_G_NorthWales said:
You may not like it but that is a fair commentChris said:
You're hilarious.Big_G_NorthWales said:
I think he was unwise, made mistakes, but he will have some sympathy following this interviewCorrectHorseBattery said:So the conclusion from PB is.
Those who always thought Cummings was innocent still do.
Those who thinks Cummings was guilty still do.
Have I missed anyone?
The guardian have questions to answer
This is a political crisis. He cannot exonerate himself by proving that charge 17 was false therefore the long list of things he has just confessed to having done that are directly contrary to the rules and some literally illegal don't matter2 -
Why is no-one asking “If you acted out of concern for the safety of your child, why did you take him and your wife on a drive to see if your eyesight was safe to drive?”0
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He drove to a castle and drove back home right? All without stopping for petrol?rpjs said:
Land Rover USA quotes combined MPG of 21, with a usable capacity of 17.7 gallons (US) which comes out to a range of about 370 miles by my reckoning. So I think it’s plausible.CorrectHorseBattery said:The petrol stuff seems implausible. He drives a Range Rover, the fuel economy on those is dreadful.
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Now that’s unfair. Barnard Castle is beautiful.williamglenn said:
New advertising campaign: "Barnard Castle? Should've gone to Specsavers."Phil said:"I was just testing my eyesight by driving to Barnard’s Castle” is the going to be the new "We just went to Salisbury to see the lovely cathedral" at this rate.
Maybe ending up in Consett by mistake would be the way of doing it.0 -
Surely your instinct is to ensure your young child is looked after by someone you know, a family member or friend, not a civil servant!rural_voter said:
He has colleagues. Roger Gale MP said on R4 that he was entitled to ask the Head of the Civil Service for help in a family crisis. Why didn't he?OldKingCole said:
Has he got any friends? As opposed to associates?SirNorfolkPassmore said:I didn't even ask any friends in London to help out. Ouch.
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You can't set out your case early on unless it is entirely true and complete - which is not an option here. You have to say nothing until you know what the case against you is, and then frame your defence around it. That's exactly what he has done. This is why the Barnard Castle bit is the weakest, because it is really hard to make up something good about the incident. Hence the hope until today that they would not have to admit it.CorrectHorseBattery said:https://twitter.com/LBC/status/1264955606512873472
In actual fact, it would have made his position untenable and he would have had to resign.0 -
How many MPs had demos and heckling outside their houses yesterday?EPG said:
More likely they inspired the authors of that part of the story. Literally every MP and journalist could use the same excuse.CarlottaVance said:The "Led by Donkeys" demo and neighbours heckling last night have helped him in his point that his London house is not a particularly "safe" location.
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Not when the advice published by his government do not allow the actions he tookPhilip_Thompson said:
Agreed. Screwed up the politics of this but that's what it is now: politics.CarlottaVance said:
People on a witch-hunt will still seek to get a political scalp. But a father wanting to look after his young family is reasonable.0 -
But the easiest thing about the Barnard Castle thing was surely to say nothing.algarkirk said:
You can't set out your case early on unless it is entirely true and complete - which is not an option here. You have to say nothing until you know what the case against you is, and then frame your defence around it. That's exactly what he has done. This is why the Barnard Castle bit is the weakest, because it is really hard to make up something good about the incident. Hence the hope until today that they would not have to admit it.CorrectHorseBattery said:https://twitter.com/LBC/status/1264955606512873472
In actual fact, it would have made his position untenable and he would have had to resign.
If that is a lie, it really does undermine the rest of his statement.
If that was a bit more convincing, he might have got away with it.0 -
Only a quarter of the journalist questions have genuinely moved the story on. Most of them are pish.0
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No. The majority of people neither know nor care about Cummings.Jonathan said:The government is paying a hefty price to keep him. When we look back on this period the government will be remembered as doing its own thing, whilst we locked down.
The real story is 35K+ dead, what could the government have done better? Not about an advisor driving to Bernard Castle.0 -
Nice coincidence that this test drive to Barnard Castle was on his wife’s birthday. Really lucky that they could make a day out of it with such a good reason.3
