Anyone else think F&@@ it after today's briefing?

[Sarahbeans]

After today's briefing, anyone else half thinking screw it, if Cummings can make up the rules as he goes, why the he'll can't I interpret them as I set fit too?

I have a clinically vulnerable child and have stayed indoors and been so strict the past 12 weeks, but even I'm now beginning to think what's the point? Clearly the govt does what it wants, why the hell should we listen to the govt any more? Lost all faith in them.

Just written to my MP as follows:
Dear Mrs ,
As a concerned and law abiding member of your constituency I would like to express my deep dissatisfaction with the manner in which the government has dealt with the Dominic Cummings debacle.
I am a * who has seen my profession turned upside down by this crisis. Much worse than that has been the impact on the vulnerable families and their children I work to protect who have been most severely impacted and whose welfare has been genuinely imperilled by the lockdown measures. Nevertheless they were led to believe that such sacrifices have been necessary for the greater good.
Having just watched the car crash of an interview by Dominic Cummings and his shameful excuses for his selfish and unjustifiable behaviour I am as ashamed of our governments collusion with this as the people of America must be by being associated with the mad rantings of Trump.
I implore you as my MP to take a principled stance and publicly distance yourself from the lies and obfuscation being peddled by government ministers on behalf of an unelected and arrogant adviser who has no respect for the people of this country and no desire to do other than what is in his own interests.

He's totally broken all the rules, and these technicalities don't make it convincing for me. The lack of remorse or shame from either of them is the worst bit.

Not about left or right, I'm neither but the left get on my nerves more. I was broadly supportive of the government's handling till this.

It doesn't make me think "f#*£ it" as in putting myself or others at risk, but it does make me think that I'm going to use my own judgement 100% and not follow anything the government is asking in future.

Why - because I've completely lost any confidence I had in their handling. It's exposed them as the bunch of idiots that other people thought they were all along. I've defended them to the hilt till now.

God I hate being wrong!

Absolutely not... if we all thought and behaved like a utter moron...which there is enough of, we would be in even more of a mess than we are.... let's just wait for the second wave... and flu season

Unfortunately, he’s not the only one. Lots of people with second homes & parents in the countryside have been visiting each other and/or staying in their different homes.
I don’t understand why the government don’t ask people to just stay in their own counties/towns.

Probably lots of people will think exactly that and act accordingly.

This is precisely why his actions and trying to defend them are so incredibly damaging.

He needs to go so the government can try and claw back an ounce of credibility to try and ensure compliance with public health guidance.

Please everyone email your MP about this sorry state of affairs. What a disgrace all this is.

Who even voted for the man? seem Johnson is so pathetically weak and half arsed that hes handed the job of running the country over to him. Why hasnt anybody looked further into his russia links? How many now dead? because some complete morons thought Johnson had fun hair and 3 word slogan.

Funny how all of the countries which have been hit hardest by this are run by right wing populists for university of lifers with nasty pieces of corrupt work creeping around in the background.

How can anybody be expected to take lessons in morality or responsibility from them?

I just can’t understand how a man claiming to be a caring father would load his child into a car and take him on a “test drive” to establish whether his eye sight was reliable?

What if it wasn’t?

That the child’s mother went along with it too leaves me mystified.

Why didn't they ask him why he said the police hadn't spoken to his dad, when the police said they did?

Basically, DC confirmed he broke both the letter and the spirit of the rules. He most definitely did not need to leave London and was never in a situation where neither he nor his wife could care for their own child. Being worried about his wife’s and child’s safety because people knew where he lived is utter bollocks, given the fact he is still living in the same place with them now. Staying indoors for 2 weeks in London would not have put any of his family in danger - it would have been much safer than leaving the house with all those potential attackers lurking outside and driving for hours without stopping to a far flung part of the country.

I certainly understand why he did what he did and can sympathise on that level with his decisions, but it 100% was not what was permitted under the rules. I also think he should have his driving licence taken off him if he’s happy to drive for hours without rest breaks and to drive in order to test his eyesight!

I don’t know any thinking person who would justify what was done to Ismail and his family on the grounds that it was the rules, The case of this young lad, who did not have his parents at his bedside as he was ill and dying, is precisely why people need to use common sense and compassion to do what’s right. Some hospitals provided PPE so that parents could accompany sick children and children could visit dying parents. That particular hospital were so rigidly rule bound they lost the plot and unwittingly committed an inhumane and shocking act. Those involved must, on reflection, be horrified by what they did, especially as it then had to be spelled out in further guidance that such actions were not appropriate. Blindly following what you think the rules are with no consideration for individual circumstances can lead to unintended and harmful consequences. DC says that he did what was the least risk to everyone including his child and the public. If there’s a dispassionate counter argument based on the facts let’s hear it.

I don't think Johnson and Cummings ever supported such a strict lockdown, I think the WHO shamed them into it. Instead, they supported herd immunity.

I think both these men are total fuckwits and would be happy if the nation said 'Fuck it, I'm going out!' Hey presto, herd immunity, problem solved. But hey, they told us to stay at home, so not their fault.

@Chillipeanuts it's VERY possible that his explanation of using Barnard Castle as a test drive is utter bollocks. He told us not to believe everything the press says and in the next breath spins a Jackanory.

I don't get why he was on about his eyesight. Is he trying to say it was affected by being ill?

Mirinska - not letting someone see their dying child is one thing. Not allowing someone drive without breaks for several hours with a sick wife and your child trapped in a confined space with you is entirely another. Were DC and his child actually so ill with Covid because of his idiotic behaviour, when he could have isolated in London instead and saved them that dangerous journey? If I were him, I would be feeling very guilty about having been so stupid.

with their* sick wife and child with them!

I think everyone's just jealous that he new the laws, the loopholes and how to use it to his advantage.
If you knew there was a way to get out of London to the countryside you would do it too.
As for him using his sons autism as an -"excuse" he didn't it was his reason not his excuse.
Sick of everyone moaning now to be honest.
Also what happened to the labour mp who did the same thing, with an even lamer excuse, oh yeah still in his job, no media witch hunt for him.

Hariboandme - ah yes, all those loopholes to driving safely, taking regular rest breaks and not driving when you think your eyesight is compromised. I know them well.

And the famous other people got away with it, this isn’t fair, your Honour, excuse.

Nope I would risk my families health just coz someone else did

Still rumbling on this morning. He can't walk down his own street anymore!

Wecandorhis99 - people will use that as an excuse to behave like DC, because some people do indeed behave like that, including DC. It has always been the case that you should lead by example because of this funny little quirk of human nature...

Looking at some of the headlines he is getting the blame for the fuckwittery of others down the beach.

Nup. They managed to act like entitled knobs all on their own.

Quite a few people on the bus i get to work seem to think the rules aren't for them either. The number of people inviting friends/family over.... Mind you, none of them sound particularly intelligent!

Do you think Boris announced the opening of shops in the hope that we will all be so excited about the forthcoming sales bonanza that we will forget the contempt shown to us by that pair?

Yes Esspee. I could see it happening to me. I'd been completely absorbed by the DC story all weekend but as soon as Boris switched to we might get some freedoms back, I was far more interested in that.