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.

Listening to Gavin Williamson trying to defend him/the PM on the Today Programme. It is excruciating.

I don't think Dominic Cummings will last on his job beyond the end of this week

I’d not put money on that,

Why?

Because the government wants to ease lockdown and the unions, media and mps were making it difficult, with Cummings in the role, people are screaming they can do as that please, it’s a win for Boris. It enables him to lift lock down, people are doing it for him,

And in a few days folks will be talking about something else, just like they did with the proroguing parliament and every other scandal Boris has been under fire for, be it Jennifer whats her name , his affairs, his children, lying to the queen or anything else. He just needs to keep his head down and take the win.

I possibly have, @SecondStarFromTheRight. I will re-RTFT later. I am very sorry if so.

@Bluntness100

Get where you're coming from as DC is a political advisor and BJ needs him. He is credited for 'winning' Brexit and the infamous slogan on the bus which won votes but he refused to speak to the enquiry which led to the party being fined for misleading campaigning, surely he can't get away with much more!??

I somewhat sympathise with him for wanting childcare for his child in case he got really sick but surely he could have got that in London as a man with resources and contacts?

It can't be one rule for them and one for the rest of us, not in this age of media.

But, no, I wouldn't put my house on it.

He’s a selfish arse and I’m not so I won’t be following his lead.

I've grown up since primary school. Grown out of the 'Muuummmm, I want to do it because so and so did' whine.

@ToffeeYoghurt but this isn't about people wanting a mars bar or a pony, or whatever. It's about people who have lost their livelihoods, watched their young children regress and develop behavioural issues, stopped visiting isolated and depressed elderly relatives, and even been forced to miss the funerals of their loved ones. For an awful lot of people, these last 9 weeks have been literally unbearable. Some have killed themselves.

People did it because they were told, quite forcefully, that they would have blood on their hands if they didn't. The message was 'Stay at home, save lives'. And it was never a choice for us - you could be arrested for breaking lockdown, and many were.

I don't personally support those now breaking lockdown because of what DC did, but I do fully share their sense of utter disbelief and betrayal. Not so much because DC broke the rules - many other public figures have done the same - but because the Government who told us 'We're all in this together' has now made it quite clear that that was never the case. It's an unprecedented breach of public trust.

With all that in mind, I'd like to gently suggest that skipping round chanting, "You luuuurve Dom-in-ic, ner ner ner ner ner ner ner' isn't the devastating riposte you imagine it to be (given how many times you've posted exactly the same thing on numerous threads). It wasn't funny or clever the first time - time to change the record, maybe?

Government were in a difficult situation. They want to get people back to work asap (remember certain tory grandees pleading for us to return weeks ago ?) but they are well aware it's a gamble. This little episode will definitely
nudge many people to start pushing the boundaries rightly or wrongly and hey job done....it goes tits up well it's your own fault and government is absolved. Cummings is well known for his cynical use of psychological means to influence public opinion ie Brexit so nothing surprises me..

People did it because they were told, quite forcefully, that they would have blood on their hands if they didn't. The message was 'Stay at home, save lives'. And it was never a choice for us - you could be arrested for breaking lockdown, and many were.

Some were even arrested or threatened with arrest when not breaking lockdown! I wonder how that bloke who was told he was breaking the law for standing on his own front garden feels about this shitshow?

@Bertoldbrecht I don't know about that. There are other ways they could have achieved the same outcome without spectacularly tanking public confidence in the Government.

With all that in mind, I'd like to gently suggest that skipping round chanting, "You luuuurve Dom-in-ic, ner ner ner ner ner ner ner' isn't the devastating riposte you imagine it to be (given how many times you've posted exactly the same thing on numerous threads). It wasn't funny or clever the first time - time to change the record, maybe

I had the same thought. I cant take anyone seriously who says that Lol- I mean, how old are you?- 12?!

@Bluntness100 has nail it

• Because the government wants to ease lockdown and the unions, media and mps were making it difficult, with Cummings in the role, people are screaming they can do as that please, it’s a win for Boris. It enables him to lift lock down, people are doing it for him,

And in a few days folks will be talking about something else*

@Bertoldbrecht I agree. They may not have planned it this way, but he will have sold it to Boris as a way to achieve their ends, to get people to accept loosing the lockdown and the potential deaths that will come with that.

This will blow over in a few days . They will hold fast. They are impervious to public opinion ( ie proroguing parliament). With an 80 seat majority and 4 more years in government they know they have plenty of time to distract, manipulate and move on.
Nigel Farage dislikes Cummings but even he is fearful that if Cummings goes we will have a brexit extension. Most brexiteers will feel the same way - he was the architect of the leave campaign fgs- and this is why they will not sack him. I suspect that many of his defenders on here are leavers too, they recognise his significance and will essentially tolerate anything.

@WickedlyPetite I think that in the circumstances inviting your FIL over for a coffee (or whatever) sitting in your garden for an hour at 2m distance is the right thing to do.

I also think it's right for anyone who is struggling and isolated to be able to meet up for a short while , whilst sitting outside and distancing. And if possible not sharing utensils and wiping down any surfaces touched.

I think that what we gain from that mentally outweighs the negatives from any small risk of Covid transmission.

That isn't the same as having multiple parties with people sharing BBQs and hugging.

I will continue to isolate for the majority of the time, distance when I go out and wear a mask in public places like shops as I think we need to continue doing this for some time to try to get this virus under control

Had they offered him more money, Cummings would have worked for the Remain campaign, he said on twitter... on being asked if there were things that could happen that would make him wish leave had lost.....
“Lots! I said before REF was dumb idea, other things shdve been tried 1st. In some possible branches of the future leaving will be an error."

This won't blow over until Cummings has gone, Johnson should move him on and then take him back at the next cab reshuffle.

Steve Baker MP is probably more pro brexit than anyone alive and he wants DC gone.

He’s not in the cabinet though
is he ? Might be wrong but thought he was a special advisor. I suspect if he does go he’ll be back through the back door in a few months.

I’m going out to buy a takeaway coffee every day now.

Steve Baker MP is probably more pro brexit than anyone alive and he wants DC gone.
Farage too. This is not about weakening Brexit, it's about levelling personal scores with Cummings, which obviously even Farage and Baker rate more highly on their to do list than Brexit, which really tells us how much they hate him. The realisation for Cummings will be that no-one is irreplaceable, not even him with his fancy intellect and his behind the scenes manoevres. You are in public life and you therefore are under scrutiny. They must be loving it.

He is part of SAGE. You know, the scientific group that has come up with all the guidance.

This is what Tories think of the British public. I guess some of you voted Johnson in though

Yes I’ve had enough of these double standards. I won’t do anything to break social distancing so won’t put others at risk but I will no longer stay home. If it’s good enough for them to break the rules it’s good enough for me.

Surely you have a brain and can decide what to do for your particular circumstances.

It's disgusting.
Don't follow his lead. Cummings has no moral compass.
Carry on doing what you can to keep you and others safe.

Sorry not read through the thread. I am angry with Cummings and the Govt but the numbers are coming down and I want to get them down further. Once numbers are low enough and numbers suggest not too much longer until it happens they will be low enough for test, track and isolate system to step in and have a chance to work. This will then hopefully keep numbers down buying us time for therapeutics or a vaccine to be developed, appreciate vaccine may not happen. I have my hopes more on therapeutics that will stop the disease become severe in some.

The absolute tosser we lost mum in law yesterday after not being allowed to see her since lockdown began my husband can’t believe he won’t ever see her again after doing as government said not, nor her husband of 60+ years 😡

Also she tested positive for covid in her nursing home so spent her last days only seeing someone at meal times in full ppe very lonely end to a life