If you are a Conservative voter how do you feel about Dominic Cummings apparent power over Boris Johnson?

[applesnotoranges]

Just that really. When scientific advisors have been sacked for flouting the rules and Boris Johnson comes out and says Dominic Cummings did nothing wrong how do you feel?

My father has been taken into hospital today – not covid related – but my mum is on her own. They have been in isolation since the beginning of lockdown. My instinct is to go and be with my mum as she is 200 miles away and alone.

So why are you posting as if autism was an established fact of the case? And why, if you had an autistic four year old, would you not make every attempt to keep them in their familiar surroundings and routine and bring help to you rather than drive the length of the country?

It is not a witch hunt.

I don't recall Domnishambles coming up with autism as one of his excuses in his "poor me" speech earlier this evening. Did he? Or are his apologists introducing it as a "get-out-of-jail-free" card? Are we supposed to overlook and forgive his behaviour? Are we going to issue special licences to all parents who consider it necessary?

As I understand it, his position is that although he broke the explict instructions issued by the Prime Minister, that's OK because (in invisible writing) there was a line that said "unless you decide otherwise."

The relevance of Dom not trying to use his child as a weapon, but his apologists chipping in with it, is that if it is later found to be untrue, he can use the "I never said it" excuse.

I did not say it was an established fact of the case.

Just to check, "consultation was had regarding relaxing the guidelines for people and children with autism." has been worded to suggest that guidelines were relaxed.

But, were they? or does "consultation was had" mean, as it reads, "somebody talked about?"

"I did not say it was an established fact of the case."

Just another red herring then.

Almost as if it was intended to cloud the issue of the Prime Minister's top advisor deliberately contravening the Prime Minister's instructions, just because he felt like it.

Excellent analysis, PigletJohn.

@BakedCam

Well, you have mentioned it in at least 4 posts.

I think it is fair to say that sitting in a government committee, and advising the government, counts as a "job" even if only a part time one carried out in addition to his main job.

Claiming that it isn't is just splitting hairs really.

Floating voter.

I was incredulous hearing Johnson’s conference yesterday and felt hugely annoyed. Thought it was clear Johnson would fail without him.

Felt better after tonight’s from Johnson.

So, let's unpick this.

A consultation from a disability lobby is described as 'somebody talked about'

Legislation that is rushed through in response to an emergency crisis is always going to have legal challenges.

Cummings actions are questionable and absolutely open to scrutiny, however, the scrum to hang him is a whitewash.

One cant have it all ways. Hold him up to account as the whipping boy and ignore other infringements.

I think Dominic looks like someone who over indulged a bit too much in the rave scene circa mid 90’s and dresses like he’s hanging out at the back of a techno tent at Glastonbury

Whether his son has autism or not, the guidelines were to allow more flexibility re exercise. They didn't permit people to drive hundreds of miles, particularly if anyone showed symptoms. This was clearly forbidden and it was made explicit that it was wrong because it risked overwhelming local hospitals in more rural areas.

@Oakmaiden

Damn right I'll split hairs.

Particularly when I'm 'ordered' to withdraw my initial comment.

@lisa220 what has how he looks got to do with it?

The boy doesn't have autism. A random tweet from no-one in particular, claiming he did, was picked up and turned into fact with no other basis whatsoever.

@Marshabradyo I got a bit fed up with Johnson this afternoon. He refused to answer a lot of the questions, didn't ask if there were follow up questions like he did at the beginning, seemed rather waffly and flustered, and finished quite abruptly.

I didn't have any more confidence in him by the end. What did he say or do that made you feel better?

You are being disingenuous. You didn’t say it but your posts clearly suggested that was the get-out clause.

I'm really enjoying @BakedCam 's ridiculous defence here. Don't think they're the sharpest tool in the box. Given that they've quoted guidelines, denied it, twisted fact into fiction, defended Cummings, applied rules to him that don't apply...BoJo, that you?

Oh well.

As you were.

If two high fliers have a child with additional needs, then I would think they also have exceptional childcare support at home. No? They didn’t have fallback childcare? Bullshit. Driving the child to the other end of the country would be better than having a familiar face driven to London? Bullshit.

I feel awful. To be honest, the vote in the GE was not clear cut for me. I voted to remain, however, the country voted to leave and I value democracy over whether we stay in the EU or not, hence the conservative vote, especially give the lack of a labour alternative.
This whole situation has made me reassess my values. Hand on heart, I was more concerned about tax, being a high rate payer than I was the NHS. This situation has tipped everything I've ever thought about politics on its head. I feel myself daily being more and more impressed with Starmer and more bewildered by Johnson.

@RunningAwaywiththeCircus

Absolutely. The only testament to this argument would be to put under the nose of a Judge. That is not going to happen.

It is a classic example of where the legislation fails. Hence why the CPS is reviewing many of the fines imposed on people.

Did he break the guidance? That cannot be tested just as much as the pictures of people on Brighton Beach can't be tested.

I would feel more sympathy for Cummings if he was relocating because of his son’s autism.

His son DOESN'T have autism. Jeeze, the influence that one false tweet can have. It's ridiculous.

I'm so enjoying @BahHumPug misunderstanding where I'm coming from.