to think our Prime Minister and his family are entitled to a summer holiday abroad?

[MeiMeiMeiMei]

Heaven knows I loathe the man's policies but surely he and his family are entitled to a week or two in the sun? A couple of nutters murdered an innocent man but he'd just be giving more publicity to their "cause" if he cancelled his family trip to Ibiza?

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Having time off is fine, lovely to spend time with the family, but it would nice if he were in this country for a bit. I know it won't be affected by the bank holidays, but he's missed so many PMQs lately that it's become a joke.

I'd be more concerned about a PM who didn't take regular breaks with his family as over time lack of rest and just being Dad for a bit would cloud judgment and lead to bad mistakes - you see this all the time in business with the "I do conference calls from the beach brigade". (Questions about DC's judgement already notwithstanding).

Regarding the specific timing, well he was here for the immediate aftermath. And to be honest, horrible things happen every week. Unless it is very serious, 7/7 or 9/11 serious, he shouldn't get stick for it because there will always be something.

He works, he earns money. He is entitled to spend it how he wants. I'm not a fan but I can't get excited over this one.

He visited Woolwich last week after the attack, and also visited the team monitoring terrorism in this country, to thank them for the work they do.

He cannot postpone being a father for the five years he's in office - unless we're proposing altering half term to suit what's going on in the country at any given time - surely he's entitled to spend a few days with his family.

Getting back from Ibiza would probably be a darned sight quicker than getting back from Cornwall this weekend!

Verysmallsqueak, he and the senior members of cabinet probably time the leave so there is always a deputy about. Nick Clegg is around (ho ho indeed, but the principle is there). Yes, it's sad that other people can't afford or don't get to choose holidays, but removing one person's ability to doesn't make that less sad or right that wrong.

Not all of Ibiza is 18 year olds shagging and dancing on MDMA. Some lovely bits, which are certainly not cheap.

Also, ad hominem attacks, on any politician, distract from the real issue of are their policies any good. DC could take every single holiday in a leaking tent on a Welsh hillside and it wouldn't make him a better - or a worse - PM. I don't need a PM to live like me, and I certainly don't care if they do or don't - because once you have a job like that your life isn't comparable to an ordinary life, either struggling working class or equivalently comfortable middle class, and pretending that it is is just artifice.

I agree with you OP. I loathe DC with a passion, but he has a stressful job and he's entitled to a break. If he can afford to go abroad, why not?

What happened in woolwich was absolutely horrendous but I don't think there's any reason why dc should cancel his holiday this week. There isn't anything useful that he can do, and if something else does kick off, he's near enough to get back if he is needed.

Of course he should be allowed to take his dc on holiday during half term.

I expect he works 17 hour days, 7 days a week.

I don't like him but as prime minister, he should have a break every now and then.

oh diddums.some if you are making this like he's mr regular job,who needs break
he's pm.he needs to be able to read a situation and yes cancel his plans to be here
he can go another time,part of being pm is you expect interruption,you Make personal sacrifice

I think he could have stayed... Given that its not long till he won't be pm anymore, then he can fuck off on holiday all year.

Nah I really don't care. Its not like he's single handedly going to stop extremists in the next four days is it?

in many other public sector jobs staff have to change plans if there a situation
police,military get leave cancelled,changed.dc as pm should expect to change plans
he's not likely to be pm again so plenty time later to be mr regular holidays

I think it's poor timing.
He's entitled to a break, but the excuse that he's taking office staff with him (at our expense) to keep hold of situations isn't acceptable.
Bad things do happen all the time, but an attack in broad daylight, near barracks, by people known to the Intelligence Service isn't just a 'bad thing'.
It was terrorism and I think he needs to be here.

He'll be able to take all the holidays he feels like in the next few years I would think.

To be here to do what though?

Visit the site where the horrendous act occurred therefore necessitating additional police presence?

I also think, that even if it appears that there's nothing he can usefully do (um - lead the country?) then he should be looking like he's leading the country.

Can't see Barak Obamba flying off for a mini break under such circumstances.

Of course he is. Yanbu

lets be clear the assilants have not been reported to have mh issues,not nutters
pm return to do what?well...
take advice from experts,
listen to strategy,
liase with multi faith agencies
review information gathered post woolwich
formulate a what next plan
be visible, be present
act like a leader
consider if additional funding needs to be made available for initiatives
photo op should be composed,thoughtful pm in ldn
not slacks and latte on holiday

This country would be a lot safer and friendlier if hate filled papers like the DM stopped trying to promote anger against communities with its headlines.. Best point made so far. This is a total non-story. We don't know that DC isn't doing a lot behind the scenes to understand/strategise/plan for reactions to Woolwich. I don't think he needs to be here in person, tho I think the feelings other posters have are valid. What a vile take for the papers to make money with pretending compassion and concern. Our press are completely twisted.

not sure how I feel about this specific situation, but no I don't agree he's entitled to uninterrupted time off. I think PM is one of those jobs where actually the job does come first, over family, over holidays, over other commitments. If needed of course, not saying he's never allowed a holiday but I do think he's in a job where the whole family should accept that family time will be disrupted.

Spartak - he's already visited Woolwich since the attack.

You beat me to it op, it wasnt just in the dm either, was in all papers. And also while he is sunning it in the balliarics he cant be making bollyollocks decisions over here - result!

We have no idea if the assailants have mental health issues or not- just because the daily mail hasn't reported it, it doesn't mean that it isn't a factor in what happened. The professionals involved in that field (if there are any) would be in breach of their codes of conduct etc if they talked to the press.

People of sane and healthy mind don't go around hacking people to death though.

kim147 when we become so complacent about terrorism,we really need to take a long hard look at ourselves.

Just because it's not the first homegrown terrorist attack we've had I really don't think it minimizes the impact on the victims family (or anyone else for that matter).

dc has poor judgement.he should be here
see not much protest about erroneous casual use of nutter to describe assailants
but indignant protests that dc entitled to a holiday?skewed way of seeing things some of you