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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think Dominic Cummings has to go?

999 replies

RoosterPie · 22/05/2020 20:39

Dominic Cummings apparently travelled to his parents house while meant to be self isolating due to covid symptoms.

Given what happened with Neil Ferguson and Catherine Calderwood, AIBU to think his position ought to be untenable?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/22/dominic-cummings-durham-trip-coronavirus-lockdown

OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
flamegame · 23/05/2020 10:29

At first I was outraged but given they both had covid and expected their symptoms to worsen, I can understand it.

Timesdone · 23/05/2020 10:34

He should go but it's highly unlikely. Don't expect any principled action from this government. They only act to save their own skin.

Timesdone · 23/05/2020 10:39

The defense of childcare is nonsense. Are you seriously claiming that someone in his position couldn't hire a nurse/tutor /nanny. That may be against the rules as well.but better than taking them to elderly parents. I think I read his uncle had died from the virus.

chomalungma · 23/05/2020 10:43

At first I was outraged but given they both had covid and expected their symptoms to worsen, I can understand it

In what world is it a good idea to drive 250 miles if you have the disease?

That is the fundamental question.

FliesandPies · 23/05/2020 10:44

Just despicable to drag your child into it to try to justify.

No.10 have now said that he didn't break the rules so interesting to see how that plays out.

Still, people have got their teeth into it for now so at least it will be enjoyable to see No.10 squirm until they can throw in some other story to distract. No way he'll resign though, and no way Johnson would dare to sack him.

MarieQueenofScots · 23/05/2020 10:44

Well Number 10 have put out a statement defending him so he isn’t going anywhere apparently.

JacobReesMogadishu · 23/05/2020 10:46

I wonder if his uncle’s death is down to him?

Violetparis · 23/05/2020 10:47

Agree about Twitter, it's disturbing.

flamegame · 23/05/2020 10:47

It’s a good idea in the world where you want your child to be looked after by people you know. They should’ve been upfront about it but what are parents supposed to do when both sick?

Violetparis · 23/05/2020 10:47

Wondering if there is more to come out about this in tomorrow's papers.

flamegame · 23/05/2020 10:49

What if Cummings had died? I don’t think it’s dragging your child into it if the child was the reason for the travel.

Honestly, we’ve got better ammo against the tories than this, a sick couple travelling to get childcare from people their child knows.

Idk what the wife was thinking with the silly article.

FliesandPies · 23/05/2020 10:50

No.10 are trying to say what he did met the criteria for 'reasonable excuse' although at the time he travelled had that been clarified by the college of policing?

No.10 also said that the Police didn't contact Cummings but Durham Police have confirmed that they did contact him?

Tellmetruth4 · 23/05/2020 10:53

Is Laura K no longer even pretending not to be moonlighting for Cummings now? She’s going out of her way to defend him with her tweets. The BBC need to get rid sharpish.

chomalungma · 23/05/2020 10:54

It’s a good idea in the world where you want your child to be looked after by people you know

I agree that it's good to have your child looked after by someone you know.

I don't think it's a good idea to travel 250 miles - no doubt with toilet stops - when you and your wife are ill with an infectious virus.

FliesandPies · 23/05/2020 10:54

What if Cummings had died? I don’t think it’s dragging your child into it if the child was the reason for the travel.

Eh? Was he danger of dying? Was he hospitalised or even severely ill? Presumably not since they were all able to travel. Have they got no close friends in London that could have looked after their child??

Others who broke the rules were quickly condemmed and booted out, now we're all supposed to tie ourselves in knots defending Cummings?

SleepingStandingUp · 23/05/2020 10:55

At first I was outraged but given they both had covid and expected their symptoms to worsen, I can understand it.
But if you or I did that, it wouldn't be acceptable. Everyone else is expected to cope, no one else is allowed to see their elderly parents even when all healthy. But they were so poorly they had no choice but to drive their asymptomatic germ ridden 4 yo with no sense of social distancing to his elderly parents because its hard looking after your child when your both feeling poorly. Given his age, there's a good chance they're over 70.
If the Govt wanted people to be able to travel for childcare and people to see their elderly parents even when sick for childcare, that's what they should have put in the rules

chomalungma · 23/05/2020 10:56

Others who broke the rules were quickly condemmed and booted out, now we're all supposed to tie ourselves in knots defending Cummings

Matt Hancock was certainly quick to condemn Neil Ferguson

Tellmetruth4 · 23/05/2020 10:58

Cummings was instrumental in driving Ferguson out and Ferguson didn’t do anything near as bad as him.

Timesdone · 23/05/2020 11:01

When we were both ill when the children were small, we took it in turns to get up & stare into space for a few hours & then go back to bed. I can't believe we are the only family that have had to do this. All this "what are they supposed to do?" is ridiculous.

theduchessstill · 23/05/2020 11:04

That link to his wife's account of their experience of the illness is shocking - what a bare-faced liar. It's just an unabashed pile of lies and she even drags her faith into it. Uurghh - vile couple.

flamegame · 23/05/2020 11:06

What you do when you have no childcare options is not what you’d do if you had options - it’s not just Cummings frankly I wouldn’t be in favour of anyone being prosecuted if travelling under the same circs. My husband was sick for weeks (we don’t know what he had), we didn’t have any family to go to and my kids were very worried and needed constant reassurance.

There’s been too much hysteria and finger pointing in general over covid.

SharonasCorona · 23/05/2020 11:11

Cummings story doesn’t make any sense. Journo Laura Kuenssberg says he travelled to stay in a separate building on his parents’ farm and yet he says he went up there because his sister and nieces offered to help look after his DC.

Are we really expected to believe that he and his wife self-isolated?

PotholeParadise · 23/05/2020 11:12

What if Cummings had died? I don’t think it’s dragging your child into it if the child was the reason for the travel.

About a week after this happened, Cummings' uncle, aged 74, did die of coronavirus. However ill Cummings was, his parents were at greater risk of dying.

chomalungma · 23/05/2020 11:14

Michael Gove
@michaelgove
·
45m
Caring for your wife and child is not a crime

chomalungma · 23/05/2020 11:17

Dominic Raab
@DominicRaab
It’s reasonable and fair to ask for an explanation on this. And it has been provided: two parents with Coronavirus, were anxiously taking care of their young child. Those now seeking to politicise it should take a long hard look in the mirror.