To think it really doesn't matter what the rules are now?

[Ultrasoft]

No-one's going to follow them.

I am a real rule follower. I've done everything by the book since day one and despite all the hysteria about people breaking rules, so has almost everyone I know.

But when the man who effectively runs the country and wrote the rules makes it clear they don't matter I feel like something of a mug for having been so "good".

I haven't seen my parents or been anywhere outside my town in weeks but he was fine with travelling all that distance with symptoms to see his.

AIBU to think whatever the next/current phase rules are it will be very difficult to get the public to comply?

I salute you second wave pioneers. We need you to go out and do stuff to build up the herd immunity before winter for those of us who don’t want to get it

@Aridane I may be subject to the law, but I don't think my lockdown transgressions are going to attract the attention of even my neighbours, never mind the daily papers or the police.

And if I have broken the law by not sticking rigidly to Boris Johnson's decrees, then DC has too. And he should therefore be given the almighty boot.

It’s ok as long as your parents have a separate property in their grounds where you can self-isolate.

Even if you accept this (which I don't as you're not telling me that the couple know literally nobody who lives closer who could help them, or travel to help them at their home, so they didn't have to travel hundreds of miles whilst infected! One of the most powerful, well connected men in the country knew no other way of doing this? Not to mention the many parents who have struggled on with covid 19 to care for their kids!):

• He also made other non essential trips up to Durham after he had the virus and was back at work in Downing Street.

• He and his wife also travelled 30/40 miles from Durham to walk and admire the lovely bluebells! This was during the period when police were stopping people at roadblocks and telling them they should not be driving to exercise.

Will the thousands who were fined for breaking lockdown legislation be refunded now? They could quote all the ridiculous explanations of why this was all perfectly legal and common sense in their appeal case. To listen to some of the government, you'd believe this was never law, just guidance and we were all to use our common sense and do whatever we felt fit. Yet they rushed through a law to prevent those with the virus from leaving home at all (when one of those quarantined early on decided he'd had enough and wanted to leave the quarantine accommodation). They made it clear you could be detained for public safety for breaking quarantine! Did that not happen now?

This is some 'We have always been at war with Eurasia East Asia' shit.

Meant to add, I am really not a rule follower in general. But I genuinely have not broken the rules in any way during this period. Haven't seen my parents since Christmas, my kids have been locked down too only going out for exercise, I've only shopped when essential... This makes me wonder wtf the pint of it all is. Then I remember the point is to protect my family and everyone else out there. Which won't happen if everyone gives up due to this cretin's behaviour.

It’s ok as long as your parents have a separate property in their grounds where you can self-isolate
When Cummings went off to Durham, that was not the case. As Andrew Marr very clearly pointed out to Shapps this morning.

My point is... and I wish someone would bring this up to any Govt spokesperson..

1. If he went off to stay in a seperate house near to his parents, and the only contact he had was his sister dropping off food at the door, why could he have not done this in London?

1. If (as it is said.. he was in the parents house) surely that is 100% breaking the rules as they are mid 70s, and it's mixing households.

p.s. just bear in mind it was his Mum's birthday whilst he was up there...

Loved Andrew Marr this morning when interviewing Shapps. “So was there a Cummings Clause in this guidance that we weren’t aware of?” Quality!!

Well if we ask for him to be sacked then any normal person flouting rules should be sacked from their job. No exceptions. Csnt have one punishment for one person and no punishment for others.

So those on here who admitted to flouting rules would you be ok to receive the same punishment and be sacked.

cyclingmad if your job is to advise the PM on government policy and the law relating to lockdown and you then flout those rules yourself then yes one would expect the individual's position to be untenable.

If your job is working at the local garage then this is not really the same is it? You are not going against company policy as the Coop doesn't have any influence over the actions of the whole nation. Is this really too hard for you to understand?

Naw I think its same rule for everyone not cos of what job they do. Isnt that why some posters have been judging other ppl for breaking rules, ordinary people too.

Other mps broke the rule just cos they arent Tories doesnt make them any more innocent they just still get sacked too.

Everyone been banging on how we are all in this together so if we are then punishment across the board to everyone who flouted rules regardless of your job.

It was our job as citizens to stay in so if you didnt be put ished just like your asking DC to be punished

I think its entirely fair to say the government has lost any moral authority to enforce lockdown laws.

But that doesn't mean ordinary citizens wont be fined for breaking laws that the PM and his buddies are apparently not bound by.

I have followed the rules from the off and still following them dispite thinking on balance it's getting stupid.

It was always expected that we wouldnt follow them.long term. Remember the announcements before lockdown saying that if they introduced lockdown too early people would get bored? Well, we're there now.

Plus there is so much bullshot creeping in. He had to buy petrol? I cant walk to my supermarket, I live rurally with no shops. So my cat cant run over two months without petrol. So everyone who buys petrol is risking other lives? BS! Where do you draw that death line? Buying food? Turning on the lights? ( national grid staff) going to work when your employer calls you back in? Taking your kid with infected exzma to hospital to see a Dr?

He has cocked up. That doesn't mean we all have to cock up now. Some people are happy to eat just soil from the back garden and treat sepsis at home. Good on both of those people. But it's not a competition of who is the best or worse at lockdown.

It's just all focused on misery. Unless your full of hatred, misery and distaine your doing it wrong

Every day it's putting your own needs last and doing the right thing. Visiting dying relatives, going to funerals no sorry you can't. And this wretched man puts himself first and thinks it's fine. It isn't fine it's a total insult to every single person who has made a sacrifice. Sick of the lot of them now.

I support DC and I am also against lock down.

Did any scientists speak out in disapproval of the randy Prof ? I don't think so.

Oh and to think what some of you were saying about me planning a trip to Whitby a couple of weeks ago. I should have gone then when it was quiet rather than now when it is packed.