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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that Dominic Cummings DID break the rules?

314 replies

LumaLou · 23/05/2020 13:41

The day after reportedly developing coronavirus symptoms, Dominic Cummings and his family travelled 200 miles to self isolate.

While I can understand the desire to be near family, AIBU to think they should have isolated at home?

Many families in the UK have faced situations where sticking to the rules has at best inconvenient, at worst traumatic. They have managed to do so with less of a support network and less resources at their disposal than the Cummings family.

OP posts:
Lynda07 · 26/05/2020 11:19

He broke the rules. He had his reasons at the time which now seem a bit flimsy. He is being vilified for it, can't even leave his house without being heckled.

What's done is done, lessons learned, let's move on.

Inkpaperstars · 26/05/2020 11:27

I think taking on a long drive when you suspect (accurately as it turned out) that you are about to become very ill, the other adult has been vomiting and feeling faint, the child may start showing symptoms at any moment, and it is very important that you do not stop off at serivces or see others en route...is quite risky. It would have put me off a bit.

sleepingpup · 26/05/2020 11:55

THE CAT ATE MY HOMEWORK

by D. Cummings

Original poster
LumaLou · 26/05/2020 11:56

@Lynda07

What’s done is done, absolutely. Have lessons been learned though?

I must have missed the part of yesterday’s press conference where he acknowledged that he made an error in judgement and broke the rules.

OP posts:
Mumratheevergiving · 26/05/2020 15:08

Lynda but he’s still instrumental in telling us how we should conduct ourselves (& in curtailing our activities) why should he be forming policy telling the public what to do when he can do whatever he pleases? Most Mumsnet users are parents he was not in exceptional circumstances at all!

sleepingpup · 26/05/2020 15:10

What's done is done, lessons learned, let's move on.

what lessons have been learned?

@Lynda07

we are being lied to?

one rule for most people different rule for small elite?

Chief Pandemic strategist didn't make his own plan for his family until it was too late?

Test your eyes by going for an hours drive?

Never say sorry?

Don't check your card statements to see if you stopped for petrol.?

Barnard Castle has lovely scenic views?

Bluebell season?

The Cummings' have no mates in London?

What did we learn?????

SquishySquirmy · 26/05/2020 15:34

We learnt that "exceptional circumstances" is very broad and can in fact be applied to common circumstances.

We have gained an insight into how chaotic the situation was when Johnson became ill.

We have learnt that Cummings is indispensable to Johnson.

We have learnt that the Cabinet and senior members of the government (our elected representatives) work for Cummings.

sleepingpup · 26/05/2020 15:49

@SquishySquirmy

Yep, Nothing I can "just move on from"

Smartcasual · 26/05/2020 15:57

What's done is done, lessons learned, let's move on.

It's not quite as simple as that though is it, when he has undermined the government health safety messages that he had a hand in creating?

If everyone else copies Cummings and acts on what they think is "instinctually" right this hot summer weekend, rather than following the actual rules, the R figure will rise.

Smartcasual · 26/05/2020 16:00

Gah that should have read spring weekend!

ListeningQuietly · 26/05/2020 16:01

If you are unhappy about what Cummings did, please
email your MP
www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-your-mp/

Tell them what you think.
THEY WORK FOR YOU

growinggreyer · 26/05/2020 16:02

I hope Durham Police follow through with their investigation. If they have been fining other people for doing similar things then DC should also be fined. It will amount to a tidy sum, two adults and numerous breaches of regulations. Or maybe they should refund everyone fined and send the bill to Downing Street.

Lynda07 · 26/05/2020 16:04

Mumratheevergiving: Lynda but he’s still instrumental in telling us how we should conduct ourselves (& in curtailing our activities) .

......
He may be telling you but I make up my own mind. As it happens, I don't go out at all but if I did, who would notice? I do not live in a road with curtain twitchers, I can do what I choose.

I don't think I had even heard of the man before this kerfuffle.

Whatever anyone thinks of him, it is hardly healthy to make him into such a hate figure.

Experimenopause · 26/05/2020 16:06

Whatever anyone thinks of him, it is hardly healthy to make him into such a hate figure.
I am pretty tired of such apologists as you. He is a leading advisor who has a say in extremely important matters of national interests, in saving lives and in economy. We want someone with integrity. Why is it so hard to understand? Confused

Lynda07 · 26/05/2020 16:10

Experimenopausal, it's not difficult to understand, it's just not me to bear grudges. I'll leave the conversation to everyone else.

sleepingpup · 26/05/2020 16:13

Whatever anyone thinks of him, it is hardly healthy to make him into such a hate figure.*

It was' hardly healthy' to drive from Covid Hotspot London to Durham.

I don't hate him particularly. I'm disgusted with this government.

Experimenopause · 26/05/2020 16:28

it's just not me to bear grudges.
We are talking about matters of national security and you are talking about personal grudges? Is it your country to run? Are we all your subjects? Are we talking about a petty playground grudge or about the future of this country? Confused

skodadoda · 27/05/2020 07:28

The rules are not very clear at all, and I suspect he didn't break them!
His trip to Barnard Castle did not have ‘reasonable excuse’

Mumratheevergiving · 27/05/2020 11:14

The rules are not very clear at all, and I suspect he didn't break them!
He did. If the rules are unclear that doesn’t reflect well on his ability to do the job in the first place does it?

skodadoda · 27/05/2020 17:34

WeaselKnickers I don't think many people would consider driving 30 miles, to Barnard Castle, in order to test fitness to drive, with wife and child in the car, to be 'reasonable excuse'.

Inkpaperstars · 27/05/2020 20:55

It seemed today like Boris has resorted to a defence of 'you can't know he broke the rules, because I refuse to say what the rules are'.

skodadoda · 28/05/2020 07:22

sleepingpup add to your list ‘wife’s birthday’

MarieG10 · 28/05/2020 07:44

Well the "rules" at the various stages didn't reflect the law...so it's no wonder there was utter confusion.

The law was that you don't leave home without reasonable excuse. That was it! He had a reasonable excuse, although not everyone would agree but legally he did.

What he probably didn't comply with was the guidance...but given the guidance was dreamt up by some civil servant who didn't understand the law and therefore has no legal backing it counts for sod all really.

What the government should have done is made sure that guidance was based on the law....might have been helpful?

Happygirl79 · 28/05/2020 07:51

DC must have some kind of hold over BJ for Boris to put his political career on the line for him
DC is far too smug and quite unwilling to apologise for breaking the lock down
Boris is back saying that an enquiry would be a waste of time and the people must move on
How dare he?
This is a moral issue
I have emailed my MP twice to demand an enquiry
We need to be treated as adults by the government
One rule for them and another for the people is not good enough

MarieG10 · 28/05/2020 08:03

@Happygirl79

One rule for them and another for the people is not good enough

And that is why it should be about what the law is..as it applies to everyone, as opposed to rules which are guidance and nothing more and can legally be ignored