If the Daily Mirror really cared about the impact on public behaviour ...

[blinkinheck]

... they would never have published the Dominic Cummings story.

I'm listening to the Daily Mirror Political Editor on the Andrew Marr show. She said the story isn't about attacking "the Westminster Bubble" and they care only about the effect his behaviour will have on the public's willingness to stick to the lockdown. What sanctimonious bullshit! It is publication and sensationalism of the story, whether true or not, which is responsible for whatever damage is caused. Otherwise, having had a quiet word with the police, they could have simply left them to deal with it.

Disclaimer: I'm not a Brexiteer. Didn't vote for Brexit or the current Tory regime. I'm just calling out media hypocrisy.

What did you think of grant chapps then op?

How could they justifiably print the story of Kinnock visiting his Father on his Birthday and staying in the path, but not run this story? That would be media bias. They've made a theme of shaming 'Covidiots', most of who weren't actually doing anything wrong. You run one story, you run them all.

No, I just often switch between names.

Is every 6 years 'often'? Time must move differently at Tory HQ for you.

No, I'm saying that if they cared about the impact on public behaviour they would never have published it.
They did publish it. Then they claimed they weren't publishing it for political reasons, but only because they cared about the impact. That is the hypocrisy.

When you say that the press are ‘responsible for whatever damage is cause’, then yourself saying that they shouldn’t have published it. You seem very unclear on your views.

Limeandsodit seems to have only joined today.

Whats that item you wear on your feet again?

That's just a free pass for the powerful then isn't it? They can do what they like but it can't be reported in case it sets a bad example and others copy it. That would be great wouldn't it? And once the story was out it's the government's response that has undermined the rules because Shapps did an Animal Farm and started rewriting the rules on live tv. Had Cummings immediately been sacked or resigned, with a statement saying he had to go because he'd broken the rules that would have reinforced the rules.

It's the government and not the Mirror/Observer that have muddied the wat5.

But look how its being covered up when it is is the public eye. Can you really imagine anything would have bene done if they had decided to have a quiet word instead.

I think it is important that it has thrown a light on this Government's priorities.

They need to flog newspapers.
Anyone who changes their behaviour simply because Dominic Cummings ignored restrictions is just as foolish as he is.

I understood that someone did have a quiet word with the police who then had a quiet word with Mr Cummings senior.

Or have I got that wrong?

The blame lies squarely with Cummings and his band of bellends who keep defending him. If he hadn’t broken his own rules numerous times so blatantly there would be no story to report. If Boris and the rest didn’t keep defending him the story wouldn’t run and run.

I’m highly sceptical of a lot of journalism but whatever the motives here I don’t think it matters in the grand scheme of things.

Mr Baker, MP for Wycombe, told Sky's Sophy Ridge programme on Sunday morning that Mr Cummings "holds in contempt any effort to hold him accountable to others" and that "no one is indispensable".

’With the damage Mr Cummings is doing to the Government’s reputation he must consider his position. Lockdown has had its challenges for everyone. It’s his cavalier “I don’t care; I’m cleverer than you” tone that infuriates people. He is now wounding the PM/Govt & I don’t like that’

Some damning statements by Tory MPs. www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/steve-baker-boris-johnson-must-sack-dominic-cummings-lockdown-a4449536.html%3famp

@Limeandsodit no need for a hard hat. I disagree that the Mirror shouldn't have published it - yes it was for political capital but it was also in the public interest. Nevertheless, yourself and the OP don't agree. No drama.

op do you think all crimes / breaches made my our "leaders" should be hushed up and kept from the public?

yabvu

Have people really reached the level of paranoia that they think Tory plants made accounts 6 years ago to then pop up in relation to a global pandemic that couldn't have even been imagined back then?

Clearly too subtle for some.

It's not a subtle argument, it's a laughable one that indicates no understanding whatsoever of the point and purpose of a free press.

Did lots of people meet up for a shag after the Neil Ferguson incident? Are people who follow the guidance, to the latter, that influenced by Tory politicians?

Surely that's the point Ponoka7. People who follow the guidance believe it's important and credible. If those responsible for it clearly don't think it has any value, it loses credibility. It's not about being influenced by politicians (neither of these people are politicians btw) but about whether the advice is valuable.

YABVVVVVU

If the Tories lose credibility and the confidence of the people through their actions, it's because of what they did. Not because of people talking about what they did.

Have people really reached the level of paranoia that they think Tory plants made accounts 6 years ago to then pop up in relation to a global pandemic that couldn't have even been imagined back then?

No, and I don't believe every pro-Tory poster is a government worker either. However, there have been a few odd 'we shouldn't be negative about the government' threads before this virus and I'm sure there will be a few after. They just seem more obvious at the moment, and I don't think anyone is so dim not to believe there are people whose job it is to defend the government on social media, either subtly or not.

No, I'm saying that if they cared about the impact on public behaviour they would never have published it.
They did publish it. Then they claimed they weren't publishing it for political reasons, but only because they cared about the impact. That is the hypocrisy.

If Cummings cared about the impact on public behaviour, he wouldn’t have broken the guidelines that he implemented. He broke the guidelines that he implemented and expects everyone to still blindly follow the guidance. I’m not usually one for defending the Daily Mail but the government absolutely should be held accountable.

Smilethoyourheartisbreaking wins!

Seriously OP, your priority is to make a stand about media hypocrisy?!

Have people really reached the level of paranoia that they think Tory plants made accounts 6 years ago to then pop up in relation to a global pandemic that couldn't have even been imagined back then?

No one has said this. What this OP probably does is dig up an old username to espouse views they are too ashamed to say using their usual username.

YABU it’s in the public interest
The message is clear to ISOLATE if you have corona not jump in the car and drive half way up the country.
The government has made everyone feel like murderers going outside!
If the newspapers got whiff of an ordinary person doing that they would have been fined and publicly vilified.
I think he’s 100% worse than Ferguson and the woman that had to stand down after visiting her second home. They never had corona and he did! If he isn’t being sacked they should be reinstated.