It’s all over now

[pontypridd]

How can anyone take this lockdown seriously anymore?

Our prime minister has just told the nation it’s fine to break the rules so long as you’re being a good parent.

Fuck it, it’s all “open to interpretation” now. If you need support, feeling under the weather, can’t face another long day with the kids, just go out and get the support you need I guess. Presuming you are up to driving XXX number of miles, of course.

Absolutely people will loosen their resolve to follow the letter or even the spirit of the rules now. Dominic Cummings won't care how much anyone else suffers. And he now knows he can do whatever he likes with impunity. I wouldn't spit on him if he was burning.

I don't think anything changes, the people who followed the rules strictly will still keep doing it. And those who thought rules don't apply to them will be happier to do as they please more openly. I just think it's up to individual to make the decision, whoever you are.

SusieOwl

Not a witch hunt. He contravened the rules he helped to write.

Dominic will be the most popular boys name next year judging by these posts.
He's clearly very popular. So many people want to be just like him. Do everything he does.
Could be worse. It's a nice name.

Tweet by Sage member

From the outside looking in, I can't help thinking that Cummings must have so much dirt on Johnson. That Tweet above says a lot about the damage done.

I can’t stand the guy but this does sound like a witch hunt.

This. I wouldn't be alone with him in a wide boulevard full of CCTV in broad daylight, but this really is a load of nonsense. He's clearly not a hands on Dad useless, but that's not a lockdown breach.

I really don't think a crafty (allegedly) psychopathic strategist who is presently on our side should be cast out at this precise time. Right when we're about to enter at minimum a new cold war (in the news today, hooray, good news keeps on coming ).

That seems like a terrible idea and really short sighted.

This is trending

I think if they had been honest from the start: "Dominic Cummings' wife has covid-19, she may become too unwell to lopk after their 4 year old. Dominic may catch it. They have no family in London and do not have space to put up a family member should the boy need care. Therefore, it has been agreed, that in accordance with the guidance, they will travel to a property owned by Mr Cummings where they can self isolate and where family is on hamd to look after their boy is they cannot do so. It is confirmed they self isolated on the journey, for their stay and on their return.

The arrangement was approved on a cade by case basis, taking into account their personal circumstances. London and Durham police were notified in advance.

Isn't hindsight marvellous.

Will add, if mineof dh's mothers had needed us, we'd have gone like a shot. 100 miles and 240 miles - and we qpuld have self isolated bit ensured their care.

Apparently the civil service is not impressed either.

I think this has been brought to light intentionally, possibly by Mr Cummings, so that people do get annoyed and start going out more. I am a cynical old bag though, so may be completely wrong.

They do have family in London though - that's one of the issues, why leave the house when infectious and drive hundreds of miles when you have family two streets away?

And for all the Boris bashers, perhaps it would be helpful to remember the alternative was prep school boy, "E at A'Level", uni drop out Jeremy, brother of Piers. Not the eminently electable Keir Starmer. If that doesn't send a shiver down the spine, I'm not sure what does.

Jeremy isn’t the opposition now though, is he? I look forward to Keir’e questioning of Bojo. Every Tory voter I know has said they’re done and won’t vote for Boris

Sarahandco

You might be onto something there. Spur the rebel shutaways into rebel lockdown abandoners.

I do think though that we have more important things to worry about. I think many people would take a calculated risk if they felt they had no choice or a close relative needed them.

Notmyrealname855

Ask them "Keir or Rishi". They won't choose Keir. The Tories already have the successor in place.

No no no.

The laws dont apply to Boris or his mates, only to the wretched surfs. Get back in your place.

I for one wish we'd gone for "chaos with Ed Milliband" when we had the chance.

If there had been a ounce of apology somewhere it might have not been so bad, but the sheer arrogance is just astounding. I thought if Cummings had gone along the lines of, 'omg we were both in a panic, couldn't think straight and now realise what we did was wrong and so sorry' it might have just been okay or at least human. But to brazen it out, tell journalists off for not socially distancing and insist he did nothing wrong...utterly outrageous. As MN says, he's shown you who he is. In fact, as MN often points out, he is gas lighting us all by telling us we have it wrong and we misunderstood.

Well nobody will have a vote until the next election. At the last one Boris took an 80 seat majority. Not many people thought he would allow the economy to be wrecked.

We don't know yet what the excess deaths for 2020 will be yet. We do know the economy is now truly and utterly fucked.

I hope not to hear one single whinge on MNet about unemployment, negative equity, repossessions, or raised taxes from anyone who has said lockdown must continue indefinitely. Ever.

It is time to go back to work and school and get the NHS treating everyone again, including MH services.

This period has reset society in the context of lower pollution, less gratuitous spending, less gratuitous travel to an holiday camp environment overseas, in some cases closer family units and more involved parents all of that is to be embraced but none of those good things can continie unless we get back to work and rationalise the risks which are slight comparatively speaking for those who need not shield.

That’s completely irrelevant though @OhTheRoses. Corbyn is not PM. Johnson is and it’s his government that are responsible and have screwed this up. I don’t know how a hypothetical different leader would send a shiver down the spine when we don’t know for second how he would have handled things.

@Ratasha - serfs. We may not presently surf in Cornwall

Well, I wouldn't trust the government, I would trust the scientists and I'd follow their advice instead.

Don't let Dominic Cummings screw us over - he wanted herd immunity, let's not give it to him until we have a vaccine.

Let's use test, trace and isolate, PPE for healthcare staff to stop them getting it at work (and spreading it), maybe face masks on public transport/supermarkets etc to slow the spread like other countries are and social distancing. There are things we can do to get out of lockdown quicker. Some countries have used testing and tracing, and social distancing and they have avoided a lockdown. If we don't get a vaccine, let's hope we get an anti-viral that will stop people getting very ill and dying.