To not understand the outrage at Dominic Cummings?

[Wow123]

Please don’t flame me for this. I’m not posting this to be controversial. I am someone who always tries to see the good in people which has been to my detriment at time’s in the past so I’m very well aware that maybe I’m missing something here and being too kind when he possibly doesn’t deserve it.

My understanding is that Dominic Cummings is saying that he only returned to Durham on one occasion which was because he had fears about potentially being unable to look after his child if him and his wife both ended up too unwell with Covid. I can understand the logic in that.

I appreciate the government advice at that stage was to stay home but if he genuinely didn’t have anyone to help with his son, then I can understand his fears and that he was trying to put his child first as any parent would.

My understanding is that a matter of days after, the government did clarify that travelling in the event of needing support with children if you had caught covid was an exceptional circumstance and that travel in that instance was acceptable.

I personally live hundreds of miles from family and don’t have anyone I could ask for help in the local area was I to become unwell with Covid so this does resonate with me.

I understand that there were sightings of Dominic Cummings on other dates in Durham which indicate that he travelled back up there. If this is true, I definitely agree that he needs to be sacked, but at this stage, there is no proof of this.

Am I missing something here?

Vanhi those getting upset about guidelines being flouted, are the same people who'll advise an OP to mind their own business when a neighbour is having a party, and will slag off the government because they don't agree to the guidelines.

you're getting desperate now. Since you're in the tiny minority ( 0.1%) and couldn't possibly know what all the rest think.

VenusTiger did you listen to the briefing? Was there not an element of what are you talking about whilst you listened

It’s not simply about the ‘rule flouting’, for me anyway. It’s the reality of Johnson standing at the podium backing him. Because he had a ‘long chat’.

I'm sure it's not great for his four year old, but the fault is entirely with Dominic Cummings. People wouldn't be so angry with him if he wasn't so arrogant. If he had admitted that he broke the guidelines and said that he understood why people would be annoyed about it, people would have been mildly pissed off but not furious. Instead he just denied doing anything wrong and showed his general contempt for all the people up and down the country who have suffered under lockdown.

The only people who cannot see the problem with Dominic Cumming actions are choosing not to see it due to politics. If it was a member of another political party they would suddenly see much clearer.

Taking politics out of it, what he did was wrong and will cost lives.

The Government cannot post this, expect everyone to follow the rules, say he did no wrong, then remove the message and not expect a backlash.

those getting upset about guidelines being flouted, are the same people who'll advise an OP to mind their own business when a neighbour is having a party, and will slag off the government because they don't agree to the guidelines.

Cobblers. I am upset, but I wouldn't do either of the other two.

those getting upset about guidelines being flouted, are the same people who'll advise an OP to mind their own business when a neighbour is having a party, and will slag off the government because they don't agree to the guidelines.

Do feel free to collect the evidence and prove this is the case, rather than just asserting it and assuming I'll believe it.

This is a Tweet by Christine Hardman, the Bishop of Newcastle:

We can forgive mistakes and poor judgement and can understand and admire loyalty but forgiveness and understanding need openness and we did not see this tonight.

This is my problem with the situation. Well, one of my problems.

I’m another who doesn’t think the problem is necessarily with Dominic Cummings - he broke the rules and he’s in the public eye so, following the Catherine Calderwood fiasco he probably should have been sacked. Although she at least had the grace to apologise. The problem for me is that the government backed him to the hilt - even pretending that the rules were open to interpretation for concerned parents and anyone who didn’t ignore the rules should have done, in ordered to be as excellent a parent as Dominic Cummings. Just outright lies and bluster and it’s absolutely ridiculous.

It was for his sister and nieces to care for his son, wasn't it? Not his parents.

And maybe that is who his son is more comfortable with?

I am trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. I am not convincing myself.

so the rule maker stops being human

No, but the rule-maker who flouts his own rules should expect to be called out on it.

Me and Dh have both had suspected covid (at a similar time to DC when tests weren't available hence suspected). My parents live 3 miles away but I never dreamt of asking them to have their grandchildren because I knew the chances were the children would be carrying the virus and I wouldn't put my parents at risk. We muddled through with lots of ipad time! Luckily, although, we felt pretty rough (and definitely too ill to drive 200+ miles) we weren't hospitalised - if it had come to that and we were both seriously ill and I felt my child's safety was at risk then I would have looked for childcare locally - finding someone who was not in a vulnerable category, putting the least number of people at risk.

The guidelines were very clear and the fact they are now trying to make out that they weren't is gaslighting.

so the rule maker stops being human

All the better to make a statement based on a human mistake then. Instead of getting Johnson to cover for him and irritating the vast majority of the public.

The point is he has a four year old child. And although he broke the rules and should resign (but won't) I won't support the braying mob because I am not hypocritical and know I would have called on family help in a similar situation. Ideally got them to come to me but if I had felt well enough to drive, taken the 4 year old to them.

The point is, would you have instructed everyone else they couldn't do it or people would die due to their actions, then do it yourself?

The outpouring of hate and negativity over this weirdly upsets me more than the act

Presumably that the reason for the outpouring of hate and negativity is not so much because DC travelled 260 miles from home whilst probably infected with C19 but that the government and DC have spun this as an act of integrity, good parenting and a common sense interpretation of the rules, when we can all plainly see that this is actually a dishonest interpretation of the rules.

This will definitely undermine the governments efforts to keep people at home over the next few weeks. I can't imagine the track and trace project going very well.

One rule for them, one rule for us. Lying, two faced hypocrites. How can anyone justify what he did? Of course everyone would want to do similar, but you know, we listened to the government...more fool us.

Anyone know what time DC’s statement will be?

DC headlines are dominating the news, and various threads on here too, this story is completely overshadowing much more important news and issues. It's getting a bit much now.

the man who took his vulnerable child to a familiar setting on a tank of fuel
That didn’t happen. Are you uninformed, or deliberately lying?

the sheet volume of hate directed his way is shocking and a bit scary to be honest
No, the sheer volume of lying, gaslighting Tory bots is shocking and a bit scary.

This should be good www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52798632

Cummings is to make a statement himself and take questions.

Good. I’m glad he’s doing the statement.

Yes op. You are missing lots as put by others.

20 pages of Cummings Derangement Syndrome later, I still agree with you OP.

DC headlines are dominating the news, and various threads on here too, this story is completely overshadowing much more important news and issues. It's getting a bit much now

That's the trouble when you lie. The lie becomes much bigger than the initial problem.

That's the trouble when you lie. The lie becomes much bigger than the initial problem.

It was dud move by Johnson. But Cummings lost it and could only write a glowing report about himself which Johnson had to read out.

It’ll be interesting hear him to speak I don’t think I have yet.

Has Sturgeon been asked about Cummings in the briefing now on?