I'm so sorry...this has been done to death and my post is quite long. But the latest development just makes me furious all over again.
An amendment today to the Health Protection Regulations mean that relatives are no longer 'childcare': www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-laws-dominic-cummings-lockdown-childcare-relatives-a9542381.html
Therefore, if you are are worried you will be unable to care for your children due to illness, it is no longer legal (if it ever was) to travel to seek help from family as Cummings did.
I must admit, I thought the (very small) silver lining to the whole sorry affair was that it apparently would be ok for my husband and I to call in relatives to help with our toddler should we become seriously ill...Before this, we had assumed that we would have to soldier on and, if hospitalised/too ill to cope, call social services. However, the Government has now changed the law to clarify that family are no longer allowed.
I could cope with this on the basis of the greater good/preventing transmission, were it not for statements by the PM/senior Conservatives defending (and practically praising) Cummings for his actions.
To remind you of a few:
- Boris - Cummings acted 'responsibly and legally and with integrity' and followed 'the instinct of every father and every parent'.
- Gove - 'What's clear is that he didn't break the law, he didn't break the rules, he sought to protect his family'.
- Shapps - 'In moments of crisis, we seek to have our family around us' and 'I think it was a straightforward arrangement which meant they stayed in the same place and prevented the possibility of the child not having support around him'.
However, none of us are permitted to act in this 'responsible' and wholly commendable way, since family childcare is now excluded. Of course the new law cannot be applied retrospectively to Cummings, who continues scot-free. So for ordinary people, the message is:
"Do as we say, not as we do, otherwise we'll arrest you. Your children don't matter like ours do and don't require the same protection and support."
I don't normally get this wound up about politics but they should all be deeply, deeply ashamed. Bunch of weasels. I hope their words come back to choke them.
Please remember when the election comes. It's a long time away.