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AIBU?

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Original poster

Matt Hancock is being done up like a Kipper!

275 replies

JackieWeaverHandforthCouncil · 26/05/2021 13:26

This (Cummings testimony) is starting to sound like a proper set up.

People were joking last year that Hancock would be made the fall guy for everything.

OP posts:
FangsForTheMemory · 26/05/2021 19:30

It was Hancock who told Rosena Allin-Khan MP that her tone was inappropriate (it wasn't: she was doing her job) so I haven't the least sympathy with him, the nasty piece of work, and I hope Rosena is watching. www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2020/may/05/hancock-tells-labour-mp-to-watch-her-tone-over-covid-19-testing-questions-video

StoneofDestiny · 26/05/2021 19:32

Cummings, Hancock, Johnson - they all deserve each other. We, however, don't deserve them!

Eskarina1 · 26/05/2021 19:35

I loved the revelation that Boris Johnson was told cabinet wasn't set up to deal with someone who came to cabinet meetings and lied (referring to Hancock).

I would have thought it was designed to deal with exactly that.

jacks11 · 26/05/2021 19:43

Possibly. But I do believe that a fair proportion of what Cummings said was close to the truth. It was clear to those of us within healthcare that all was not quite as politicians/DoH would have had us believe and planning was chaotic (not entirely unreasonable- pandemic may aren’t easy/routine). It was quite clear that the pandemic plans that were stressed tested a few years before the actual pandemic hit were flawed (one thing highlighted was plans were incomplete and there were also issues with PPE store as well as procurement/distribution, for instance).

The government really mismanaged much of this. Hopefully all will be held to account. The success of the vaccine roll out is likely to provide protection, unfortunately, and Boris does appear to be Teflon coated. The fact it’s success has nothing to do with the alleged brilliance of Hancock or Johnson seems to bypass too many.

Londonmummy66 · 26/05/2021 19:55

Not sure why people are disagreeing with Cummings saying he's not clever - he isn't that bright - he can never see the bigger picture.

Thedogscollar · 26/05/2021 20:09

I wonder if Dominic Cummings expose would have made any difference to the latest local election results?

Labour need to get on with putting their agenda out there and get rid of the worst government we have had in a long, long time.

frumpety · 26/05/2021 20:16

Johnson needed Cummings. Probably still does. Wouldn't suprise me in the least if he is still 'working' for him.

TeamRick · 26/05/2021 20:16

@jacks11

Possibly. But I do believe that a fair proportion of what Cummings said was close to the truth. It was clear to those of us within healthcare that all was not quite as politicians/DoH would have had us believe and planning was chaotic (not entirely unreasonable- pandemic may aren’t easy/routine). It was quite clear that the pandemic plans that were stressed tested a few years before the actual pandemic hit were flawed (one thing highlighted was plans were incomplete and there were also issues with PPE store as well as procurement/distribution, for instance).

The government really mismanaged much of this. Hopefully all will be held to account. The success of the vaccine roll out is likely to provide protection, unfortunately, and Boris does appear to be Teflon coated. The fact it’s success has nothing to do with the alleged brilliance of Hancock or Johnson seems to bypass too many.

It rings true for me too! I'm a Civil Servant & not a high ranking one but the detail around out of date risk registers, whiteboards being wheeled around and numbers on bits of paper being added up with a calculator on someones's mobile phone, not locking down earlier because there wasn't actually a lock down plan!

10 years of Tory Austerity, every Dept cut to the bone including the NHS! We were never going to be in a good place for something like this! Never mind with BJ & cronies running the show!

aquashiv · 26/05/2021 20:20

Once again Johnson stumbles out of the burning building with a smile.

tobee · 26/05/2021 20:21

@StoneofDestiny

Cummings, Hancock, Johnson - they all deserve each other. We, however, don't deserve them!

On the contrary, we the electorate, do deserve them. As the electorate voted them in.

HandInGove · 26/05/2021 20:51

Absolutely agree how vulnerable the years of Tory austerity cuts to local government, central government departments have made us as a country. And there being no credible opposition to sort this out either at the moment (and I’m a Labour voter) it’s really depressing to think the Tories will probably get away with it at the next election.

Also agree with what Turtle said:
Gove is VERY quiet atm, lining himself up for PM once the cult of Boris finally falls apart. To see the complete absence of morality or principle in our government, as a direct result of politics being reduced to single-issue (Brexit - either for or against) is the worst thing to happen to this country for a long time.

jasjas1973 · 26/05/2021 20:57

But Cummings absolutely trashed Johnson too.

DC praised Sunak and Raab.

I don't know how much is true or not (care homes and PPE definitely is) but DC was right when he said something is very wrong when the choice is Johnson or Corbyn for PM.

Though that begs the question why did DC back Johnson?

pussycatlickinglollyices · 26/05/2021 21:12

Re Sunak and EOTHO

Does anyone else find it interesting that DC could remember soooo much detail and dates about other conversations, but anything to do with EOTHO he had a complete mind block over?

Funny that...

the80sweregreat · 26/05/2021 21:17

@pussycatlickinglollyices

Re Sunak and EOTHO

Does anyone else find it interesting that DC could remember soooo much detail and dates about other conversations, but anything to do with EOTHO he had a complete mind block over?

Funny that...

Hmm. Very strange wasn't it?
Unsure33 · 26/05/2021 21:20

So DC leaked information to journalists deliberately …….if he was that contentious why not leak it to Starmer , then he could have provided some sort of opposition , which he did not at the time . He just agreed with all decisions and then criticised later .

cosima8 · 26/05/2021 21:27

They are all appalling and I actually can’t bear any more of any of them. But when is someone going to speak out about Gavin Williamson. The gormless wonder - how is he still in a job??????

cosima8 · 26/05/2021 21:30

Let’s hope this is the beginning of the whole story unravelling and the cult of Boris can see they’ve been duped into. Duped into Brexit. Duped into everything since.

LizzieW1969 · 26/05/2021 21:41

The problem is that Gove and Sunak are probably going to instigate a leadership challenge against Boris, meaning that his mismanagement of the pandemic will have been long forgotten. It will be conveniently overlooked by the Tory Party that they were in the Cabinet and therefore share some of the responsibility for the decisions made.

PinkPomeranian · 26/05/2021 21:49

@cosima8

They are all appalling and I actually can’t bear any more of any of them. But when is someone going to speak out about Gavin Williamson. The gormless wonder - how is he still in a job??????
THIS! I haven't seen his name come up at all. How has he escaped notice?!
ItscoldinAlaska · 26/05/2021 21:54

Lots of silent Johnson fans tonight.

This whole thing just shows how UK politics has been doomed by footballisation. Johnson 'fans' are so loyal because he's a 'lad', a 'lengend' who got 'Brexit done', he was on the winning team and now that team has been exposed by the manager to be built on a house of cards that doesn't give a fuck about people's lives. Will they be bothered? I don't know. I suspect that being in the winning side us enough to sooth their egos enough to accept it. I mean, after all, if you treat the public servants who are their to govern for you as your 'team' who get your support at all costs, rather than there to govern in your behalf you are coming at politics with an emotional response and ego that defies logic and pragmatism. Johnson has that in his armour. Does Gove? I don't know. But Sunak might...

the80sweregreat · 26/05/2021 21:54

Obviously Cummings didn't care much about schools or Gavin Williamson to give him the time of day!
He must be thinking ' I'm off the hook here'

purplefoxglove · 26/05/2021 21:56

It was much too committed to Rabb and Sunak - everyone will have made mistakes but these two were apparently perfect. He's a lying manipulative little shit...the Cabinet aren't to tar behind - fucking voting system leaves us with this shit.

ItscoldinAlaska · 26/05/2021 21:56

So many typos as I have been staring at Covid data all day at work Confused

BlowDryRat · 26/05/2021 22:04

Cummings could say that Boris held orgies at #10 throughout lockdown and no one would believe him enough to care. The man's a backstabbing weasel. As are Boris and Give! Everyone knew Hancock wasn't up to the job anyway.

ragged · 26/05/2021 22:08

Nothing will change. Johnson will stay in power.

Probably get re-elected with similar size majority in May 2024.
In a popularity contest, Johnson wins, DC loses.
I would not be surprised if DC is working for Johnson again soon.

I'm a total political anorak & am finding some other political saga to follow tonight. Belarus, anyone?