One rule for them ...

[TheLadyAnneNeville]

Well, we have a Communities Secretary who has stood on podium at the 5pm Press Brief and urged us to Stay Home, Protect the NHS and Save Lives. He has been found to have visited his parents in Shropshire (an 80+ mile round trip) to take them some groceries. The man, Robert Jenrick, has demonstrated the “it doesn’t apply to me/I’m different” attitude that will see BBQ’s/parties/picnics happening up and down the UK, this weekend.

How are people to get the message above when those in Govt. don’t get it? It’s the “Ive visited hospitals today and shaken hands with COVID19 patents” from Boris. And look where that got him.

And we ordinary folk are being vilified for not shopping essential items only. Police waiting to rummage through our shopping baskets to check we haven’t put contraband in there alongside the bread and milk. I don’t get it.

I’ve struck to the rules ridgidly. Haven’t shopped for a week now but will need to go to Boots tomorrow to collect DH’s diabetic meds. What’s the point if Mr Jenrick just “nips” to visit mum and dad?

He did decamp his family. They live in London.

@goldpartyhat, I didn’t say it was ok for the Scottish Health advisor to visit her second home. Please, have a read through would you? I simply do not believe that the mercy dash of a multimillionaire property magnate who is a communities Secretary could not arrange for his parents to receive their groceries/meds from any other source. It has been said, many times up thread that in actual fact, they were well looked after “locally”. He did what HE wanted, because the rules don’t apply to him personally and was found out. This time.

And do stop raving about my political bias. That is for me to know. Would you like it if I referred to you as a fat cat Tory supporter? I don’t think, personally, that this government, who gave us austerity (and look where that’s left us!) give a fig about those less comfortable than themselves.

@FaFoutis it seems @goldpartyhathas something of a “soft spot” for Mr Jenrick.

It's common thing among the pensioners here (I'm currently in his constituency, hoping he'll 'consider his position'). The oiling and fawning is a thing to behold. That's when there's an election of course, he's never here otherwise.

@FaFoutis... why does that not surprise me? I know that under the rules, he’s entitled to the 2K tax payers money for his London property whilst parliament is in session but again, it just shows the disconnect, that a man with his wealth and property portfolio would not do the right thing, morally. I think, you should be made to live within the constituency you represent. I don’t mean frogmarched up there, u Dee house arrest, to do his job but having so many homes (huge properties) and taking state money because HE chooses to live where he lives, is just bloody wrong.

He should go, like the Scottish lady, but these Tories are, mostly, slippery types.

You know, I might take my dog out for a second walk this afternoon. I get up at just before 7am to walk her and let her off lead, before the park gets busy; she does enjoy a run and it’s too hot by 11am. Might do. Or, I might just do the right f*g thing and throw a ball for her, in the garden.

Yes, he should be forced to live in his constituency. 2K is a huge rent here, it's hardly going to be a dump. Mind you, I'm not missing him.

Re. the dog walk decision: you should imitate your betters and do what the fuck you like. A third walk? No problem, as long as it's not your 'main' walk.

@goldpartyhat... he DID decamp. Any smart/goady reply in that?

@FaFoutis... I’m ashamed to say, I’m a Northern lass. Grew up in Hertfordshire but born in Manchester where earlier in the week, some 600 parties/BBQs were attended by HM Constabulary. I listened to a phone in radio station where thick northerners were castigated for their atrocious behaviour. Some people were asking “what do we need to do? There are people who clearly do not have the mental capacity to understand and comply with the rules”.

And then we have multimillionaire, Cambridge educated lawyer turned Govt. Minister advising us.... then doing precisely what he wants. I’d love to have been a fly on the wall when Dominic Raab told him that he’d have to stand up and possibly defend Jenrick’s action today, at 5pm. Or tomorrow. Or whenever. I’d imagine the air was blue.

😂 That sounds like the Manchester police force were partying, themselves! I meant they were called and had to end 600+ social gatherings.

Oh and the police are NOT rummaging through shopping baskets ffs.

But any excuse to bash the Tories, moan about Brexit etc.....

People complaining about police potentially doing this are complaining about the police, not the government. The Tories have actually been very clear in their response that this would not be acceptable. So it seems more like you're the one taking any excuse to moan about a certain group.

I expect Raab does a good line in nasty looks and a frosty atmosphere. Jenrick will be crying in the toilets.

I wonder if the social gatherings are just a different response to fear, thick northerners (of which I am one, from north east ex-mining town) are emotional people.

@TheLadyAnneNeville @FaFoutis He moved his family out of London before the lockdown came into force. Is he not allowed to protect his family?

No soft spot for chunky guys I'm afraid. So not my type. Never even heard of him until this incident.

Your issue is clearly with his millionaire lifestyle and multiple properties. It's blinding you to the fact he obeyed the rules. Even Anna Soubry admits he was not breaking the rules to deliver medicines.

I'm not a supporter of any particular political party since the Lib Dem's betrayed the basic tenants of democracy and supported trans rights over women's rights and denied us a second Brexit referendum.

Sorry but this is the guy initially in favour of remain who later voted to leave the Eu without a deal and also not to get an extension. What do people really expect

chunky guys : that's mean goldparty! It gets even more chunky when he wears his off-duty white jeans.

@goldpartyhat, then if Ms Soubry concurs, who am I to argue?

I should have hoped that Mr Jenrick, in such a vital government role and with the local community looking after his parents, would have acted with a little more care/tact. He made the journey and I do not think for one moment that his parent’s wellbeing is solely and absolutely reliant upon him. Should we desperately require him later in the crisis I’d be concerned he may have nipped out for a Warburtons Toastie and pint of milk, to deliver urgently to his mum and dad. Possibly, he needs to consider his position, in light of this.

I suppose yes, I do have a thing about the massive divide between wealth/poverty in the UK. That those who “have” squeeze the “have nots” til there’s little left. Unthinkable to some, I suppose.

@Kurzgesagt 😂😂😂 Christ! One of those on the fence then. No real principles just waiting to see which side’s doing best in the voting.

I am not in any way surprised. Tory party’s full of ‘em!

He is driving to his second home frequently, not just before the lockdown. He has two (count 'em) houses in London he could stay in.

Anna Soubry said he has "selfish arrogance", she thinks he is a little shit.

TheLadyAnneNeville

@How2Help ... because unless it’s for exceptional circumstances, we’re supposed to live, shop, exercise and function within a 2 kilometre area. I guess it boils down to “do I really believe no one else could help this couple?” And for me, as an individual, I do not. People are not allowed to be with their loved ones receiving end of life care now. Never mind delivering supplies.

Nowhere have I read anything about a 2k limit. And I have just re-checked. I don’t have ANY shops within 2k of me so I would need volunteers to deliver food to me (let alone my parents) or get a delivery under this under this ‘rule’ (despite the fact I’m healthy and can drive). Nobody has been able to legitimately explain how I am not following the rules in spirit or in letter and until that happens I will continue delivering food to my parents when needed.

Issues about a 2nd home, switching his main residence etc seem to me to be separate issues (and important). They are separate to whether his stated reasons are allowed or not. What he SAID he is doing is what I am doing. The Shadow Minister has said that would be fine. The police told me I was fine.

I have not found a loophole. I am not bending the rules for me. I do not think I exist outside the rules. I am in no way increasing the risk of transmission beyond what it would otherwise be. So I shall carry on unless someone can demonstrate I should not, or the rules change.

NRTFT but his parents' neighbours say they were already delivering essentials to the parents.

*He did nothing wrong. And neither are many other people doing this safely.

Your political bias is talking here. The Scottish minister who went to a holiday cottage is a clear case of flouting the rules because they feel entitled to*

If anyone’s political bias is showing, I don’t think it’s OP’s.

Fat men in white jeans 🤮

As to him travelling from his family home to work.... people are still allowed to work in essential jobs and I guess housing is pretty essential. Should he stay in London or work from home to protect his family? Yes. But that's nothing to do with taking medicines to elderly parents.

Well thank God for that! Along with Dominic Grieve and Ken Clarke, I always thought Soubry was sensible.

And this, His [Jenrick’s] response to the national crisis with regard to housing safety following the Grenfell tragedy has been criticised as demonstrating a misunderstanding of the issue, alongside his reluctance to engage with representatives of the many thousands of British citizens whose lives remain at risk.. Really understands his role, doesn’t he?

@TheLadyAnneNeville No one said he wasn't a total dick. Just that he's doing what people are doing everywhere and looking out for their parents. He is a total dick!

He’s clearly a typical Tory, for me. Rich, educated, upper class privileged and as such does what he wants.

Anyone who believes that he had to deliver the goods to his parents, no one else could, are delusional. He did, what he’s telling everyone else not to.

@goldpartyhat

He may have moved the family up there before the lockdown, but he himself has been in London.

Do you you really think that if someone had asked him 'I have been living in my London home and in contact with known cases...is it ok to move between my home there and my home 150 miles away where the rest of my family have set themselves up for lockdown?' ...he would have said yes? No way. On the other hand if someone had said 'my wife is based 40 miles from my parents and they really need supplies, can she go?' I think they would have been told she could but should exhaust every other option first.

If his wife and children did not want to be separated from him they had the very easy choice to remain as a household in London throughout.