Dominic Cummings travelled from London to Durham to self isolate

[chomalungma]

Seen running out of Downing Street
Went to self isolate with his wife in Durham with his parents when he had symptoms
Seems he had his family with him
He stayed with his wife and his parents looked after the children

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52779356

One rule for us, one rule for him

It wasn't 260 miles and s/he didn't have symptoms either.

ILikeSardines you're right about the lack of accountability and the reluctance of those "found out" to resign, but not that Trump led the concept
You'd have to go back a LONG way - probably to the late 50s or early 60s - to find this happening in any numbers, even remembering that things were much easier to hide in the days before easy communications and later the internet

These days you'd need an industrial hoist to get their noses out of the trough, and with the government's large majority they know it's just not going to happen

OK. I have just watched the press briefing, and Iam summarising a little, it is ok to make alternative arrangements if there are safeguarding concerns about a vulnerable person and that vulnerable person could be a child.

Are they really arguing that Cummings, would put his child at risk if he looked after him. His wife being ill.

Now government ministers are retrospectively telling us that the rules were optional

Gaslighting 101

And they do LOVE changing rules retrospectively.

Anyone else remember the Cait Reilly workfare Poundland case?

Unbelievable. They moved the goal posts during the briefing to suit the Govt lies.

AlovelybitofsquirrelJackie Thank you

Now government ministers are retrospectively telling us that the rules were optional

Fucking Dan Hodges said no laws had been broken and is optional

So you heard it here people. Any fines that have been issued should be null and void

The guy who was told off for standing in his own garden needs to take a complaint even further. So does anyone who had their shopping inspected.

Am Mner posted that she was stopped by police on the way back from the corner shop. Which is harassment either way but if this was all optional even worse right?

So lawyers get ready!

Now government ministers are retrospectively telling us that the rules were optional

Forgive me asking an obvious question, but if that's the case, what were all the fines for??

I feel so angry after watching that briefing. I actually feel the rallying round by the Cabinet is a bigger scandal than the actions of Dominic Cummings.

Public health takes second place to protecting that weasel's job.

I am so so angry about this. My husband and I are both likely to lose our jobs in the huge recession that's about to hit us and that has probably been deepened by the inevitable loosening of the lockdown that will follow this wanker's behaviour.

Honestly this has really floored me. I feel exhausted and despondent.

So Dominic Cummings didn’t have symptoms at the time , only his wife. Therefore as many parents have done and still do (if fortunate to have 2 parents and if not the single parent often struggles on) the other parent takes over. Can we surmise that Cummings 4yr old child was at risk because he had to be cared for by Cummings?! And another point, did Cummings drive 260 miles with a 4yr old in tow and didn’t need to stop at a service station? Would love to know how if he didn’t. We always get are we nearly there yet? I’m hungry! and I need a pee!

I actually feel the rallying round by the Cabinet is a bigger scandal than the actions of Dominic Cummings

I wouldn't disagree, but given he's probably got a file on all of them it would be a brave MP who led any challenge
As a PP said, they're not protecting Cummings - they're protecting themselves

Amazing coincidence that it was his mother's 71st birthday during the time he was to ill to look after his child / well enough to drive on major roads at high speeds with his wife who was sick / not sick.

they're protecting themselves
and this must be very obvious to journalists who like to get forensic and dig to see what they can uncover

Then from now on we must all be the deciders of what is a risk when deciding on our behaviour during this lockdown and give up listening to all the 'advice'.

It's unbelievable how many times Shapps said 'family' in the daily briefing - 'he was going to family', 'the family were there so that's where he went', etc when we've all been explicitly told not to flock to family, not to leave our primary residence and to rely on friends, neighbours and community support groups instead.

The general public have been cut off from their families for months and now we're told that it's fine to go to them instead and we could have been doing this all along?

The gaslighting is incredible - the rules said quite clearly not to travel to another property even for isolation purposes.

I honestly think it’s about time, all politicians were subject to security clearance like everyone else with access to information they have. So DV and above. You can bloody well guarantee people with big skeletons in ‘normal jobs’ wouldn’t get a sniff of DV or above. This is why. So people don’t cover up, bend the rules or have anything on them which is blackmail worthy. I literally cannot fathom what the fuck everyone is doing defending him, he must have some serious crap on people.

Who would have thought we have a bunch of lying , low life mendacious politicians and their cronies in power and they have nearly 5 years left on the clock.

#BUTATLEASTTHEYRENOTCORBYN

it is ok to make alternative arrangements if there are safeguarding concerns about a vulnerable person and that vulnerable person could be a child.

Yes, the rules do say that providing assistance to a vulnerable person is acceptable (as in "a reasonable excuse" to use the actual wording in the legislation). They have always said this.

I came to my parents just before my dad died and that would have been the premise I used had I been stopped. I accepted that having come here I'd be here for the duration, I can't just keep coming and going.

But it's clear from the known facts that this was not what Cummings did.

Was this done in purpose? They have got quiet about DC trip but it is only out now when the government is trying to fight resistance to lift the lockdown too quickly?

Very convenient move and timing, now everybody will want to end the lockdown because if it ok for DC, it should be okay for everyone else?

Just saying. Psychopaths do not make (basic) mistakes. He may have done all that and it won’t have been in the news. Why is it now all out when the government is facing so much rebellion about reopening schools?

Shame the care homes didnt get the same protective ring around them that Dominic Cummings has.

More people might have survived.

I had an OP deleted by MN because I said I wasn't following the rules because I was going to use common sense instead.

I didn't realise this qualified me for a post as Senior Adviser to the PM.

Then from now on we must all be the deciders of what is a risk when deciding on our behaviour during this lockdown and give up listening to all the 'advice'

I have been doing this all along. It has been quite clear that the 'advice' is flawed.

Dominics protective ring is way more impressive than the average care homes one. I bet most care home managers are seething !

I don't think they ever intended or needed everyone to follow the rules. As long as the plebs did it was always OK for the more educated types to use "common sense".

I've learned an awful lot these last few weeks, all my life I've been compliant and followed the dictat of authority. Feeling really stupid now.