DS statement on Cummings is shameful

[SouthWestmom]

Basically I am sceptical about how terrible this could be to get for all of us - the mild illness stuff has been dropped as not helpful to the general lock us all up thing.

Regardless as a law abiding person I've stuck to the rules.

Which I thought meant you had to self isolate if you had symptoms and no, you couldn't go somewhere easier. If you had kids you all stayed in together, relied on deliveries or the local council support schemes and 111 if it was bad.

So I'm sickened by the knot tying in getting Cummings off the hook.

His wife wrote a column about their illnesses in the spectator (she works for them) and said they stayed in London as a household. She also told this utterly fabricated story on Radio 4.

Journalistic integrity is important. She should lose her job over this too.

I used to be a lawyer.

The man is a turd

Do you think what Cummings did was wrong?

Not in the same way as Prof Ferguson and Scotland's Chief Medical Officer, no, for reasons I have already stated. I don't like Dominic Cummings myself so I don't mind if he goes, but I can see how he might have stayed inside the guidelines as they were in March.

Another adding a 👏👏👏👏👏 for pretzel. Although I have to embarrassingly admit I don't know about bodies, Russian report and American secret. Any links?

@ZaZathecat unfortunately, PMQs isn't going ahead this week because of the Whitsun break. Parliament isn't sitting until 2nd June.

@Clavinova Do you think Mary Wakefield (Dominic's wife) was right to write a completely fictitious spectator column about their time in Lockdown in London?

Well it will be interesting to see what Grant Shapps and Jenny Harries have to say at 4pm.

Oh Sanaa I forgot, how disappointing. And how convenient for Boris. I'll just have to watch Hancock squirm at the daily briefing today, but it's a poor substitute and much easier for him to sidestep the questions

Why did they drive all the way to Durham when Mary's brother lives in Holland Park ?

Hmm. That Robert Preston article seems a bit at odds with this tweet quoted on another thread
twitter.com/Peston/status/1264178461628870658?s=20
Is it because DC's wife also writes for the Spectator

What time is the daily briefing today, please ?

Well it will be interesting to see what Grant Shapps and Jenny Harries have to say at 4pm.

Is Johnson ever going to appear at another briefing? Why the fuck is he not taking responsibility, like other nations' leaders?

How is driving to a different household with 2 adults with CV19 for childcare within the guidelines?

Stay at home, save lives, protect the NHS.

Ah, cross posted. 4pm.

Tbf Keir doesn't forget things after a week, so I hope he brings this up next time he does PMQs.

The single most irritating factor about DC is how much power he holds despite being unelected. Yes, of course I understand that there always has been and always will be advisors to the government, but he tends to flaut his position as a top advisor.

He should absolutely resign or be sacked - other advisors have done so for less.

Can anyone clarify some aspects of this -

Do the Cummings family have one child or two? I've seen a reference to a baby. And how old is the child?

If his wife was already ill, did she go on this journey with him? Does she drive and did she share the driving?

Ah, so Grant Shapps drew the short straw today.
Will be the first time I watch.
PMQs will be interesting this week - must buy some popcorn...

Jeremy Corbyn visited the Chinese community in Manchester for a photo opportunity in February - a show of solidarity because Manchester is twinned with Wuhan - he could be a super-spreader for all we know - having travelled to Bristol and elsewhere afterwards.

Are you honestly suggesting that Chinese people in Manchester were infectious because of being "twinned" with Wuhan?

He LEFT his wife on her own whilst she was ill with covid...

No. They both drove up the A1 with their kid to 'live in a different property' or if you believe Durham Plod, live in the big house with dad, or possibly a bit of both.

Any suggestion in her article that she was locked down in London was a misinterpretation on your part.

People making stuff up at the Speccie? Fair makes you nostalgic for the days of the old editor, who once said of one of MW's predecessors as commissioning editor, pat her on the bum and tell her to go away.

If Ferguson (an advisor) had to resign for doing something much less risky, why shouldn't DC, who is also an advisor.
Little chance of that. There are many mps coming to his defence now wow!
I am surprised at AG getting involved.is that a political position?

They will say that

as I'm sure we would all do as good parents, Dominic did the right thing for his family at the right time.

Sorry I read that as Jenny defending DV today! Apologies.
I'm still angry though.

Background to the story .....
www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/23/lockdown-row-key-points-cummings-and-johnson-must-address