Dominic Cummings using his child's autism as an excuse

[Almahart]

So it looks as if the next excuse to be wheeled out is that Dominic Cumming's child is autistic.

My child is autistic. I know many families with autistic children.

This is what I have heard of happening for these families during Coronavirus:

• no school (yes I know schools should be taking vulnerable children. But many are not)
• no respite
• no transport to school even if they are open
• regular activities cancelled
• the fear that provision provided by local authorities through Education Health and Care Plans and suspended under the Coronavirus Act will slowly disappear

I know of many single parents alone with their child who are seriously struggling and who did not break the rules during lockdown.

To use autism as an excuse is beyond low. It is revolting and has made me even angrier than I was before

my instinct is to lamp anyone who pisses me off and grab what I want in the shop without paying
I dont follow my instincts because I am a human being who wants to be part of a civil society

Turns out he isn't autistic at all. Started as a Twitter rumour from an account that has now been deleted. Hmmmm

@Jly72 I think DC was behind the autistic story - it was put out on Twitter to see how it would go down - apparently a standard tactic of his given that his MO is manipulating social media - and when the answer to that question was very badly indeed they didn’t run it. Because quite honestly whether his son is autistic or not isn’t relevant at all.

Did any of you who are writing on this thread actually listen to his interview? There have been hoards of journalists outside his home for months and protesters shouting abuse since lockdown. He did not broadcast where he was as he didn't want the media hounding his family too, which has happened now. If he doesn't have a nanny how would it be possible to get emergency childcare for an autistic child at such short notice. He drove to Durham where he knew his sister was able to help. He put no-one else in danger and did not spread the virus to anyone else. He did not endanger his elderly parents as they stayed in an empty cottage. The walk in the woods was within the boundary of the property. The only thing he did wrong was the trip to Barnard Castle but thousands of others went out on Easter Sunday too.

Did any of you who are writing on this thread actually listen to his interview?

Yes thanks

You don't know his child has autism. That was something that appeared on Twitter and the account was deleted. No one actually cares.

Plus if people were outside his house shouting then there are protocols for that and security.

Plus people were in lockdown. They weren't allowed on the streets.

Plus he went home when Mary was sick, then returned to work whilst apparently there were people making threats outside his home. Then went home again. Then decided to go to Durham in case he got ill.

We listened to the breifing did you? Because at no point was needing specific childcare for an autistic child used as an excuse. He said his neices had offered and admitted he didn't even enquire about possible childcare in London.

That was meant to say no one knows not cares!

Did any of you who are writing on this thread actually listen to his interview?

Is that you, Mary?

D.C. is like those husbands caught having an affair and only admitting what the wife already knows. I want to know the whole story.

Oh yes, 'It was just a quick trip up north, it didn't mean anything,' - 'Ok it was two trips but I didn't think you'd even be bothered about it,' - 'Jesus, don't you trust me? You're fucking nuts you are.'

D.C. is like those husbands caught having an affair and only admitting what the wife already knows.

That's exactly what I've been thinking throughout this.

lol @nannyapp20 did YOU listen to the briefing?

You must have missed the part where his wife - infected with covid - and his son - exposed to covid - spent the night in a HOSPITAL of all places. How you can be so sure he harmed no one and infected no one is a mystery given DC and this shambles of a govt have failed to implement any kind of track and trade programme yet.

Oh and @nannyapp20 the “only thing he did wrong” as you put it was a clear breach of the lockdown rules and even on his own version a completely reckless and idiotic thing to do.

He did not broadcast where he was as he didn't want the media hounding his family too, which has happened now.

There is no doubt that the journalists outside his house have broken lockdown rules and I have huge amounts of sympathy for his neighbours, some of whom, in the circumstances, may be very ill.

However, I have exactly as much sympathy for DC as he expressed for MPs who were receiving threats last autumn.

These bots have the worst names

The only thing he did wrong was the trip to Barnard Castle but thousands of others went out on Easter Sunday too.

And millions more have been made to feel like mugs because they obeyed the rules, even when it wasn't in the interests, because they had listened to the message - protect the NHS, save lives - and not scanned the rules in search of a get out clause or come up with stupid excuses about eye tests.

[quote DaisyLavender]@Mirinska can I just get this right- so, you actually believe every word of Cummings' statement????? [/quote]
To be honest I don’t know Dominic Cummings or what he may or may not have done neither I guess do many others making judgements on him and his actions. I do know that there were false stories in the media for example about the alleged second trip supposed sighting from an anonymous source and the false account of what the police had done and said which was later corrected by the police investigator in line with what DC said. People used those fake stories to accuse DC of being a liar. They were wrong. There is a track record of journalists especially tabloid ones making up stories so unless there is evidence to back up allegations, I don’t feel it’s appropriate to challenge someone’s statement and accuse them of lying. That’s the standard of the legal system of a civilised society and also the principle of natural justice.

There are so many people putting others at risk by not social distancing or wearing masks in enclosed spaces that are never challenged. It makes it stressful to go out. There was a Sunday Times journalist describing in his article how he went for a walk and his children cycled along country lanes whilst his wife was at home with the virus and the Editor chose to publish that with no comment! The press pack outside his house are putting the police, that now have to protect DC and his family, at risk by being too close. DC has not done that. Why are those press photographers even breaking lockdown they are not critical workers? These scenes are openly broadcast on the news with no comment. To me some elements of the media seem biased and hypocritical.

DC and the government along with all the front line workers are working flat out to keep the country going. Whether we like their politics or not or agree with what’s done, we can be grateful for their efforts. Many of us do not contribute in this way so why would we criticise others who are doing their best to help?

I’d prefer to hear some real news rather than hate filled agendas which are upsetting and divisive at a time of crisis and people dying, Much of the furore is fuelled by Brexit anger and political campaigning. Some people hate DC and want to get him any way they can. But it’s been blown up out of all proportion which is undermining public confidence. It’s also getting pretty tedious. There are more important things going on like the spike of cases in seaside towns which was seeded before the DC story broke, how to keep people safe at work, children returning to school, track and trace etc. We need to pull together, support each other and above all be kind.

Did the "thousands of others who went out on Easter Sunday" all have symptoms of coronavirus too?

People used those fake stories to accuse DC of being a liar. They were wrong

Not anymore. They're using his own words to accuse him of being a liar, and they're right.

But it’s been blown up out of all proportion which is undermining public confidence.

No, Dominic Cummings undermined public confidence and his pal Boris Johnson finished the demolition job.

Several posters here are brazenly confusing cause with effect.

And @Mirinska, the press are essential workers, as Dominic Cummings' little jaunt to the country in the thick of a pandemic amply illustrates.

It's in everyone's interest to know what the government really thinks of the voters.

Tobee he did have CV or symptoms when he went out. That's why that's not the issue because the can actually defend that. BJ kept saying he was allowed out as it was 14 days and more later.

It's the fact it was a non essential journey (and on Easter Sunday) when the rest of us had been told even more empathetcally to stay home. Despite nice weather and it being a BH holiday. You MUST stay home.

Mirinski you make good points. But this does matter for the reasons you say we should move on. We should and must have respect and trust in our government. We cannot if they make it clear public opinion and sacrifice neither apply to them or even matter to them.
And it matters more in a crisis. More in a a pandemic. They need public onside.

Totally agree the media outside his house was bad with regards to social distancing and not great for him with regards feeling safe and secure. But he can get security. It's his kid I feel sorry for.

But at the heart of this is a PM and his spad who think we are that stupid as a nation we'll believe and accept he didn't break at best the spirit of the rules and it's perfectly normal and acceptable to drive to test your eyesight.

They are treating the public with contempt. And I'm pleased to see that the public are kicking back against this.

Sorry didn't have cv symptoms or cv when he went out.

The dodgy eyesight was apparently a CV symptom, Boris Johnson was saying his bout of CV affected his eyesight too.
So that's 3 trips in the car for his family while he was either having symptoms or "knew he would become ill", London -Durham, Durham hospital-Durham, Durham-Barnard Castle.

@Mirinska this is “real” news. This has exposed the level of power that this unelected man has within our government. Part of the role of the press (who are key workers by the way in reflection of this) is to challenge those who govern us.

As someone who literally made the rules he should be held to a higher standard than others, including journalists, and saying that other people also broke lockdown doesn’t change the fact that he did too, and neither does it make it acceptable.

He has lied. He has only admitted to the parts of the story where he has no choice in face of the evidence. If you believe that he took a 60 mile round trip to test his eyesight with his wife (who can drive) and young child in the car then you’re a very credulous person.

You say the government are working flat out to keep the country going. In fact their handling of this crisis has been an utter shambles and an embarrassment. Despite having more warning than other countries we have the highest death rate in Europe. The lack of PPE, the late lockdown, the confused messaging, the utter failure of leadership from Boris...thousands of people have died as a result and it now transpires that this man DC is effectively in charge of it all, and can’t even be bothered to stick to his own rules or show any remorse when confronted with the truth. It’s shameful and I cannot understand how anyone can be ok with this.