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

I think what this boils down to is that a lot of people in government and the civil service have wanted him gone for a long time, and determined not to let a good crisis go to waste, they have pounced on this brilliant opportunity to get shot of him. Can't blame them - if you operate as he does, taking no front line responsibility for decisions, hiding in the shadows and avoiding public scrutiny whilst wielding that much power, you deserve to be unpopular. So they have successfully whipped up media frenzy, and people who have been stuck at home for too long under a lot of personal stress are playing along, feeling outraged which does them no good at all. Agree that Boris has handled it badly. I'm just going to watch all those powerful Westminster types play it out to its natural conclusion. I think DC is emotionally brittle so am interested to see if he thinks it's worth staying in the job - suspect he will storm off. I'm certainly not changing my lockdown behaviour because of it, or allowing it to influence my emotional state negatively.

I saw the journalist who broke the story this morning on BBC news, and he was saying that he had been trying to get answers from No. 10 for 6 weeks and they have refused to comment.

@PlanDeRaccordement

"He’s qualified. He was hired fairly. He does his job to a good standard"

Can you quantify that statement please?

Plan by your reasoning laws don't apply if Johnson gives you the nod. That's a very interesting view of government and the legal system.

Feed your kid a Mad Cow burger.

Tell your kid to take an oath and perjure themselves in court.

Forget how many kids you have strewn about the place.

Wave your autisitc kid at the rat pack.

Tory Parenting at its best.

I was wondering that too Rosehip.

I mean, let's just take one example, the UK Covid response. By what measure has it been to a "high standard"?

He’s qualified - at what?

He was hired fairly - How do you know? Were you up for the job as well and part of the process?

He does his job to a good standard - His job is to 'advise' Johnson isn't it? Well he's doing a shit job at that.

If you can't even follow a simple rule like 'stay at home', a rule HE helped to devise, you're a bit crap at your job aren't you?

I haven't seen my Autistic DD since February. She had a massive, meltdown last night and police were called. I still couldn't go.

She's only 12 miles away but it may as well be the end of the earth. I don't drive and can't risk public transport as I'm higher risk.

Have her Autistic brother at home.

Normal life has ground to a halt, we didn't get respite but for those who did this has stopped.

All my son wants is to go back to school and have a subway for lunch, but he can't. And that's ok, we're managing.

Unlike Cummings we have the attitude of there's no point in moaning about it so we're cracking on instead............for me it isn't the fact he flouted the rules I find annoying, it's the fact at he did it whilst knowing people, even children were dying alone. Because thems the rules. And so, so many people had gone against their natural instincts and accepted that.

How must the mother and wider family of the 13 year old child feel knowing that they couldn't attend that child's death and burial ? And yet that's exactly the sacrifice they made to keep others safe when a feeble, wet, sappy handed representative of the UK did what he wanted to do anyway.

Nah. Not on.

We don't know for sure what his reasons were but there is a possibility that he had genuine acceptable reasons for going up. Having nearby relatives in London means nothing if they are shielding/ working/ unhelpful etc. If his kid does have autism then it would hardly be a surprise that DC and his wife might need or want someone who is particularly good or close with the child to look after him.
There are endless threads on MN by parents of kids with autism saying how difficult it is to have someone else look after them. I do NOT know what his reasons were but I don't think it's implausible that it could be genuine.
I don't know how old his parents are?
Also, maybe there was a reason he needed to check on his parents? I don't know.

I don't like the guy at all but I think there is a 'chance' it's not as bad as people are assuming.

Just dreadful the way Cummings has used his child to try to hide behind since the story broke, it's such a betrayal for a parent to do that.

Awwwwwekl we know his mum is 71 because it was her birthday that weekend. Well enough to have a family party.

He was "hired" after BoJo cycled to his house and begged him to come and be his chief advisor (also known as the prime minister in this case)

We don't know for sure what his reasons were but there is a possibility that he had genuine acceptable reasons for going up.

He's told us his reasons, both directly and through his Cabinet mates. Do you seriously believe he would have kept quiet about genuine acceptable reasons?

I don't like the guy at all but I think there is a 'chance' it's not as bad as people are assuming.

You only seem to be referring to the first 260 mile drive to Durham. What about the other visits?

Him and wife was poorly prob anxious may end up poorly like boris did.

Like hundreds of other people who didn't decide that it was a good idea to get in a car and drive hundreds of miles, putting other people at serious risk.

He works in politics not a hands on dad therefore prob needed family support to help with kids when unwell

Not being a hands-on dad is no excuse. If you are a parent, it goes with the territory. He had family closer by. It would have been incredibly irresponsible to ask his elderly parents to look after his potentially infectious child.

I don't know how old his parents are?

We know that his DM is 71 because it was her birthday while he was up there.

Also, maybe there was a reason he needed to check on his parents? I don't know.

Then why not say so? If he was concerned about his parents the rules would have allowed for him to check on them (though still highly suspect given other family are nearer). No. That is not why he went so why bother to put it out as excuse when Cummings hasn't?

Its indefensible and I'm really looking forward to Keir Starker in full QC mode tearing Boris to shreds over it.
^
This. Aren’t they all out this week though so no pmqs Wednesday? I’d have looked forward to that one.

My 4 year old is being assessed for ASD... we have not broken lockdown at all! Home is his safe place, it would be cruel to take him away!

DC has no excuse at all for breaking his own rules!

He clearly has some serious shit on BoJo

Has he actually used his child's autism as an excuse? I can't find that anywhere.
There was however some relaxation of rules for people with autism over a month ago: www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/14/uk-coronavirus-rules-autism-learning-disabilities-lockdown?CMP=share_btn_tw

I don't believe anything they say now.

Actually I don't think Kier Starmer will be quite as rabid as you are hoping for considering more than one member of his own party have done similar things during lockdown. Sorry to disappoint all you blood thirsty lefties

I saw this tweet earlier:

it is indeed true that #DominicCummings son has autism then I would like to know (as a parent of an autistic child myself) why it took a legal team to challenge the government on how their lockdown policy was unlawful and discriminatory to those with additional needs.

That was meant to read 'if indeed true' at the start.

Now, the Louisville Kentucky Police Chief resigning because their officers stormed the wrong apartment and shot an innocent woman sleeping in her bed to death. That makes sense.
Nobody should resign unless they were responsible for an innocent person being shot?

But to have Mr Cummings resign because he had a family issue and the only reasonable way he could balance family and work was to take a few hours drive which could be argued as within the rules

It can’t be argued as being within the rules. He had it and he left his home. Of all the rules, that one has been consistent right from the start.

If you are the person giving advice to stay home, and you ignore that advice yourself, your position as a trusted advisor to the public is untenable.