Westminstenders: Magical Thinking

[RedToothBrush]

This week has seen reports of the government editing footage of Johnson to avoid embarrassing questions about the early government response.

We've been asked to accept that the rules were different to what we were told to excuse the law breaking behaviour of a senior government advisor. As Johnson said he was being a responsible father (as if Johnson knows what this is) and it wasn't as if he was visiting a lover (this Johnson would know all about). Let's be honest Johnson is the master of brazening out controversy.

We also have the ERG complaining they were lied to by Gove about the new Withdrawal Agreement and the border in the Irish Sea which surprises precisely no one else.

They appear to be a little upset by the Cummings debarkable too.

www.racingpost.com/news/coronavirus/massive-interest-in-newcastle-meeting-as-369-entries-received-for-monday-card/434952
I wonder how many people will stop off at Barney on the way...

I really can't believe that the Cumming's family couldn't self isolate at home. I just hope some CCTV footage now turns up of them stopping at a service station, then a follow up letter can be made to that MP.

That MPs bit about Barney beggars belief! At no point ever was that journey for that reason allowed! And it also gives free rein to anyone who thinks they have had it to go whatever the he'll they like.

BBC reporting this:

14:31
Qatar contact-tracing app flaw ‘exposed details of one million users’
^Amnesty International says its researchers discovered serious security vulnerabilities in a Covid-19 contact-tracing app in Qatar that is compulsory to download.

The flaw in the Ehteraz app - which was fixed on Friday after the human rights group notified the Qatari authorities - could have exposed highly sensitive personal information of about one million users, including their names and national IDs. Citizens and residents who do not use the app could face up to three years in prison and a fine of $55,000 (£44,500).

“While the Qatari authorities were quick to fix this issue, it was a huge security weakness and a fundamental flaw in Qatar’s contact tracing app that malicious attackers could have easily exploited," Claudio Guarnieri, head of Amnesty International’s Security Lab, said in a statement.

“This incident should act as a warning to governments around the world rushing out contact tracing apps that are too often poorly designed and lack privacy safeguards,” he added.

Currently more than 45 countries have rolled out, or plan to roll out, Covid-19 contact-tracing apps, including Australia, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.^

I’m astonished to see Harriet Baldwin on that list. She’s my MP and as mealy mouthed as they come, ordinarily.

E-mailing your MP - very effective. Spotted this just now:

Tamara Cohen
@tamcohen
Centrist Tory MP tells me has received 800 emails in past 48 hrs about Cummings: "I've never seen anything like it".

About 10 in support. Not many of the negative ones from people who hate Boris/ Brexit.

It's why they've privately made case that Cummings position untenable

Around April 11th there were police at the car park of one of my local parks making cars turn around and telling them they were in breach of lockdown. They were allowing people on foot to go in presumably assuming they were local enough for that to be a reasonable walk but no driving to places for exercise. They may have been heavy handed there but flies in the face of a long drive with your family to see if your eyesight is ok.

It was subtly noted yesterday on the news, but if DC stays, then no cabinet minister can ever be sacked again.

Leaders of 6 Westminster opposition parties have called for Cummings to be fired.

Gove talking about honour and integrity: I'm surprised the words didn't choke him! How would he ever be capable of spotting such alien qualities?

Gove talking about honour and integrity: I'm surprised the words didn't choke him! How would he ever be capable of spotting such alien qualities?

I refer you to my previous point. If Cummings remains, then no one can be sacked. Even if Gary Glitter were to be in cabinet he'd be unassailable.

Emails to MPs do seem to be having an impact. Mine has said he thinks Cummings should go. I’m really surprised as he’s a big brexiteer, pro Boris type.

Sorry, how could they not be sacked?

I note that Labour didn't sign that letter. Is that good or bad?

DGR
don't be surprised to see and offence created of using the "wrong" passport to leave or enter the UK in the near future if it doesn't already exist
It doesn't

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep up the email pressure on MPs
it is the one thing that scares them more than the whips

get your friends and family and anybody you hear ranting in a queue

I've written to mine . I suspect he won't care , I have sent too many ranty letters to him re Brexit .But it's the least I can do

bookbook
They do care because they know that people who have missed out on family funerals are
mightily pissed off
that Cumming got to go out for a nice drive to see his mum and then celebrate his wife's birthday.

I'll lay good money that Boris will do the press conference tonight because
none of the rest of the cabinet are willing to

I thought he had nixed further press conferences/daily briefings?

Matt Hancock on today's briefing.

Sorry, how could they not be sacked?

If Johnson won't sack a mere paid advisor, he can't possibly sack a member of his own cabinet. How can you stand by staff, and not stand by a party member ? His own party would slaughter him.

That's before you consider how many times Boris himself was sacked from cabinet ...

video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1265265944278040576/pu/vid/1280x720/FbELoI2QvakDgjTk.mp4?tag=10

If Johnson won't sack a mere paid advisor, he can't possibly sack a member of his own cabinet. How can you stand by staff, and not stand by a party member ? His own party would slaughter him.

He could.

He thinks he's above criticism.

Thats the problem.

.

I wonder if Cummings fancies a trip to Berkley Castle next time ?

(Very obscure historical reference).

There are literally no words, but if there are, these are not them