Dominic Cummings Covid evidence

[Newtonianmechanics]

Is anyone going to watch this man give evidence today?

Apparently there is a vigil in Barnard Castle ahead of this.

The shopping trolleys emoji seems to mean they think Carrie was controlling Boris from the last few days. Wonder if this will feature.

Care

Fund

In a written statement, Ms MacNamara said: “The exclusion of a female perspective led to significant negative consequences, including the lack of thought given to childcare in the context of school closures. There was a serious lack of thinking about domestic abuse and the vulnerable, about carers and informal networks of how people look after each other in families and communities. There was not enough thinking about the impact on single parents of some of the restrictions.”

This is the quote that stood out to me. All stuff I and others were saying at the time.

The response on this parenting female led site should have been better, not attacking those saying it at the actual time not years later.

Anyone wondering why politicians didn’t care think about public demand and what part you played in that.

Baron Stevens up. Inquiry KC is Andrew O'Connor, I think.

Talking about Johnson's not chairing Cobra meetings, and other non-attendances.

You are right,

Our first witness today, Baron Stevens of Birmingham (Former Chief Executive Officer of NHS England) has now been sworn in and begins his evidence.

He is being questioned by Counsel to the Inquiry Andrew O’Connor KC.

Thanks, @DuncinToffee. It's quite geeky to start recognising KCs, isn't it.

The quote from below is from the inquiry 🙄

I’m sure posters who contributed to public demand for harms would prefer it wasn’t.

Anyone wondering why politicians didn’t care think about public demand and what part you played in that.

You voted them in, didn't you?

And you and others spent your days shouting down anyone mentioning harms to women and children didn’t you?

It’s all there. Those who did it can be pleased they were part of that public demand.

And Drakeford and Sturgeon were worse, not to mention the other leader who lost at GE

All the harshest restrictions people demanding more

Public demand had nothing to do with it. The government showed nothing but contempt for the public and its opinion throughout the entire debacle.

The Guardian is again doing a live blog covering the Covid Inquiry

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2023/nov/02/ai-summit-covid-inquiry-elon-musk-rishi-sunak-keir-starmer-uk-politics-latest-updates-live

Utter nonsense.

Why wouldn’t a female led parenting site be inundated with posters talking about those harms listed to women and children?

It’s all on here. Anyone who contributed to that got what they were after.

Anyone who pointed it out got insults

Stevens asked about Hancock - 'I was brought up to look for the best in people'.

WTF?!

He is not really answering the questions

He's just foam. Floated to the top till he was was blown into the House of Lords.

Here is the exchange

Q: Did you find Hancock truthful?

Stevens replies:

All I would say is strong accusations need strong evidence to back them up. And I don’t think I’ve seen that evidence.

O’Connor says he does not think Stevens is “engaging” with the question. He tries again.

Q: Was Hancock someone who you found you personally could trust?

Stevens replies: “Yes. For the most part, yes.”

Asked what he meant by that, Stevens goes on:

I’m not denying that there were a small, handful of occasions during the course of the year, year and a half, when there were tensions. But that I don’t think is particularly surprising given the circumstances under which everybody was working.

Thank you @DuncinToffee and @AutumnCrow for giving live updates.

I can't watch it live today, so it is interesting to read your comments.
I'll watch it later this evening.

I haven't learnt the KC names yet. In my head they are::
▪︎ Man who says "slow down" and chews his glasses
▪︎ Man who is softly spoken.
😁

This thread has got a bit stuck on repeat. Everyone was talking about harms to women, children, people from BAME communities, frontline workers, elderly, those in poverty etc. etc. etc. It is not the fault of the public, or posters on Mumsnet, that the Tory government didn't (and still don't) give a shit about anyone but themselves.

Anyway... today's evidence session is focused on the NHS.

I don't understand why Stephens is being so incredibly evasive, it's not helpful and is not a good look for him.

Must be embarrassing to see those messages between Cummings and Hancock!

O’Connor says he does not think Stevens is “engaging” with the question.

I agree with O'Connor!

‘Stuck on repeat’

Yes if people quote that’s what happens

I can see why those who contributed to shutting down those harms at the time might want it to be passed over.

Must be embarrassing to see those messages between Cummings and Hancock!

@MidnightOnceMore (or anyone who is watching) - am I right in thinking that that's the first time Stevens had seen those messages? He's so waffly I couldn't work out whether he knew they existed prior.

Stop looping things back to talk about yourself. I feel you've misunderstood the whole point of the thread.

This thread was to talk about the inquiry, not your personal views in 2020.

Simon Stevens tells the inquiry that in case of hospitals being overwhelmed

Matt Hancock "took the position that in this situation he, rather than say the medical profession or the public, should ultimately decide who should live and who should die"

I would think the witnesses have access to the evidence that will be discussed to enable them to prepare?

He is incredibly waffly. I can't tell if he's being very thoughtful about a complex question or just one of those people who can't answer yes or no.

I can see why gung ho Johnson would not have appreciated his style.

Stop quoting me then.

And tough. I can post about my views if I want, stop policing the thread. The quote I put was from the inquiry

And obviously is relevant to 2020

If the damage to women and children is a low priority for you, then or now it’s not my issue.

If it’s in the inquiry it’s relevant.