Earworm stuck here as well jp.
… I offer you a gentleman’s wager of £500
I’m not going to place a bet I really want to lose. Cummings should go… but there is no way he will be going anywhere.
What are you suggesting…?
a) Johnson will sack Cummings
b) Tory MPs will start a leadership campaign, and then Tory members pick someone other than Johnson
Neither are going to happen this year.
Well, our new Tory MP is certainly taking after his boss. Nobody has seen or heard from him since last week. He’s disappeared.
Still no replies to any requests from his constituents about where he stands on all this.
Our former Labour MP has just posted this
I’ve been contacted by very concerned members of the public, well beyond party politics, expecting our MP to honour his first obligation in office which is to us all in Bury North not Dominic Cummings. He must stand up and represent the grave concerns at the Prime Minister’s Chief Aide’s reckless, insulting and arrogant behaviour. Thousands of people in Bury and beyond have made huge sacrifices fighting this disease. The letter sent to me from a Fairfield nurse wanting their experiences and feelings heard and responded to hits the nail on the head on the human cost of this crisis and why so many of us have followed the government advice.
It’s obviously one rule for us and another for those at the heart of government and our MP should call this out now and should have done already.
Let’s see if we actually get an answer today
My MP (actually his aide) has replied telling me it will be two weeks before I get a reply..........playing for time hoping this goes away?
Jenrick, of all people, is now contradicting Little Matty Handjob and saying they will not be reviewing lockdown fines.
I hope anyone who voted for this shower of shit is thoroughly ashamed of themselves and seriously questioning their life choices.
Fat chance, though.
I was basing my comment on a Yougov survey
Wasn't that survey taken right after the last election (19th Dec 2019) when the neutrality of the press was a story driven mostly by the right wing press combo of the Sun and Telegraph?
Drac
Subscriber
The fact that the government are going to refund fines for people who were charged for doing similar, must mean that (in the eyes of the police) Cummings broke the lawExcept they’re not.
Thanks Drac, missed that. Hancock in talking bollocks shocker.
My wife showed me a Facebook post from one of her incredibly xenophobic Brexit voting relatives comparing the presses treatment of the mccans vs Cummings and how disgusting it is that they are victimising him.
Day 5 and this still isn’t going away, is it?
Today brings the Commons Liaison Committee, the first time the PM has managed not to swerve this. Apparently the chair (Jenkin) has been leant on to exclude two likely Tory troublemakers.
Oh, and it’s being alleged that Cummings tested his eyesight further by driving to Wooler and Alnwick while in the NE.
My wife showed me a Facebook post from one of her incredibly xenophobic Brexit voting relatives comparing the presses treatment of the mccans vs Cummings and how disgusting it is that they are victimising him.
Seen lots of that - the machinery is spin spin spinning again...
I've said it before, will say it again - Cummings goes when he wants to go, and not before.
@pondo You’re probably right, he doesn’t care what this does to a party he allegedly isn’t actually a member of. I suspect minds would be a bit more focussed if there were elections coming up. On a tangent:
https://twitter.com/markpack/status/1255119547360858112?s=21
This one is cutting through…
Oh, and it’s being alleged that Cummings tested his eyesight further by driving to Wooler and Alnwick while in the NE.
That has to be the final nail if true and there is evidence.
Or.... Will he create another completely plausible story...??
His testing the eyesight story is about as believable as the 'i fell on this cucumber whilst unpacking the shopping naked' one.
Oh, and it’s being alleged that Cummings tested his eyesight further by driving to Wooler and Alnwick while in the NE.
Where is this being alleged?
We are in dangerous territory here, Cummings may well be creating false rumours himself so he can then triumphantly squash them and close this story down in the eyes of the public.
You can't blame the Graun for not holding back a 3rd or 4th wave of revelations - no one in their right mind would think that Cummings would balls this out with a made up excuse that would have every right-minded parent telling their toddler that lying is a bad thing.
Edit: But this is how gaslighting works.
That Jenrick interview was full The Thick Of It…
“Was his wife too ill to drive? Could number 10 not have sent a driver?”
“I can’t be expected to know the health circumstances of every person in the country.”
Whatever happened to integrity, either personal or professional? I can’t help thinking about the Watergate scandal; Woodward and Bernstein, the Washington Post and Dicky Nixon and how different it would all be nowadays. Nixon would just shout ‘FAKE NEWS’, the Mail and Torygraph equivalents would ride roughshod over the truth and Putin’s bots would splash bollocks all over social media. And there’d be enough people believing it was all a pack of lies. What a difference 46 years make.
I suspect minds would be a bit more focussed if there were elections coming up.
JRM said he would have applied common sense if he was in Grenfell, and suggested those who did what they were told might still be here if they had done the same. Right before the election. Barely registered.
I response from my MP.
Over the Bank Holiday weekend, many constituents have contacted me to express their views on the Dominic Cummings situation, whilst asking me to set out my stance on the matter.
Instead of responding immediately to media reports, I have taken time to listen to a great many comments from constituents, and to assess the facts which have emerged since the story broke on Friday. I thought it also right to listen to Dominic Cumming’s statement yesterday to hear his reasoning behind the events.
I’ll start with saying that I have never met or spoken to Dominic Cummings, and whilst I have a lot of respect for what he’s achieved I certainly have no axe to grind.
However, this issue goes beyond politics: it is about the right behaviour and values I believe in – those values I hope I have demonstrated since being elected to serve as your MP. We cannot give the impression there is one rule for some and another for the rest.
Dominic Cummings has explained his actions, and I am sure we can all sympathise with the desire of a father and husband to keep his sick family safe. However, the reaction to this news shows that Mr Cummings’ interpretation of the Government advice was not shared by the vast majority who have done as the Government asked often to great personal sacrifice.
As such, based on what we have heard so far, in my view it was not appropriate to take the actions he did and they are not the actions that I myself would have taken.
Dominic Cummings is a high-profile public figure. He may not be an MP but given his role and profile it is absolutely vital that he leads by example. Even more so when he has played a significant part in formulating the rules we have been asked follow.
In my opinion he has broken the spirit – if not the letter – of the guidance designed to limit the spread of coronavirus. He should now have the courage to admit his judgement was questionable, and should be reprimanded.
He has undermined the essence of the government’s key “Stay at Home” messaging and has muddied the messaging moving forward when we need clarity more than ever.
Since Saturday morning, I have expressed my thoughts and concerns on this issue known to senior figures in the government. That is the correct way to voice my views, and I will continue to do so.
This story has become an unnecessary distraction from the key work the Government is undertaking to slowly move us out of Lockdown and of all of the fantastic work being performed here in Bury South by its great key workers, volunteers & residents.
"Reprimanded"? Like being made to stand in the corner whilst thinking about the naughty thing that he has done?
In summary. "I've never met Cummings. He did a bad thing and should be told off. Carry on, nothing to see here."
Wetter than an otter's pockets.
Another thought about cummings – he’s probably accustomed to being insulted and, possibly, hated; now he’s being laughed at, sneered at and that, I think, is much more difficult for him and his family to handle.
The media coverage seems to suggest he operates on a different frequency and doesn't really notice it / thrives on conflict and disruption.
He's also one of the few people who may already have known the Barney Castle being slang for pathetic excuse. It could be the jokes on us and he's gone full Rees-Mogg; just be playing with his food. I may be crediting Dom with a bit too much foresight and planning on that one.
For me the most telling thing was an interview the other day. I think it was one of the Conservative MPs who said he was too important in the reform of the civil service to let go.
Will Specsavers survive?
Richard Nixon had far more personal integrity than Boris Johnson.
Think about that for a moment. Seriously.
I think Boris and Cummings will both go. But not by the end of the year, and not forced out by the public, media or the Tory party.
These guys have one mission - a no deal brexit. They will stay the distance long enough to make sure that happens on January 1st 2021, then swan off to get on with their own profiting from it and leaving the rest of the country to deal with the mess. Remember David Cameron saying he would stay as PM even if he lost the Brexit vote? Expect a repeat. The country is going to feel like one of Boris' pregnant one night stands whose calls he is refusing to answer. Covid-19 is a mere distraction to them.
These guys have one mission – a no deal brexit. They will stay the distance long enough to make sure that happens on January 1st 2021, then swan off to get on with their own profiting from it and leaving the rest of the country to deal with the mess.
Nail on head
While all this bollocks is going on, the deadline for avoiding a no-deal Brexit moves ever closer. They only need to tough this out for another few weeks and its mission accomplished for Dom and Dommer
Richard Nixon had far more personal integrity than Boris Johnson.
hmmm, he was all for staying on until the bitter end, and only agreed to go when faced by a delegation of Republican congressmen, who read him his fortune...(essentially saying they would stop supporting him) before he found his integrity
But yeah, Johnson has no loyalty, I think he would've dropped Cummings in a heart beat, but I think even Johnson realises that the Brexit project is dead in the water without him. What I don't understand is why they haven't publicly dropped him, and then re-hire him 6 months later...Like Rudd or Patel.
Blimey. I got modded too. Seems the culture war has reached STW and you're not allowed to engage with the reactionary right at their level. I note Brads comments about the media being scum are still up though.
Point of order though, I tried to carefully word my post to say I wasn't going to debate reactionary brexiteer idiots, and didn't actually say Brads was one of those, although I admit it might have been inferred. Would be useful if the mods could inform us which names for brexiteer culture warriors we're not allowed to use in case it offends them.
Also...The Blog post thing (that he'd predicted a COVID-alike pandemic) that Cummings spoke about during his presser.
Did he not realise that folk would/could go in and check, and see pretty quickly that it had been corrected? I thought Cummings was supposed to be a mega-genius, even I know (and I know **** all about how this shit works) that you leave a trace on computers when stuff was done...
It makes no sense to me...
I note Brads comments about the media being scum are still up though.
I'm media. I think Brad's scum.
Did he not realise that folk would/could go in and check
First rule of tabloid newspapers. Say the ridiculous statement in full view of everyone, knowing that only the minority will check, and they don’t have as bigger platform to call out the bollocks. Then if you do have to apologise, do it in a tiny font on page 36
Indeed. Very few people will know about the edit, many more will have heard him claim he warned about the threat early.
Would be useful if the mods could inform us which names for brexiteer culture warriors we’re not allowed to use in case it offends them
No point in asking them. Ask Dominic Cummings. Everyone else does.
Edit:
I bet I know who reported it, though. Always the same, all piss and vinegar to start with then play the victim card...🤐
Whilst watching the news this morning, I've noticed the story is slipping down the order. It will be almost gone by tomorrow, mark my words. That man is scum, but he's clever scum.
I note that the entire "Scottish" Tory party went missing for 4 days, and when the leader did emerge it was only to live up to his nickname "Carcrash" .
I am a bit concerned about Dannyh
"Reading through his wiki entry always makes the bike rise in my throat."
Mind you that's probably easier to swallow than the lies and misinformation we're getting from Dominic , the Tory party, and large chunks of the media.
I am a bit concerned about Dannyh
Don't worry about me. I just like to have a read up to get my accusations right. Trouble is there are so many crooks in the Tories that it is difficult to remember whether Bridgen sold his house for £1m or £2m under the HS2 'hardship' scheme. It was £2m, by the way. Text below:
"In 2015, Bridgen sold his constituency house in Appleby Magna for £2 million, under a government High Speed 2 (HS2) compensation scheme as the house is 100 feet (30 m) from the proposed route, as a consequence of his divorce proceedings. He was criticised by local campaigners for selling at the early stage under an "exceptional hardship scheme", but Bridgen argued he had lost more money than anyone else.[26] In March 2017, Bridgen apologised for failing to declare at an HS2 debate that his home is being bought by the high-speed rail link. He made the apology in the House of Commons after being found to have breached the rules governing MPs’ interests following an investigation by the Commons standards watchdog. However, Bridgen argued that he had been a consistent critic of High Speed 2, casting doubt on the economic benefits associated with the proposals, and the costs of the programme regardless of his property interests."
I recommend reading the full wiki article. It reminds me a lot of the Blackadder III episode 'Dish & Dishonesty'.
I was rather hoping for more public resignations by now. Are there any more scottish ministerial posts to step down from? Or has this Carlaw bloke steadied the ship?
Obvs Gove doesn't count . As the hind legs of the Cummings/Johnson/Gove human centipede
As it is 'tory revolt' is just backbenchers covering their back with their constituents. There are no more Tory grandees to call upon to denounce this, unless you're scraping the barrel with Peter bone
These guys have one mission – a no deal brexit. They will stay the distance long enough to make sure that happens on January 1st 2021, then swan off to get on with their own profiting from it and leaving the rest of the country to deal with the mess.
I'm thinking this as well but there's part of me that wonders what Boris will make of it all. He wanted to be leader, he wanted his Churchill moment but history isn't going to remember him kindly. Does he stay, tough it out, pretend all is grand and hope that the country doesn't see through 4 more years of bullshit and bluster or does he cut and run leaving a rather tarnished smear behind him, the tatters of his once-great reputation* and popularity?
*I realise that's up for debate as well, plenty of people can't stand him yet somehow he got a landslide majority.
I wonder whether Boris is actually capable of toughing it out. He's 5'9'' and was 17.5st when he went into hospital plus the affliction plus things not going very well (despite what the rest of the world apparently believes). He's looking already a bit like he's spent 11 hours on the Killer Route without finishing. I bet what keeps him awake is the thought of his legacy as indeed it is all about him.
I don't recall if on Monday when Dom was being interviewed, whether it was known that he'd gone to the Castle on his wife's birthday, but it would have been great if they'd asked him "can you confirm the date you drove to the castle" ... "and does that date coincide with your wife's birthday".
Whilst watching the news this morning, I’ve noticed the story is slipping down the order. It will be almost gone by tomorrow, mark my words.
Yep, welcome to Trump Britain and the new approach to managing bad PR.
what was it - two, maybe three weeks ago we were wishing him well in his recovery and wondering if his brush with ICU was going to make him a changed man.
Not a hope. Still as big a * as he ever was, with his * of a spad next to him. We're the homeless guy and he's burning money in front of us and laughing as if it was Bullingdon club night all over again.
Anyone else bewildered about how we got to this stage generally?
The UK seems to have been reduced to two implacably opposed camps engaged in a zero sum game which is being cynically exploited by those chasing power.
I'm not a Twitter user but have gone on to it to read some commentary about this episode. It's full of people alleging the media are spreading false reports of things which Cummings himself confirmed to be true.
It looks like we're going full Trump and look how polarised the US has become.
Whilst watching the news this morning, I’ve noticed the story is slipping down the order. It will be almost gone by tomorrow, mark my words
It is pretty tough to keep it top given everything else going on
I don’t recall if on Monday when Dom was being interviewed, whether it was known that he’d gone to the Castle on his wife’s birthday,
Yes of course it was known, but half-wits like Peston prefer to burble on about nothing rather than ask a pointed question.
Really - what a shower - had they actually been awake for the last month or so? The standard of questioning, and adapting follow-up questions to what had been said, was pathetic.
The UK seems to have been reduced to two implacably opposed camps engaged in a zero sum game which is being cynically exploited by those chasing power.
Unfortunately it's not a zero sum game. The sum is considerably less than zero.
Anyone else bewildered about how we got to this stage generally?
A media owned by billionaires mostly, helped by a tory administration more than happy to feed the beast in pursuit of power. It's a self-reinforcing system, the media put out lies which influences public opinion, the politicians worry about their jobs so take the populist view, and the whole thing builds into a de facto consensus. Then the system collapses and flips, with the media criticising the govt, the people agreeing with them, and before you know it the opposite is true. That seems to be what's happening at the moment. At least until they dump Boris and Gove replaces him with a clean slate, then it'll flip back the other way.
If we really want to hold these muppets to account, rather than making them go in front of a Commons Liaison committee or be interviewed, entirely on their own terms, by the circle jerk of political journalists, they should be forced to go on a TV comedy panel show* where they get remorselessly grilled by comedians and satirists.
I'd bet the likes of Charlie Brooker, Frankie Boyle or Armando Iannucci would ask the right bloody questions and wouldn't be be meekly fobbed off with the bullshit non-answers.
I'd watch that.
* A no holds barred, bollocks to the lawyers, Channel 4 version of HIGNFY
