Just saw the BBC has a sub-headline, "Laura Kuenssberg: Cummings saga leaves cracked relationship". True in more ways than one I think
Nothing to say anymore about this turd, I just don't want to see it slip away from our conscience.
So is that it? Has "Move on" and a relaxing of lockdown put this to bed? Have they brazened it out with their 80 seat majority and their general **** you attitude? Have they proven they're untouchable?
Yes, unless the media or Starmer come up with something else now or in the future. You can be sure that we and Labour will remember this in 4 years though, the Tories have a hell of a lot of work to do if they can ever remain in power beyond that.
I did note that Cummings has been remarkably invisible. Is this one of his tactics e.g. he told Boris that it’d be a tough few days but it’ll blow over in a week? His MO is to blind by headlines so yes I’m agreeing that lockdown relief announcements are intended to reduce the impact. We never had an announcement - re June 15 - so far in advance before.
Cummings is taking a leaf out of the nadge unit guidebook: lie low
They are cleverer and will avoid spatter in the s storm
inkster
Whilst we’re stuck debating twentieth century political ideas like capitalism and socialism, c***s like Cummings and Boris, just like Isis are trying to drag us back to the middle ages, a time when parliaments were subservient to kings and democracy was some ditant idea from ancient history.
It wouldn't be happening if we had a proper democracy.
I've posted this before, I'll post it again.
The system is f***ed, biased, screwed, it needs to be changed from the ground up!
I recommend a viewing of this video showing the South Korean Foreign Minister talking to Andrew Marr 10 weeks ago.
BBC Video
The entire interview is worth a view, but there is a quote in the middle (at about 3:10) that describes a 'government fully in the service of the people'. I may be naive in accepting this as accurate - I know little of South Korean politics or politicians, but she appears sane and credible.
Keep in mind that the office of Foreign Secretary in this country was recently held by one Boris Johnson and now by Dom Raab who now seems likely to be sued by Harry Dunn's family over his version of service to the people.
Having digested the South Korean approach, who we should recall had even less warning of the pandemic than we did, take a look at the effectiveness reflected by the data here.
Death Statistics
The lack of action by our government to match that of examples already available then looks either incompetent (highly credible) or deliberate (not beyond belief). Either way it looks positively murderous.
And if you are looking at the graphs I linked to in the post above and notice a little up tick in deaths starting to appear, keep in mind this comes about 3 weeks after the change from stay at home to stay alert. These same statistics are apparently being used to justify a further weakening of lockdown. Another Boris good news distraction from real events? Policy invention to distract from the DC debacle?
what else can be done?
Burger, one of the most notable thing about the way the South Korean lady speaks is how directly she answers, how refreshing to listen to something other than, uhhh, umm, error, well, also nice to hear 'Yes' and 'No' together with good eye contact! I'd forgotten the last time I witnessed a plain speaking politician, no less, a Leader!
Indeed Moe. And this was the Foreign Minister speaking in a second language about an issue she could easily have claimed to have been beyond her remit. And yet she was informed and lucid in all her answers. It is possible for politicians to actually answer the questions that are presented and with precision and clarity.
In terms of what else can be done Alcolepon - BJ, DC, etc. want the the Durham and Barnard Castle vacation to be forgotten. They also want to sow the seeds for a future inquiry into their handling to be presented as impossible to predict and all to have followed scientific advice. The Korean experience and example shows this to be nonsense. Nobody in government is reading STW to gather the pulse of the nation, but they can't ignore their inboxes. Persist. Do not allow the politicians to imagine that their response to Cummings' entirely self-serving actions is acceptable. Encourage others to do the same.
Starmer is now leading the campaign against clerical errors in government with his rallying cry for 'professionalism and electability'. The tories will be quaking in their suits.
Your Starmer obsession is a parody of Binners’ Corbyn obsession, yes? I mean, you both have a good point… but it’s not always so relevant that it needs repeating in every thread.
Just had a little glimpse into a friend's wider FB circle - bugger me, there really are people asking us to be kind to Boris 🤦
Boris can do one and take gollum with him. They have done so much damage to this country, hopefully one day EVERYONE will realise that.
They have done so much damage to this country, hopefully one day EVERYONE will realise that.
Not a chance, not even 50% of the people will realise it (or care)
Nah, not an obsession. I'm just appalled at Starmer's conscious failure to make any political capital out of this chaotic maelstrom. All the credit goes to journalists who will quite happily turn their guns on Labour.
Still nothing from Simon Hart, my MP and Sec State for Wales.
I’ve now emailed him three times.
He’s not breaking cover on this.
I’m just appalled at Starmer’s conscious failure to make any political capital out of this chaotic maelstrom.
Of course all recent polling suggests the opposite. I don’t care where the ‘credit’ goes, while Johnson’s figures are dropping and Starmer’s are rising. Winning at politics sometimes includes dodging the accusation of playing politics.
Looks like the house Cummings and family ran from London to was their second home after all…
It's incumbent on the Leader of the Opposition to provide an alternative narrative.
FOCUS MAN!!
No it isn't.
Looks like the house Cummings and family ran from London to was their second home after all…
Go on @kelvin give us a source
No idea on validity, but...
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/dominic-cummings-accused-hypocrisy-after-16741531
"The farm is jointly owned by Cummings, his parents and one other person."
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/10/dominic-cummings-owns-farm-got-eu-subsidy
@BillMC - if he starts to politicise the current situation he'll get called allsorts by the right leaning media. He can't win.
His current approach of assertive, fact-based questioning is going well. It's too early to start writing his report card.
Grauniad too - took me all of 30 seconds to Google.
Http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/10/dominic-cummings-owns-farm-got-eu-subsidy
"Dominic Cummings" has now entered the lexicon of golfing terms.
A long drive which goes out of bounds. No penalty.
I’m looking for a free way to search HM Land Registry… has it always been a money making service?
It was for sale recently for ~£1Bn
Found a ‘correspondence address’… doesn’t prove ownership, but the idea that this was actually his home in some form, at some point, isn’t made up…
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/0IGNeCqaxCdtemg6je9JHKjApvU/appointments
Great name for his old company!!
Does this materially change anything though?
wrong DOB on that Companies House page.
Cummings is 48
Good spot!
Is that the wrong address as well then?
Looks like these are his entries: https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/yo0I8SUcMnBVyjGSkuDaiB6iqek/appointments
Business park postal address for Durham.
So… dead end. Anyone seen what’s at HM Land Registry then? I’m not paying…
Nah, not an obsession. I’m just appalled at Starmer’s conscious failure to make any political capital out of this chaotic maelstrom. All the credit goes to journalists who will quite happily turn their guns on Labour.
I could not disagree more. Starmer is is quite right to let the tories defend themselves and look weak and pathetic in the process. The more you see of Gove and others claiming night is day and day is night the worse it is for them.
What is also notable is the complete lack of any anti Labour media coverage. There was always something in the Corbyn back catalogue that they could wheel out for days / weeks like this. So far on Starmer the sum total of dirt is that he owns a Donkey field.
What is also notable is the complete lack of any anti Labour media coverage.
The Express are really trying hard, it looks like weak sauce so far though. Stuff about Labour people eating chips in the park and the like.
ferrals
MemberDoes this materially change anything though?
No, imo. Nobody who accepts the other bullshit is going to care if it's his second home or not. And for everyone that doesn't buy it, it's way less important than the other stuff. IMO this might be the point where people start to go "oh they're just throwing anything they can at him"
A lot of truth in that. It might make a few second home owners who stayed in London as requested a little more miffed though…
Starmer is is quite right to let the tories defend themselves and look weak and pathetic in the process.
Never interfere with the enemy when he is in the process of destroying himself.
Ascribed to Napoleon Bonaparte
Cummings seen out and about again.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/may/29/dominic-cummings-cutout-appears-at-rugby-league-match-in-sydney-australia
You have to wonder why the press didn't make more of the "second home" aspect of CummingsGate when it was first released, given how quickly we were able to google links to press articles from last year about Cummings, joint ownership of the Durham farm and EU payments.
Being a second home in Durham would have given stronger comparisons with the resignation of the Scottish CMO.
Control the politics media by having family and friends in prominant press positions?
TBF I think the press who were leading the investigation were pretty confident he was going down.
Has it been proved that the home was his shared one?
