Only little people get sacked over stuff like that.Digby wrote:It's another sackable offenceSon of Mathonwy wrote:This is pretty funny. Cummings altering his blog from last year to make him seem prescient:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... rus-threat
Didn't he go visit his parents who would, based on their age, be more vulnerable to Covid-19 than his children. Surely, going to them while infected, and dropping off the kids who could have been carriers, is endangering them?Which Tyler wrote:Right - letter to MP time. I know I'm forgetting something, but can't think what it is right now - any ideas?Dear Mr Robertson
I am writing to you to express my deep concern around Mr Cummings, and some of the arguments put forward in defence of his actions. For clarity, I’ll bullet point my questions, rather than lengthy prose.
1. If Mr Cummings was “just being a good parent” – does that mean that all those parents who followed the government’s instructions are bad parents?
2. When exactly did following your instincts allow one to break the law with impunity?
3. When exactly did dangerous driving become the standard form of eye test – as opposed to, for example, the ability to read a number plate at 75 feet, or a simple Snellen chart, easily found, with instructions, from all good search engines.
4. This same question goes for Mr Gove, who, this morning, has claimed to use the same tactic to test his eyes.
5. Given the decision to break the law twice in order to test his eyesight (dangerous driving and breaking self-isolation whilst symptomatic) – why would anyone who feels themselves to be dangerous to drive, then take their child to a beauty spot as part of that eye test?
6. Is such child endangerment another indication of being a good parent?
7. Given that Ms Wakefield has family living just a couple of streets away from their London home – why were they not considered good enough as childcare option?
8. Were none of Mr Cummings’ family capable of driving? To come and collect the child in the event of necessity?
9. When Mr Cummings first drove to Durham, could we please have confirmation on whether he was strongly symptomatic, and thus unsafe to drive; or asymptomatic or mildly so, thus rendering the trip unnecessary in the first place.
10. Given that both Mr Cummings and Mr Gove have publicly admitted having broken the law (dangerous driving) do you think that a public inquiry, or a CPS inquiry would be the more appropriate.
11. It is obviously imperative that Mr Cummings should resign or be fired – do you feel that this should also be the case for some of those who have defended his actions? Including those who have defended it by claiming to have broken the law themselves?
Thank you
“Wahhh, I’ve done nothing wrong! Wahhhh”morepork wrote:Was he fined, charged with anything, or otherwise punished as members of the public have been?
Although, given that Cummings has been portrayed in the past as a political savant akin to Campbell, adept at reading and manipulating public opinion to serve his whims, this response has been more than a little clownshoes. He's managed to get the Guardian and the Mail to agree that he's full of shit and should be fired - when the hell does that ever happen? And the thing about the trip to Barnard Castle being a test of his vision is just fuel for memes to propagate this further to people who wouldn't normally care about a political scandal.Stones of granite wrote:“Wahhh, I’ve done nothing wrong! Wahhhh”morepork wrote:Was he fined, charged with anything, or otherwise punished as members of the public have been?
Er, no. The Government has circled the wagons, although some Tories are outside the laager. There is talk of a Police investigation, but Priti Patel, will soon put a stop to that.
The leader of the Scottish Tories sat on the fence until the skelfs started to nip, then when one of his number jumped and resigned from the Cabinet, he decided which way the wind was going to blow and came down outside the laager. Trouble is, there is no sign of Johnson caving. I suspect it’s because Johnson knows that without Cummings to pull his strings, he has no idea what he is doing.
I think it might be worse, without Cummings it might be Boris has to do some work.Stones of granite wrote: I suspect it’s because Johnson knows that without Cummings to pull his strings, he has no idea what he is doing.
Digby wrote:I think it might be worse, without Cummings it might be Boris has to do some work.Stones of granite wrote: I suspect it’s because Johnson knows that without Cummings to pull his strings, he has no idea what he is doing.
You both may well be right.Puja wrote:Although, given that Cummings has been portrayed in the past as a political savant akin to Campbell, adept at reading and manipulating public opinion to serve his whims, this response has been more than a little clownshoes. He's managed to get the Guardian and the Mail to agree that he's full of shit and should be fired - when the hell does that ever happen? And the thing about the trip to Barnard Castle being a test of his vision is just fuel for memes to propagate this further to people who wouldn't normally care about a political scandal.Stones of granite wrote:“Wahhh, I’ve done nothing wrong! Wahhhh”morepork wrote:Was he fined, charged with anything, or otherwise punished as members of the public have been?
Er, no. The Government has circled the wagons, although some Tories are outside the laager. There is talk of a Police investigation, but Priti Patel, will soon put a stop to that.
The leader of the Scottish Tories sat on the fence until the skelfs started to nip, then when one of his number jumped and resigned from the Cabinet, he decided which way the wind was going to blow and came down outside the laager. Trouble is, there is no sign of Johnson caving. I suspect it’s because Johnson knows that without Cummings to pull his strings, he has no idea what he is doing.
Puja
If Boris sacks him now it looks like he has caved into pressure and thus weak. He will be praying that not too many more cabinet ministers of prominent MPs speak out and it blows over. At the moment he looks fairly secure, even those who have been critical have said their piece and then shut up.Stones of granite wrote:“Wahhh, I’ve done nothing wrong! Wahhhh”morepork wrote:Was he fined, charged with anything, or otherwise punished as members of the public have been?
Er, no. The Government has circled the wagons, although some Tories are outside the laager. There is talk of a Police investigation, but Priti Patel, will soon put a stop to that.
The leader of the Scottish Tories sat on the fence until the skelfs started to nip, then when one of his number jumped and resigned from the Cabinet, he decided which way the wind was going to blow and came down outside the laager. Trouble is, there is no sign of Johnson caving. I suspect it’s because Johnson knows that without Cummings to pull his strings, he has no idea what he is doing.
The last bank holiday.Son of Mathonwy wrote:New cases today: 4,043
Too early to draw conclusions, but this is the highest since 8th May.
I read that to the tune of Chicago's If you Leave Me Now.Sandydragon wrote:If Boris sacks him now it looks like he has caved into pressure and thus weak. He will be praying that not too many more cabinet ministers of prominent MPs speak out and it blows over. At the moment he looks fairly secure, even those who have been critical have said their piece and then shut up.Stones of granite wrote:“Wahhh, I’ve done nothing wrong! Wahhhh”morepork wrote:Was he fined, charged with anything, or otherwise punished as members of the public have been?
Er, no. The Government has circled the wagons, although some Tories are outside the laager. There is talk of a Police investigation, but Priti Patel, will soon put a stop to that.
The leader of the Scottish Tories sat on the fence until the skelfs started to nip, then when one of his number jumped and resigned from the Cabinet, he decided which way the wind was going to blow and came down outside the laager. Trouble is, there is no sign of Johnson caving. I suspect it’s because Johnson knows that without Cummings to pull his strings, he has no idea what he is doing.
Since Boris has not conception of doing the right thing and values Cummings too highly, I don’t see this being resolved any time soon.
Agreed, it could just be an acounting blip. Will keep eyes on it though, we've had 2 weeks of reduced lockdown...Eugene Wrayburn wrote:The last bank holiday.Son of Mathonwy wrote:New cases today: 4,043
Too early to draw conclusions, but this is the highest since 8th May.
I noticed there was shift upwards of R in Sundays figures to 0.7-1.0. Not good.things are going to get worse.
After giving Cummings his full support, Boris can't sack him now.Digby wrote:I read that to the tune of Chicago's If you Leave Me Now.Sandydragon wrote:If Boris sacks him now it looks like he has caved into pressure and thus weak. He will be praying that not too many more cabinet ministers of prominent MPs speak out and it blows over. At the moment he looks fairly secure, even those who have been critical have said their piece and then shut up.Stones of granite wrote: “Wahhh, I’ve done nothing wrong! Wahhhh”
Er, no. The Government has circled the wagons, although some Tories are outside the laager. There is talk of a Police investigation, but Priti Patel, will soon put a stop to that.
The leader of the Scottish Tories sat on the fence until the skelfs started to nip, then when one of his number jumped and resigned from the Cabinet, he decided which way the wind was going to blow and came down outside the laager. Trouble is, there is no sign of Johnson caving. I suspect it’s because Johnson knows that without Cummings to pull his strings, he has no idea what he is doing.
Since Boris has not conception of doing the right thing and values Cummings too highly, I don’t see this being resolved any time soon.
Also Boris has a choice, he can look weak or continue to look a moron without principles. Granted on any number of instances I think Cummings should be getting fired for this.
On the other hand if he doesn't sack him he leaves an open sore forever. He's just torched his credibility and that of his government. When we come out of the Brexit transition period he's going to need cover on the left and right and he's just paved the way for an attack from that other "man of the people" Nigel Farage, never mind giving the Labour message a boost.Sandydragon wrote:If Boris sacks him now it looks like he has caved into pressure and thus weak. He will be praying that not too many more cabinet ministers of prominent MPs speak out and it blows over. At the moment he looks fairly secure, even those who have been critical have said their piece and then shut up.Stones of granite wrote:“Wahhh, I’ve done nothing wrong! Wahhhh”morepork wrote:Was he fined, charged with anything, or otherwise punished as members of the public have been?
Er, no. The Government has circled the wagons, although some Tories are outside the laager. There is talk of a Police investigation, but Priti Patel, will soon put a stop to that.
The leader of the Scottish Tories sat on the fence until the skelfs started to nip, then when one of his number jumped and resigned from the Cabinet, he decided which way the wind was going to blow and came down outside the laager. Trouble is, there is no sign of Johnson caving. I suspect it’s because Johnson knows that without Cummings to pull his strings, he has no idea what he is doing.
Since Boris has not conception of doing the right thing and values Cummings too highly, I don’t see this being resolved any time soon.
Impressive when even those single lane winding A roads will have a speed limit of 60mph.Eugene Wrayburn wrote:By the way if he did drive for 30 minutes to Barnard Castle 30 miles away that means he was driving at an average of 60mph. With his failing eyesight.
I expect the calculation will be that by the next General Election, no one will remember or care.Eugene Wrayburn wrote:On the other hand if he doesn't sack him he leaves an open sore forever. He's just torched his credibility and that of his government. When we come out of the Brexit transition period he's going to need cover on the left and right and he's just paved the way for an attack from that other "man of the people" Nigel Farage, never mind giving the Labour message a boost.Sandydragon wrote:If Boris sacks him now it looks like he has caved into pressure and thus weak. He will be praying that not too many more cabinet ministers of prominent MPs speak out and it blows over. At the moment he looks fairly secure, even those who have been critical have said their piece and then shut up.Stones of granite wrote: “Wahhh, I’ve done nothing wrong! Wahhhh”
Er, no. The Government has circled the wagons, although some Tories are outside the laager. There is talk of a Police investigation, but Priti Patel, will soon put a stop to that.
The leader of the Scottish Tories sat on the fence until the skelfs started to nip, then when one of his number jumped and resigned from the Cabinet, he decided which way the wind was going to blow and came down outside the laager. Trouble is, there is no sign of Johnson caving. I suspect it’s because Johnson knows that without Cummings to pull his strings, he has no idea what he is doing.
Since Boris has not conception of doing the right thing and values Cummings too highly, I don’t see this being resolved any time soon.
It sort-of worked for Blair and the Iraq War, but he did pomise he wouldn't serve a whole term.Sandydragon wrote:I expect the calculation will be that by the next General Election, no one will remember or care.Eugene Wrayburn wrote:On the other hand if he doesn't sack him he leaves an open sore forever. He's just torched his credibility and that of his government. When we come out of the Brexit transition period he's going to need cover on the left and right and he's just paved the way for an attack from that other "man of the people" Nigel Farage, never mind giving the Labour message a boost.Sandydragon wrote:
If Boris sacks him now it looks like he has caved into pressure and thus weak. He will be praying that not too many more cabinet ministers of prominent MPs speak out and it blows over. At the moment he looks fairly secure, even those who have been critical have said their piece and then shut up.
Since Boris has not conception of doing the right thing and values Cummings too highly, I don’t see this being resolved any time soon.
In fact Worldometers corrected the number to 2,004 so: nothing to see here.Son of Mathonwy wrote:Agreed, it could just be an acounting blip. Will keep eyes on it though, we've had 2 weeks of reduced lockdown...Eugene Wrayburn wrote:The last bank holiday.Son of Mathonwy wrote:New cases today: 4,043
Too early to draw conclusions, but this is the highest since 8th May.
I noticed there was shift upwards of R in Sundays figures to 0.7-1.0. Not good.things are going to get worse.
Unless Boris is fixing to call a snap election in the next few weeks, I can’t see it mattering much in the long run. There’s still 4 years and a few months to go isn’t there?Son of Mathonwy wrote: Latest opinion poll shows Tories lead over Labour slashed to 6%.
Unless they continue in this mold and we get a vote of no confidencecashead wrote:Unless Boris is fixing to call a snap election in the next few weeks, I can’t see it mattering much in the long run. There’s still 4 years and a few months to go isn’t there?Son of Mathonwy wrote: Latest opinion poll shows Tories lead over Labour slashed to 6%.
When's the last time a government's ever been dissolved in such a way? The last one in this part of the world was in Australia in 1960, when the Aussie G-G dissolved the Gough Whitlam government, but that's about it.Stom wrote:Unless they continue in this mold and we get a vote of no confidencecashead wrote:Unless Boris is fixing to call a snap election in the next few weeks, I can’t see it mattering much in the long run. There’s still 4 years and a few months to go isn’t there?Son of Mathonwy wrote: Latest opinion poll shows Tories lead over Labour slashed to 6%.
Incredibly rare. And for a government with an 80 seat majority almost impossible.cashead wrote:When's the last time a government's ever been dissolved in such a way? The last one in this part of the world was in Australia in 1960, when the Aussie G-G dissolved the Gough Whitlam government, but that's about it.Stom wrote:Unless they continue in this mold and we get a vote of no confidencecashead wrote: Unless Boris is fixing to call a snap election in the next few weeks, I can’t see it mattering much in the long run. There’s still 4 years and a few months to go isn’t there?