Exactly. Cummings isn't even a member of the Conservative Party. The UK government should not be going to such lengths to defend one individual who has clearly transgressed, and the fact that they are is the crux of the matter. Why are they doing this? How is he so vitally important, and if he is, why don't we know more about his role/how come it is not part of the government?
I’m more interested in what Starmer says. He must be brutal and go for the jugular. This is his moment. Anyway I doubt boris will read any emails. I just want to let him know he is a cowardly pr1ck who lacks a backbone. That’s it.
No Johnson is supposed to be questioned by all the chairman of the various commons committees tomorrow but he's been dodging it since before the last election so don't hold your breath. But if he suddenly finds a backbone the chairman from opposition parties should give him a kicking if they can get past the tories on the panel.
He won't, don't forget he doesn't work any extra hours, he doesn't work weekends, he doesn't attend important meetings like COBRA, he holes up in his country retreat with his latest mini Boris producer, and won't even read any briefs from his ministers "unless they're very short" And also when the door is shut the fridge light goes off
Sir Keir has held back on this one and I suspect there may be good reason for that. Cummings does not hold a public post but is appointed by the Tories and by Johnson. In a sense SKS could take the view "I don't care who advises them, I'll deal with the elected and publicly-accountable representatives." Beyond that, Cummings has it seems to me committed an offence under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Resrictions) (England) Regulations and does not as far as I can see have the benefit of any of the exceptions contained in regulation 6. If that's right (and Durham Constabulary are looking into it) he should be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice. If he pays the FPN he will have admitted his guilt. If he chooses not to, and elects to go to court he will be able to put up what he feels is a defence and the court will decide. If he admits guilt (by paying the FPN) or is found guilty at court then it is for Johnson and the Tory Party to decide what to do about it. The public will have their chance to pass judgement on the Tories at the ballot box in due course.
Hang on! I’ve been so angry about his driving to the hospital instead of getting a family member to help that I completely bypassed the fact that he was calling around multiple taxi companies to pick up his coronavirus infected wife! Thank god none were available, who the f*ck would do that?
Sorry playing catch up on this thread and decided to go to last page. Dominic Cummings is Quite clearly Boris’s main advisor. The prime minister would go to him either before or after cabinet meetings. DC has massive input pretty much like Peter Mandelsonn / Tony Blair. DC was the one who got Brexit through the door not Boris as shown in the video on another thread. Else like you. Why on Earth is he being held onto.?
from the newspaper. “anyone who imagines his defence of Cummings is born of loyalty is unfamiliar with the concept “Boris Johnson”. This is actually a simple story: man with no ideas is too terrified to sack his ideas man”
What we have is a circular reference or feedback loop at work. We are asking the people who made up the rules to decide if the same people broke the rules. In effect, Boris and Dominic are the lawmakers, judge, jury, defence and prosecution.
I suspect if Starmer said too much the Tories would circle their wagons around the PM and Cummings and turn it in to a party political thing. In this case the issue isn't right versus left it's about right and wrong and with the opinion polls turning against the Conservatives the party political issues are turning against the Tories without Starmer saying anything other than he'd have sacked Cummings if he was in the PMs shoes. That was his initial response and unless his opinion changes he needs to say nothing more. As you rightly say Cummings needs to be dealt with as would anyone else found to have breached the Lockdown rules.
I think you’re bang on , there’s more to this politics lark than jumping on every little thing, sometimes a waiting game is the best option , we’ll see, As for writing to MPs I would say that’s the best option as it’s made the Tories with a conscience (Not in Penistone)take note. I would say an additional letter to Durham Constabulary don’t go amiss either , asking why are they treating him different from the rest of us even after admitting several driving offences into the bargain.
Yep. We have a government wilfully demonstrating that it has absolutely no regard for the rule of law. It's bonkers and cannot be tolerated.
Looks like they are willing to risk the possibility of perverting the course of justice . https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/spor...cummings-brexit-lockdown-rules-095030933.html
Anyone would think that the entire cabinet and their mates are totally inept and are puppets to Dom?! Question is who does Dom work for? Who got Dom and the Tories together, Cummings his an arsonist / anarchist who supposedly hates the party. The old Tory values and ideals including 1922 committee are being ignored if not trampled on but Boris and his mates. This now isn't the Tory party of the bitch, Major and Heseltine. And they said Labour wouldn't exist last year after the election.
Cummings has no political allegiances , he was a communist but I think it’s just about him nowadays. He doesn’t agree with Brexit it was a job to him and he’s admitted in the past Britain is better off in the EU but it was his remit to get them out . I dare say if vote remain had recruited him he would have gone there. He doesn’t align with the Tories , once again it’s a job and as Cameron said he’s a career psychopath nothing more nothing less , He may have helped Boris draw up the slogans etc but he doesn’t believe in anything but himself. The man is arrogant and insensitive to anything other than his immediate family , he has no life long friendships . As I said earlier he doesn’t care if he’s sacked or not , it’s immaterial to him his arrogance and disregard when questioned about others that have been restricted and unable to attend dying loved ones was meh to him . This is Boris hanging on to him not him hanging on to the job . He really is Boris’s Rasputin.
Take your pick: Matthew and Sarah Elliot. Steve Bannon. Various other shady very rich, political figures, but given his time in Russia there are potential links to Putin. Same people that fund 55 Tufton Street and the various "Think Tanks" located there - TPA, etc.