Just had a look on Google maps....the journey from Durham to Barnard Castle, whilst being pretty straight forward, consists of a lot of driving in the countryside making the trip pretty demanding for someone who is not functioning 100%. The river, where he says he stopped before turning back, is at the far side of the town from his start point and not the most obvious place to stop and turn around.....unless you are just out sightseeing as treat for your wife. Why drive to what is a tourist area and not just have a spin around where his house is when people were being told to avoid such areas and people were being rounded up,practically, by the police, followed by drones on the moors etc People were,and still are, being told to avoid areas like the Lakes, Dales etc yet he felt fit to travel there with his family.
Johnson can’t win now. If he sacks him now, it’s obvious that he has been forced into it and pressure has forced his hand. If he doesn’t sack him, Cummings hangs around like a bad smell, reminding the public of the injustices imposed on them by this government. Johnson’s only choice was to be decisive and sack him the moment the story broke. He’s not known for being decisive and so missed the boat. Not the judgement of a prime minister I think
Sad part is the " blue rinse brigade" will have sympathy with him and by the time the next election comes around, it will all be forgotten and this inept bunch of clowns will probably get another term in office.
He gave a statement and was asked many a hostile question. Just stick to what he said and what he answered.There's enough there without anyone on here coming up with anything else.
Now then.....Cummings spoke about his concern about coronavirus' in the past supposedly. Will he therefore confirm if sacked that he wasn't listened to and his own government spun **** against him? Sounded like he's got an axe to grind on that matter.
Just listening back what he said. "We ended up on the outskirts of Barnard Castle, parked by the river, had a 15 stroll,,,,turned back." (Not exact words). Makes it sound as though A. It was not a specific destination........even though it is a well known tourist spot and not somewhere you just come across when driving from Durham. B. Outskirts makes it sound like he got there, pulled up before hitting the town centre, then went home after a 15m stroll..........you have to drive through the entire town to get to ANY part of the river.
Yes, but he made it sound like ....."Oh, here's and tourist spot coming up....we'd better stop and go back immediately like we've been telling the plebs to do !" when in fact what happened was more like "Ha, here's that scenic beauty spot I was telling you about, we'll negotiate the town centre and find a wonderful spot by the river to have a little stroll and relax a while whilst enjoying the view.....happy birthday darling....told you I'd treat you to something the plebs can't have !"
Just watching the presser again (I didn't believe my ears the first time) and what struck me was how the "Statement" was written very much in the style of Beatrix Potter or Enid Blyton!