Forum Topic

Dominic Cummings to make statement on lockdown allegations

This is beyond ridiculous.  As an adviser to the government, he should be behind the scenes and not giving statements to the country and, by the way, answering questions.  Bizarre! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52798632

Ivonne Holliday ● 2359d13 Comments

Perhaps it's to try to dodge a police investigation? I'm sure the ANPR and CCTV technology can nail this ...https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/25/durham-police-chief-calls-for-investigation-into-dominic-cummings

Michael Ixer ● 2359d

"Mr Johnson has defended Mr Cummings, saying he believed his senior aide had "no alternative" but to make the journey from London at the end of March for childcare "when both he and his wife were about to be incapacitated by coronavirus".""No alternative" from Johnson. Surely they had the same alternative as thousands of other parents?"when both he and his wife were about to be incapacitated by coronavirus". And yet they weren't incapacitated as it turned out. So whose opinion was their exile based upon? Some doctor, or the opinion of a genius like Cummings? All they eventually needed was Durham Ocado - sandwiches chucked over the high wall.

David Ainsworth ● 2359d

I agree Ivonne. We are not interested in what this man has to say. He is not an elected representative of the country. He is employed in the back office. This gets dafter and dafter.Come on Boris sort it out.

Andy Pike ● 2359d

"Come on Boris sort it out."But Boris can't sort it out without Cummings telling him what to say.

David Ainsworth ● 2359d

Lets have the enquiry, Cummings head  on a plate if need be,but as the Telegraph points out Labour politicians Kinnock,Jones, Ali and Gething  have also been "guilty" of breaking the spirit of the lockdown. Now Starmer speaks fornational not party interest we await his statement.

Hugh Thompson ● 2359d

@Andy & IvonneAlastair Campbell wasn't elected either but he was always on television or speaking to the papers when he was employed by Blair. He certainly didn't stay in the back office, so what's the difference?

Sue Hammond ● 2359d

Mr and Mrs Cummings are both extremely busy working professionals so you'd expect them to have more than enough substitute child care on hand for their son which doesn't require them to drive up to Durham and back. And if there was a genuine emergency on the day in question you'd think a quick phone call from Cummings to Downing Street would have come up with a rapid solution.

Peter Evans ● 2359d

Worry about your own families stop worrying about Dominic Cummings. Worry about what the Government is trying too hide by keep going on about Mr .Cummings. They might be wanting all our attention on him so we miss something bigger.

Barbara Stevens ● 2359d

I think he's coming over very well this afternoon, I actually believe him and see his pov.  Yes, it has made it harder to keep the public "locked down" but I have much more admiration for him now.The press have always painted him as some kind of looney, but he seems an extremely intelligent and reasonable person.

Bunny Payne ● 2359d

No regret. No apology. No humility. I was following the rules. I did nothing wrong. Couldn’t bring himself to offer any hint of even admitting what he did was stupid even in terms of the backlash that he as an adviser should have seen coming. Not as clever as he’s made out to be. Sounded like a schoolboy in front of the headmaster making all kinds of justifications in the hope he’ll get himself of the hook.

Freddie Francis ● 2359d

I don't doubt his intelligence  but 'reasonable' ! I don't think  other parents in the same situation looking after their kids will agree nor those who are grieving friends and family lost to coronavirus .

Lucille Grant ● 2359d

I agree Lucille, I do not think reasonable is a characteristic that goes with Cummings.  Cunning yes, but not reasonable. We watched his "presentation" during the news because I switched on at 4pm, I waited for 20 minutes for him to come on and decided some housework was more important than Cummings.  I thought his speech was well sanitized, not an ounce of contrition, humility let alone empathy with the rest of the UK.  I was quite shocked when he said he drove to Barnard Castle to test his eyesight!!  He must think we are all fools.  I am sorry, he was never a saint of my devotion but I now truly dislike him;  I do not appreciate being taken for a ride. 

Ivonne Holliday ● 2359d

I reckon that driving to test his eyes was a potential offence in itself. Not sure I can see properly. Lets drive 60 miles to check. That should  raise questions about his judgement on its own.

Freddie Francis ● 2359d