Forum Topic

Campbell Can But Cummings Can't

Alastair Campbell breaks social distancing rules for speedo man selfie
Mr Campbell posted a picture on Twitter of himself with Speedo Mick Came after he took an early dip in the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park in LondonHe has spent days vocally criticising Dominic Cummings over lockdown breach 
Mr Campbell posted a picture on Twitter of himself with Speedo Mick early this morning after taking a dip in the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park.The image, since deleted, will fuel claims of hypocrisy as he has spent days vocally criticising Dominic Cummings after Boris Johnson's chief aide broke the lockdown rules to drive from London to Durham.https://mol.im/a/8361403
I checked online media but couldn't find this reported on BBC, Guardian, Mirror.  I wonder why?  Or have I missed it?

Sue Hammond ● 2143d11 Comments

Campbell, like Corbyn, is yesterday's man. He's of a similar ilk to Cummings, more ethical perhaps, but as annoying and as arrogant.

Michael Ixer ● 2142d

Mr Payne'But Dominica Cummings is needed, so bad luck everyone, he's staying'.But he is only needed by Johnson who does not have an original thought in his head unless it wears a skirt, and certainly has no idea how to get us through the pandemic.https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/26/dominic-cummings-boris-johnson-terrified-sack-himAbove is a perceptive yet humorous take on the Cummings/Johnson affair.This time not with a blousy tech start up gel ! 

John Hawkes ● 2142d

Suppose you were an idiot,suppose you were a member of Congress.But I repeat myself.Mark Twain

Hugh Thompson ● 2143d

I wonder Bunny if DC is needed.  Some say he is essential!  As was Campbell at the time, I regret to say. Theresa May's words still ring in my ear:  advisers advise, Ministers decide. And I do not think Campbell is trying to be the limelight, at least not much, but he does have a point. I still cannot understand why we had the charade of the statement of an adviser (!!!!) in the garden of 10 Downing Street.  As the saying goes, "the buck stops with the PM".  All of this could have been cleared very quickly if DC had said I made I mistake and apologies for offending anybody.  No, it had to be a convoluted message, finding information on footnotes of a document organized by DC...  And then he goes for a drive to test his eyesight.  I am sorry, that is a total travesty of common sense, the one BoJo is now highlighting. Can you see, with the new quarantine rules for people flying into the UK and if they, or others, flout the self-isolation rules, there will be financial penalties....  Hmmmmmm  

Ivonne Holliday ● 2143d

So much political manoevering, like it or hate it, lots of lockdown rules have been broken, I nearly got thrown into the hedge the other day walking down the LRR with gangs of people walking towards me.  But Dominica Cummings is needed, so bad luck everyone, he's staying.  And Campbell should mind his own business and stop trying to be in the limelight all the time.

Bunny Payne ● 2143d

@Ed 17.00"No. I wish he could resign from being Alistair Campbell!"I'm with you on that one Ed!I don't see what you are getting at in your last comment 🤔 but I see everybody as equal.

Sue Hammond ● 2143d

Campbell knew what he was doing. He set it up so that he could apologise and offer his head if he were still a public servant:-"Mr Campbell admitted the breach and told his Twitter followers it was a ‘definite breach of social distancing’. ‘Hands up! Too slow as fans flocked around taking pics of pecs as I went for my swim,’ he said. ‘I apologise unreservedly for this lapse. If I still held a public position I would offer my resignation to the PM immediately.’(Metro today)Good line:-'If I still held a public position I would offer my resignation to the PM immediately.’

David Ainsworth ● 2143d

"So Ed, that makes it alright for Campbell to flout"No. I wish he could resign from being Alistair Campbell! Perhaps they could take his pipes away or something  although they probably keep pigeons and foxes away.I don't see the connection to Cummings. It seems you hold individuals and opposition to a higher level than government. A very odd view!

Ed Robinson ● 2143d

Of course it's not alright for him to do it - and if he were a member of the government, Sage or any other body responsible for providing guidance to the population he should rightly resign

Craig Fordham ● 2143d

So Ed, that makes it alright for Campbell to flout the social distancing rules then?  And possibly the lockdown distance rule as well?

Sue Hammond ● 2143d

It could be a number of reasons: he is not sitting on sage He is not advising the government He did not help draw up the rules. The Cummings episode was when the virus wasn't widespread throughout the country. It is now towards end of May and the lockdown message has been diluted by Dear Leader!But you already knew all the above!

Ed Robinson ● 2143d