Interesting. I think the Durham police response was proportionate and, I feel, broadly in line with my previous assessment based on Cummings's statement and what facts had been published. The main journey from London to Durham wasn't a breach of the relations but (and this wasn't a police matter so not for them to comment on) wasn't in line - certainly, in my opinion and I suspect many others' - with doing one's civic duty with regard to the government's guidance to stay at home except in an emergency. Given that, I think resignation is appropriate but if the government is going to fall apart without him, as Johnson obviously fears, at the very least Cummings should apologise saying that, firstly, with hindsight he was wrong and made a hasty decision that he now regrets and, secondly and most importantly, that he hopes no one will follow his error of judgement. It does raise a concern, firstly, that the government is so dependent on a single individual (I hope that proverbial bus is locked in a garage so he doesn't fall under it) and, secondly, that such a key and supposedy intelligent person made such a poor judgement; has he made similar poor decisions or bad recommendations under pressure?
Michael Ixer ● 1806d