UK says PM's adviser did not break lockdown rules with 400 km drive

 

FILE PHOTO: Dominic Cummings, special adviser for Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, leaves his home in London, Britain, March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resisted calls on Saturday from opposition parties to sack adviser Dominic Cummings after he travelled 400 km while his wife showed COVID-19 symptoms to ensure their son could be looked after by his parents.

 

Cummings, who masterminded the 2016 campaign to leave the European Union during the Brexit referendum, travelled the 250 miles to Durham in northern England in late March, when a strict lockdown was already in place, the Guardian and Mirror newspapers reported.

 

Johnson's office said his adviser made the journey to ensure his young son could be properly cared for as his wife was ill with COVID-19 and there was a "high likelihood" that Cummings would himself become unwell.

 

"His actions were in line with coronavirus guidelines," a Downing Street spokesman said. "Mr Cummings believes he behaved reasonably and legally."

 

One of Johnson's most senior ministers, Michael Gove, said of the situation: "Caring for your wife and child is not a crime."

 

But opposition parties called for Johnson to sack Cummings.

 

"Dominic Cummings should have done the right thing, he should have resigned but now that he hasn't, Boris Johnson must show leadership and he must remove him from office immediately," the Scottish National Party's parliamentary leader, Ian Blackford, said.

 

The Labour Party said there should not be one rule for politicians and another rule for the British people. The Liberal Democrats said that if Cummings broke the guidelines, he should resign.

 

British guidelines say people should stay at home and refrain from visiting family members unless they need essential items such as food or medication.

 

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Angus MacSwan and John Stonestreet)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-28

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

As I said in another topic: will those who were vociferous in their condemnation of Sturgeon's support for Dr Catherine Calderwood be equally vociferous here?

 

As most of them are prominent government and Brexit supporters, somehow I doubt it!

special adviser says it all - he's special! One of the reasons folks don't pay much attention to authorities during a crisis, so don't be shocked when the 2nd wave bites a lot harder than the 1st.. 

Misleading headline - the UK has not exonerated him; he is clearly guilty of contravening guidelines. The only ones in a position of authority who are supporting him are those desperately trying to portray their truly horrific response to the pandemic as measured and appropriate. 

how many people did he had contact with and potentially infected in his driving journey... shame on you cummings, if you have any balls just resign to show that you follow your own covid social distancing recommendations, leaders are supposed to be an example (I know I am asking to much from you and your gang of geeks)

28 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

don't be shocked when the 2nd wave bites a lot harder than the 1st.. 

This is the second wave...

57 minutes ago, ukrules said:

This is the second wave...

So when did the first wave finnish then  

I don’t know what info Cummings has on people in the government but he seems to have them all by the short and curlies. They will defend anything he does.

Shock, horror and go to the foot of our stairs, what father would not want to be with his child whilst his mother was ill. Well done Dom for being a decent human being. All your fiercist critics on here would have done exactly the same, infact they wouldn't be much of a father if they didn't. But hey let's make it political and crucify the guy for being decent.

1 minute ago, vogie said:

Shock, horror and go to the foot of our stairs, what father would not want to be with his child whilst his mother was ill. Well done Dom for being a decent human being. All your fiercist critics on here would have done exactly the same, infact they wouldn't be much of a father if they didn't. But hey let's make it political and crucify the guy for being decent.

Did you read the story? He wanted to get rid of the kid by dumping him on the grandparents 260 miles away. He had been in contact with a known Covid case (johnson) and both he and his wife had symptoms. So the kid , who was possibly Covid+ too was driven 260 miles to be dumped on his aged parents. Not a good parent, not a good son and criminally in breach of just about every government guideline on Covid.

7 minutes ago, vogie said:

Shock, horror and go to the foot of our stairs, what father would not want to be with his child whilst his mother was ill. Well done Dom for being a decent human being. All your fiercist critics on here would have done exactly the same, infact they wouldn't be much of a father if they didn't. But hey let's make it political and crucify the guy for being decent.

Except most other people couldn't do it could they? They were told not to. One rule for the elite, one for everyone else. 

3 minutes ago, vogie said:

Shock, horror and go to the foot of our stairs, what father would not want to be with his child whilst his mother was ill. Well done Dom for being a decent human being. All your fiercist critics on here would have done exactly the same, infact they wouldn't be much of a father if they didn't. But hey let's make it political and crucify the guy for being decent.

17th March - the government's own guidelines:

One rule for some another rule for others.

 

 

2 minutes ago, Phil McCaverty said:

Did you read the story? He wanted to get rid of the kid by dumping him on the grandparents 260 miles away. He had been in contact with a known Covid case (johnson) and both he and his wife had symptoms. So the kid , who was possibly Covid+ too was driven 260 miles to be dumped on his aged parents. Not a good parent, not a good son and criminally in breach of just about every government guideline on Covid.

Sometimes government guidelines take second place when there is family problems, if he thought that his son would be better cared for 260 miles away it says to me 'good father' 

As Michael Gove said "caring for your family is not a crime"

Just now, vogie said:

Sometimes government guidelines take second place when there is family problems, if he thought that his son would be better cared for 260 miles away it says to me 'good father' 

As Michael Gove said "caring for your family is not a crime"

By his aged parents when the kid was possibly Covid+? He could have employed an agency nurse to look after the kid at home. Might say to you "good father", to me it says "lousy father, lousy son and extremely irresponsible citizen of the UK".

9 minutes ago, KhaoNiaw said:

Except most other people couldn't do it could they? They were told not to. One rule for the elite, one for everyone else. 

 

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The Labour Party said there should not be one rule for politicians and another rule for the British people. The Liberal Democrats said that if Cummings broke the guidelines, he should resign.

 

Nobody seemed bothered (especially Labour) when Stephen Kinnock visited his down and out parents during the lockdown, to the best of my knowledge he is still a MP is he not.

So you are correct, one rule for Labour and another for everybody else.

4 minutes ago, vogie said:

Sometimes government guidelines take second place when there is family problems, if he thought that his son would be better cared for 260 miles away it says to me 'good father' 

As Michael Gove said "caring for your family is not a crime"

It’s not quite that simple.

 

Putting aside the obvious and real risk of this idiot spreading the disease, the Government he advises has enacted restrictions of movement that has cause severe hardship for millions of people.

 

And yet here Gove is defending someone who refuses to abide by the rules the Government have put in place.

 

It stinks of privilege for the few in contempt of the many.

 

 

2 minutes ago, Phil McCaverty said:

By his aged parents when the kid was possibly Covid+? He could have employed an agency nurse to look after the kid at home. Might say to you "good father", to me it says "lousy father, lousy son and extremely irresponsible citizen of the UK".

One mans meat is another mans poison. Say hello to the darkside from me.????????????

1 minute ago, vogie said:

 

Nobody seemed bothered (especially Labour) when Stephen Kinnock visited his down and out parents during the lockdown, to the best of my knowledge he is still a MP is he not.

So you are correct, one rule for Labour and another for everybody else.

Oh Jeez, here we go deflection central. We are discussing Dominic Cummings, not Steven Kinnock (another tosser).

Stupid rules anyway, bit like the new quarantine one coming in. It states that you might get a spot check phone call to see if you are adhering to the quarantine, pointless and unenforceable.

1 hour ago, Mavideol said:

how many people did he had contact with and potentially infected in his driving journey... shame on you cummings, if you have any balls just resign to show that you follow your own covid social distancing recommendations, leaders are supposed to be an example (I know I am asking to much from you and your gang of geeks)

 

All part of the gang , untouchable , sworn too sovereignty.

   Nuff said ...

 

18 minutes ago, Phil McCaverty said:

Did you read the story? He wanted to get rid of the kid by dumping him on the grandparents 260 miles away. He had been in contact with a known Covid case (johnson) and both he and his wife had symptoms. So the kid , who was possibly Covid+ too was driven 260 miles to be dumped on his aged parents. Not a good parent, not a good son and criminally in breach of just about every government guideline on Covid.

According to the sky report

"His sister and nieces had volunteered to help so he went to a house near to but separate from his extended family in case their help was needed. His sister shopped for the family and left everything outside

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-labour-demands-explanation-after-reports-dominic-cummings-broke-lockdown-rules-11993051

 

So no case of dumping on the grandparents as you stated

Why now and how did this enter public domain? Political sculduggery would be my guess. Plod can expect to have to explain themselves via the appropriate authorities if the leak leads to their door, again ????

9 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

According to the sky report

"His sister and nieces had volunteered to help so he went to a house near to but separate from his extended family in case their help was needed. His sister shopped for the family and left everything outside

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-labour-demands-explanation-after-reports-dominic-cummings-broke-lockdown-rules-11993051

 

So no case of dumping on the grandparents as you stated

He took the kid to his grandparents, Their neighbors saw him and reported him to the police who visited the grandparents house and found Cummings there.

 

Your link doesn't work for me. Here's a sky news link that does work:

 

 

2 minutes ago, Phil McCaverty said:

He took the kid to his grandparents, Their neighbors saw him and reported him to the police who visited the grandparents house and found Cummings there.

Durham Police confirmed they spoke to the owners of a property on 31 March 

No report of Police  speaking with Cummings or finding Cummings on the property

2 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

Durham Police confirmed they spoke to the owners of a property on 31 March 

No report of Police  speaking with Cummings or finding Cummings on the property

See my edit.

Shock, horror. Family with family emergency ask other members of the family to help.

13 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Why now and how did this enter public domain? Political sculduggery would be my guess. Plod can expect to have to explain themselves via the appropriate authorities if the leak leads to their door, again ????

Now the people who should be afraid are those who reveal wrong doing by somebody with friends in high places.

 

Disgusting.

2 minutes ago, Phil McCaverty said:

See my edit.

no problem with this link not sure what its not working for you

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-labour-demands-explanation-after-reports-dominic-cummings-broke-lockdown-rules-11993051

Even the Guardian have stated

However Dr Jenny Harries said at the daily Downing Street press briefing on 24 March that a small child could be considered “vulnerable”.

Clearly if you have adults who are unable to look after a small child, that is an exceptional circumstance. And if the individuals do not have access to care support - formal care support - or to family, they will be able to work through their local authority hubs.

27 minutes ago, vogie said:

 

Nobody seemed bothered (especially Labour) when Stephen Kinnock visited his down and out parents during the lockdown, to the best of my knowledge he is still a MP is he not.

So you are correct, one rule for Labour and another for everybody else.

Exactly, proves the point. One rule for the elite and another for everyone else. It's obviously something that applies to all of the ruling elite. 
So do you have a problem with one of them, both of them or neither of them?