'What planet are they on?' No respite for UK's Johnson and aide

By Estelle Shirbon

 

Dominic Cummings, special advisor for Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves his house in London following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), London, Britain, May 25, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced mutiny in his party and fury across Britain on Monday for refusing to sack his closest aide Dominic Cummings who is accused of flouting the coronavirus lockdown by driving 250 miles from London.

 

Defending one of Britain's most powerful men, Johnson said at the weekend Cummings acted "responsibly and legally and with integrity" by heading from London to northern England with his son and his wife, who was ill with COVID-19 symptoms.

 

Many believe that was hypocritical given the government's mantra at the time to avoid such movements.

 

"What planet are they on?" asked the Daily Mail, an influential right-wing paper usually supportive of Johnson and his adviser, who helped the prime minister to power and to secure Britain's exit from the European Union.

 

Some 20 ruling Conservative Party lawmakers, 14 Church of England bishops and some scientists also expressed anger.

 

"Johnson has now gone the full Trump," said Pete Broadbent, bishop of Willesden, comparing Britain's leader to his ever-controversial U.S. ally President Donald Trump.

 

With a death toll around 43,000, Britain is the worst-hit country in Europe and the government was already under pressure over its handling of the pandemic.

 

DIFFERENT RULES?

 

Conservative lawmakers reported being contacted by outraged constituents who had made sacrifices during the lockdown, including staying away from dying relatives.

 

"I got swamped with even more emails from people who don't have a political axe to grind and who say... 'it looks as though it's one rule for them and one for us, why should we now abide by government guidance?'," said lawmaker Tim Loughton.

 

Behavioural scientist Stephen Reicher, a member of a panel which advises the government, said the furore would wreck public confidence. "In a few short minutes tonight, Boris Johnson has trashed all the advice we have given on how to build trust and secure adherence to the measures necessary to control COVID-19."

 

Johnson's Downing Street office said Cummings made the journey to his parents' property in County Durham to ensure his four-year-old son could be properly cared for by relatives if he fell ill along with his wife.

 

At the time, the government's instruction to anyone showing symptoms was not to leave the house for 14 days.

 

The architect of the successful Brexit campaign in 2016, Cummings, 48, is a polarising figure, accused by many who wanted to stay in the EU of using inflammatory tactics and playing fast and loose with the facts.

 

Ominously for him and for Johnson, many of the lawmakers and newspaper columnists calling for him to be sacked were Brexit supporters, not his usual critics.

 

Coming home late on Sunday, Cummings was harangued by neighbours, including a woman who broke down in tears as she leaned out of her window and described the hardship she and her family had endured during the lockdown.

 

In contrast to Cummings, Scotland's chief medical officer and a senior epidemiologist who advised the government both resigned after admitting they had broken lockdown rules.

 

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7 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The architect of the successful Brexit campaign in 2016, Cummings, 48, is a polarising figure, accused by many who wanted to stay in the EU of using inflammatory tactics and playing fast and loose with the facts.

the roger stone of the UK

This will not go away as no doubt journalists will come up with proof of his other lockdown violations. He will have to go.

 

10 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Coming home late on Sunday, Cummings was harangued by neighbours, including a woman who broke down in tears as she leaned out of her window and described the hardship she and her family had endured during the lockdown.

Falling out with the neighbours, never a good idea. Expect s**t parcels through his letterbox.

 

 

Edited May 25, 20206 yr by Phil McCaverty

No let up today, expect more revelations soon. Bad judgement by Boris, the guy needs to fall on his sword or get sacked.

Presumably he's got some dirt on Boris he won't hesitate to use if need be, looks the type.

28 minutes ago, delgarcon said:

This will not go away as no doubt journalists will come up with proof of his other lockdown violations. He will have to go.

 

...until they do i see no evidence that Cummings did anything that any other parent wouldn't have done

2 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Presumably he's got some dirt on Boris he won't hesitate to use if need be, looks the type.

Yep, never trust a baldy. nasty pieces of work they are. 555

2 minutes ago, BillStrangeOgre said:

...until they do i see no evidence that Cummings did anything that any other parent wouldn't have done

You and a few hard right Tories are on your own with that one.

it's all nonsense just media hype and labour trying to get rid of him, they can smell blood. I hope he doesn't go and ignores it. Fed up with the media running the country

8 minutes ago, Phil McCaverty said:

You and a few hard right Tories are on your own with that one.

At least it was for a valid reason...the tree hugging bearded lefties are demonstrating in groups that the lockdown is wrong....

Cummings making a statement later today.

25 minutes ago, BillStrangeOgre said:

...until they do i see no evidence that Cummings did anything that any other parent wouldn't have done

Who looked after his son when he took his wife to Barnhard Castle on her birthday, The Bluebells where out as well.

17 minutes ago, baansgr said:

At least it was for a valid reason...the tree hugging bearded lefties are demonstrating in groups that the lockdown is wrong....

They weren't "lefties". One of their leaders was Corbyn's brother, Far from a leftie or a tree hugger. Long time climate change denier who was once supported by Maggie Thatcher.

Why hasn't he got tattoos, tattoos would suit him.

Edited May 25, 20206 yr by OneeyedJohn

48 minutes ago, norfolkandchance said:

Who looked after his son when he took his wife to Barnhard Castle on her birthday, The Bluebells where out as well.

allegedly took his wife to Barnhard castle...

1 hour ago, Phil McCaverty said:

Yep, never trust a baldy. nasty pieces of work they are. 555

Yeah ! Dodgy lookin  alright ! Toss him under a  bus Boris !

Erm....are the buses  running  in the UK  ?

 

56 minutes ago, norfolkandchance said:

Cummings making a statement later today.

Should be interesting

Johnson has missed a trick often used

by governments, immediate sacking,

wait 6 months and creep back in when

all the fuss dies down.

Those that govern us probably know

covid is not as deadly as they tell us.

1 hour ago, BillStrangeOgre said:

...until they do i see no evidence that Cummings did anything that any other parent wouldn't have done

Plenty of evidence that other parents have not done this.

This dreadful man has to go.

6 minutes ago, BillStrangeOgre said:

Should be interesting

Yes. Unless he is lying.

Of course this dreadful man would not,.

I’m opening a book. Will he stay or go.

Just now, norfolkandchance said:

I’m opening a book. Will he stay or go.

If he stays there will be trouble.

If he goes it will be double.

2 minutes ago, Malawi said:

Plenty of evidence that other parents have not done this.

This dreadful man has to go.

I doubt any parent would leave a 4 year old child in full time care with someone who was not immediate family and capable to do so

5 minutes ago, Malawi said:

Yes. Unless he is lying.

Of course this dreadful man would not,.

The stakes are very high now. If he's found to be lying he will probably bring Johnson down with him, especially after Johnson has so publicly backed him...my guess Cummings will be very careful what he says

Yesterdays 5pm press briefing was an absolute car crash for Boris he came out like a rabid blonde bulldog snapping at everything in sight slashing through questions so fast he could hardly speak cut off Peston stone dead very very funny watch it ????

Statement by Cummings at 4pm UK time.

1 hour ago, norfolkandchance said:

Cummings making a statement later today.

10 pm our time

 

I suspect he'll try riding this out which is the only thing he can do if MSMs media circus is to be kept at bay. Trial-by-media must not be allowed to prevail under any circumstances IMO.

Edited May 25, 20206 yr by evadgib

19 minutes ago, Phil McCaverty said:

Statement by Cummings at 4pm UK time.

 

1 minute ago, evadgib said:

10 pm our time

I'd bet Pritti Patel would have struggled with that one. Amazing,

1 hour ago, baansgr said:

At least it was for a valid reason...the tree hugging bearded lefties are demonstrating in groups that the lockdown is wrong....

The lockdown is wrong.