Dominic Cummings to make public statement this afternoon

[lisvaneblue]

Johnson stops questions about Cummings to the scientists on the grounds they are "political" - he just doesn't get it does he. This matter has gone beyond politics and goes to the heart of whether guidelines will be adhered to in the same way as they were before. There was a poll showing that 55% of Conservative voters think Cummings should go - we cannot go through this pandemic with huge numbers of people thinking that the rules do not apply to those at the top and exactly the same would apply if there was a Labour government.

Luckily, or maybe not, you don’t have to worry about Boris and co, because its what Mark Drakeford says that matters.

[the other bob wilson]

Luckily, or maybe not, you don’t have to worry about Boris and co, because its what Mark Drakeford says that matters.

This crosses national borders though. There are going to be people in Wales who take the "if it's good enough for Dominic Cummings, it's good enough for me" line and I can only hope that there will not be tragic consequences of such thinking - the people of the UK need to show they are better than those who govern us and their cronies, although I accept that's a low bar I've set.

[Rjk]

When I was young, people in politics used to "fall on their sword" even when they weren't really guilty of much (for example, I couldn't really see why Lord Carrington resigned as Foreign Secretary over the Falklands War), but that all changed a long time ago. Now, people cling on to their jobs for as long as they can and sometimes managed to brazen it through their crisis, but I don't think I've ever seen anything like this before. Hopefully, for the good of the country, I'm wrong, but nothing that's happened so far has been enough to get Cummings out, so I don't really see why this will alter anything.

I remember when Jacqui Smith had to resign from a job it was fairly widely accepted she was doing very well because her husband watched a porno on demand

[Rjk]

Your comment about the return trip was interesting. There was a picture in the Telegraph last week of a bloke who runs and antique shop or similar in Barnards Castle and he looks just like DC.

He commented that is frequently called Dominic and until the news broke he never knew why

you're desperate for this guy to catch a break aren't you?

[lisvaneblue]

you're desperate for this guy to catch a break aren't you?

No

[Baloo]

Please tell me when I mentioned a fair and balanced outcome. I said it will probably blow over.

Meanwhile the police have said that a minor misdemeanour took place and no further action needed

That is probably a fair and balanced outcome from UK law enforcement

‘Im not defending DC but Im trying to be fair.’

‘Emily Maitlis however did break the rules of her employment, so lets try to be a bit balanced.’

Given we were discussing various outcomes (sacking, inquiries, disciplinaries) in both cases I presumed you felt your position was the fair and balanced one.

However I’ve really found your train of thought quite difficult to follow tbh.

[lisvaneblue]

‘Im not defending DC but Im trying to be fair.’

‘Emily Maitlis however did break the rules of her employment, so lets try to be a bit balanced.’

Given we were discussing various outcomes (sacking, inquiries, disciplinaries) in both cases I presumed you felt your position was the fair and balanced one.

However I’ve really found your train of thought quite difficult to follow tbh.

Well your presumption was wrong. I was trying to be fair for DC because people are after his blood. On this board some because he did wrong, and some because he’s a Tory so can do nothing right.

The other was Emily when I mentioned balanced, so please don’t emulsify the two as if they are one.

In conclusion I’m pleased that our law enforcers are the ones that have come up with a fair and balanced view, at least for DC

[CCFCC3PO]

Well your presumption was wrong. I was trying to be fair for DC because people are after his blood. On this board some because he did wrong, and some because he’s a Tory so can do nothing right.

The other was Emily when I mentioned balanced, so please don’t emulsify the two as if they are one.

In conclusion I’m pleased that our law enforcers are the ones that have come up with a fair and balanced view, at least for DC

Cummings isn't a Tory.

[lisvaneblue]

Cummings isn't a Tory.

I won’t argue with such privileged information, but I bet the majority of the board think he is

[The Bloop]

Frequently?! He said that it happened once. It doesn't matter anyway as Dominic Cummings confirmed that he went to Barnard Castle.

If you think the guy on the left "looks just like DC" - maybe you need to head to Barnard Castle yourself and get your eyes tested.

Is the one on the left one of the presenters of Bargain Hunt?

[Baloo]

I was trying to be fair for DC because people are after his blood. On this board some because he did wrong, and some because he’s a Tory so can do nothing right.

In conclusion I’m pleased that our law enforcers are the ones that have come up with a fair and balanced view, at least for DC

Having purveyed yourself as offering fairness and balance to this board I felt your disinterest In any inquiry and relish at it just blowing over a little disappointing. Let’s move on.

40+ Tory MPs said he was wrong. The Daily Mail said he was wrong. A large proportion of the population when polled thought he was wrong. Even you, after his detailed statement and subsequent cabinet backing couldn’t commit to saying he was right. You might just have to accept people just think he was wrong.

I wasn’t pushing for police action. The police said they would have sent him home if he was intercepted. It’s shocking and worrying that he and the cabinet apparently don’t understand the rules they created and instruct us to follow.

[jeepster]

Having purveyed yourself as offering fairness and balance to this board I felt you’re disinterest In any inquiry and relish at it just blowing over a little disappointing. Let’s move on.

40+ Tory MPs said he was wrong. The Daily Mail said he was wrong. A large proportion of the population when polled thought he was wrong. Even you, after his detailed statement and subsequent cabinet backing couldn’t commit to saying he was right. You might just have to accept people just think he was wrong.

I wasn’t pushing for police action. The police said they would have sent him home if he was intercepted. It’s shocking that he the cabinet apparently don’t understand the rules they created and instruct us to follow.

Yep spot on

[Eric Cartman]

I won’t argue with such privileged information, but I bet the majority of the board think he is

Oh shit, I didn't realise that

Fixed for you

[the other bob wilson]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...-wave-covid-19

[the other bob wilson]

Clearly another case where there were exceptional circumstances;-

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...th-journalists

[Vindec]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...-wave-covid-19

I agree that the Cummings excuses are laughable but in the interests of balance there is also this case - not nearly as bad as the others but are breaches nonetheless.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-a9540936.html

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/poli...-a4459551.html

[Croesy Blue]

I agree that the Cummings excuses are laughable but in the interests of balance there is also this case - not nearly as bad as the others but are breaches nonetheless.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-a9540936.html

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/poli...-a4459551.html

They’re both clearly in the wrong, both called out by the party and one resigned from the front bench. Cummings was defended.