The Dominic Cummings file

[cupid_stunt]

didnt someone point out that they were due to do last nights, turned up and were then sent home?

Some guy on Sky was just commenting on this again, Whitty and Vallance arrived yesterday & were told the briefing was most likely going to be about Cummings, and left again, not sure if that was their call or Downing Street's call.

 

[SpineyNorman]

You finish your durham quarantine, then you drive back, then you re-emerge because by then you are in London. You choose not to mention that you have been in Durham but why would you? There is a slightly complicated thing about public messaging where it makes sense not to advertise that you have been doing stuff that you consider to have been within your interpretation of the rules, but which it would not be helpful if everyone decided they could do it in a looser definition of 'exceptional circumstances'. I know that is to some extent 'one rule for us' but it's also the reality of how public health messaging works.

With all due respect, LOL

 

[frogwoman]

Whitty and Vallance need to resign asap.

 

[cupid_stunt]

At last confirmation that Durham police have started their investigation.

Durham police have begun their investigation into Dominic Cummings’ alleged breaking of lockdown rules, the Guardian and Daily Mirror have learned.

A witness has been interviewed by detectives, while the officers also have access to software to track the movement of a vehicle used by the prime minister’s top aide.

The developments came after Cummings denied any wrongdoing. It also follows police being asked on Monday to establish the facts by Steve White, the acting police, crime and victims’ commissioner for Durham, who oversees the force.

Durham police open investigation into Dominic Cummings

Key witness interviewed and police have access to vehicle-tracking software amid claims aide broke lockdown

www.theguardian.com

Just another bit of fun.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Of course he's only a spad. He can resign without saying anything at all if he likes. He's not actually a public figure.

This is a fair point.

But these are also unprecedented times.

 

[Septimus Rufiji]

Michael Gove has just been on LBC to say he drives to check his eyesight.

 

[Raheem]

From Hancock's press conference, Cummings' "exceptional circumstance" seems to be that he and his partner had no alternative childcare available in the house.

 

[frogwoman]

People died because they were told to stay home rather than go to hospital.

 

[DaveCinzano]

Who was the reporter between Peston and Gibbon? She was raging

Beth Rigby, political editor at Sky News.

Tracked down some footage of her putting her questions to the Odd Dunelmian

 

[frogwoman]

Why havent Whitty and Vallance gone? They need to if they're to retain any integrity.

 

[ruffneck23]

 

[chilango]

People died because they were told to stay home rather than go to hospital.

The murdering public school bastards have form on this...

Lest we forget.

 

[Calamity1971]

4X4 cunt mobile

 

[Mogden]

That sums up just how much of a mindfuck this whole thing is when a spoof news reporter is more sincere and honest and hard hitting than what is actually being done.

 

[ruffneck23]

Breaking a rule of never listening to Fartrage ( typo , but fuck it it's staying..), on LBC , most of the callers are still really angry , self confessed brexiters too, and this is the problem for the tossers, it's united the country.

 

[Roadkill]

In a roundabout way I think that may have been LBJ's point. They can't carry on with the conferences being dominated by Cumming's undermining of the advice. So yeah, still more likely they'll stop the conferences than make Cummings resign.

I think you may be right, and - and not aimed at you: a general observation - this is precisely why in any sane set of circumstances he would have gone long ago. The focus of these briefings should be on what the situation is with the virus and what the government and essential services are doing, not some sort extra lobby briefing with added medics. It's because of his role in bringing about and sustaining the insane circumstances we're in that this might be a possibility. It's absolute madness, and it's literally lethal.

e2a - sorry, stating the obvious there, but listening to a bit of the briefing kind of highlighted the sheer obscenity of the situation. Thousands of people have died unnecessarily because of these clowns.

 

[frogwoman]

Look there's certainly been problems with drive through opticians but it's way too soon to compare them with normal opticians, we don't know until the end.

 

[frogwoman]

It might be that driving along to Barnard Castle while coughing your lungs out actually saves your eyesight at the expense of short term pain. We just dont know. Who can tell? Total mystery.

 

[The39thStep]

This

If he's out he's out though. He might end up having the occasional chat with Johnson (should he stay!) from time to time but he will be out of the loop for the detail stuff the stuff he needs to be in the flow of. Anyways he'll probably think fuck this for a game of soldiers and head off for some multi-million-pound eyrie in some hedge fund/internet startup from where he can make a huge wedge in the shadows. Johnson seems to think he needs him but he definitely doesn't need him anymore.

Don’t think he’s going anywhere at the moment tbh. He doesn’t seem to stay too long in jobs , might be an ideas man and not a finisher completer. On one hand he could be the same as Steve Hilton bright blue sky thing one moment then forgotten the next . However his statement and interview suggests that he reports to Johnson on a cross cutting departmental reform programme and shielding Johnson . It’s a difficult role to fulfil unless you have the full confidence and ear of the person you are reporting to. Johnson’s put his cards on the table not with a ‘ Ive given him a stern warning but decided on merit to let him carry on ‘ type message but quite the reverse a glowing exoneration. Suggests that with that sort of endorsement he’s around for at least a little while longer . As I’ve said before they have 80 seats and a 4 years to see this out .

 

[killer b]

Why havent Whitty and Vallance gone? They need to if they're to retain any integrity.

Nah, they'll be fine. They shouldn't be, but.

 

[equationgirl]

It’s a really flimsy folding table. I was hoping one of the reporters was going to pick him up and body slam him on to to causing it to break in half al’la WWF ( not the one that’s nice to pandas, though that would have been cool too).

Surely panda slamming Dom a la WWF style into the table would have been far more believable that yesterday's press conference.

 

[The39thStep]

Tbf, Starmer has said that Cummings should be sacked. Trouble is he said it towards the end of a sentence, so most people will have lost concentration.

It’s the last sentence that should contain the message .

 

[frogwoman]

Nah, they'll be fine. They shouldn't be, but.

How the fuck can they stand and watch this shit show? If nothing else the whole thing will be pinned on them,

 

[two sheds]

It’s the last sentence that should contain the message .

The important bit was towards the end of the sentence so I didn't get that far

 

[tommers]

It might be that driving along to Barnard Castle while coughing your lungs out actually saves your eyesight at the expense of short term pain. We just dont know. Who can tell? Total mystery.

 

[Humberto]

This from last year shows he is some kind of chancer anyway.

Dominic Cummings accused of conflict of interest over NHS fund

Boris Johnson’s aide was consultant for AI startup that could win share of £250m fund

www.theguardian.com

 

[kenny g]

The thing about liars is if they get away with it they start to think they have control over the truth.

 

[keybored]

That would explain a thing or two

Those missing darknet orders.

 

[Badgers]

Police: Public using Cummings' actions as excuse to breach lockdown

Serving officer in London says two people caught breaking lockdown rules told him 'well if Dominic Cummings can do what he wants then we should be able to too'

www.standard.co.uk

 

[SpineyNorman]

oh no, here he is, condemning... that guy who sent the tweet from the civil service twitter account before being sacked.

The man has become a complete joke, does anyone take him seriously any more?