So angry about this witch hunt

Well, we've been told that those criticising should take a long hard look at themselves.

I have.

Nope. Followed all the rules; done nothing that I need to lie about, or make ridiculous excuses for.

I don't understand people saying he broke no laws. For a start, driving with impaired eyesight is an offence.

Emily Thornberry had to resign for tweeting a picture of a white van. This man can’t even apologise for causing so much offence. Plus all the lies makes me sick. Lockdown is over for many of us who were sticking to the rules before- we now have to act on our instincts apparently.

How many people have kept to the rules and not seen dying loved ones, held their hand , said their last goodbyes?
How many people have become ill and thought 'what will happen to my children if I die?'
How many people have wanted to travel to walk on the beach or in a bluebell wood ?
How many single parents have lain awake at night worrying about what would happen if they fall ill and die?
What about all of the worries that people have had over the last few weeks ? will I still have a job for instance ?
And how many of them decided to stay at home because the government told us to to save lives?
So , those of us who have worried ourselves sick but have stuck to the rules have a right to be angry with him.
Clearly his needs are more important that mine ,or yours . In my book that is selfish and wrong.
He should go. I am signing the petition.

“Cummings’ defenders make ludicrous claims that this is akin to a witch-hunt. Any attempt to preserve one of the most influential figures in the country from scrutiny by bestowing victimhood on him must be resisted. Cummings broke his own rules; everything else is noise, and a public health strategy that exists to preserve human life has been undermined.
The reasons for the government’s current panic are obvious. Boris Johnson does not believe he can survive without Cummings,”
This is a quote but appropriate to this thread.

So you believed that charade? Suddenly the arrogant, rude Cummings is humble and stuttering? In a borrowed shirt to appear more ‘respectable ’.

Come off it! They concocted a story to fit indisputable facts.

They had clearly been spotted out twice at Barnard Castle by reliable witnesses. So they needed to have a cover story or two - his wife insisted they go for a drive to test his eyes (witness 1) and on the way back they stopped to let his son wee in the woods (witnesses 2&3)

In both instances it apparently necessitated the whole family getting out and going for a walk. Why not just tell the truth and say ‘we had been self isolating for 14 days and needed to get out’? That was a more likely scenario but no, he had to lie. It was so obviously a lie, And there’s no reason to believe any of the rest of it either.

Secondly he didn’t tell his ‘boss’ until a few days later. Really? And they can’t remember the exact day or much of the conversation because they were both ill (not that there is any evidence that any of his family had the virus). A quick check of phone records would give that date.

So Boris knew this and didn’t choose to do anything about it until the Guardian made it public.

So that’s a witch hunt is it? Very Trumpian language.

I hope the press keep digging.

It seems to me that some of this is envy, because he and his family are well off and have a farm with two cottages.

I'm not a fan of DC nor a habitual Tory voter, and I agree, he's been arrogant. But I'm uncomfortable with the way he is being hounded. It does seem like a witch hunt to me. I find I'm with Silversurfer, Lemongrove and GrannyGravy on this one.

I think he gave a creditable performance yesterday. He was patient and straightforward against a very hostile media pack. Not everyone has a spare cottage they can go to in an emergency. I think that's part of the issue here.

I wouldn't be overly concerned at this juncture as the man will go. He won't/hasn't apologised and therefore he won't say he's going either but will just " vanish " without saying.

John Crace has nailed it again

Of course it’s not “envy”. The man broke his own rules. Hasn’t even apologised, just arrogant misleading justification. He could have been staying in a caravan for all I care.

Yes Furret, an unconvincing 'explanation' and he's totally misjudged the mood of the nation. First, they try to brush it under the carpet, now they try to draw a line under it - but it's just not working is it?

So, how are we all feeling about the shops that are going to open shortly? Will you all be dashing off to visit them? Are we moving fast enough/too fast to balance saving our economy with saving our lives?

That’s a different thread I think. See that the Express is using the same distraction tactic to draw attention away from DC.

Johnson used schools then retail today to distract from Cummings, he is despicable.

It’s a witch-hunt and they are doing a fine job of not asking about schooling, testing or tracing. Our MSM is appalling.

As a lifelong Labour movement subscriber, I have to say that it was fortunate that the press did carry out the deep questioning of Cummings, for Kier Starmer has been nowhere to be seen throughout this weekend of dep crisis for the government.

The invisible man who evidently lacks the judgment to know when the opportune moment is for an opposition leader to "show up" and really go after the government.

A huge disappointment for all who are Labour subscribers and without doubt Starmer has failed his first real test as a leader.

May not play well when the trade union members political levy subscriptions have to be reaffirmed later this year.

Envy?
I wouldn't want to be Cummings for all the tea in China.

I prefer having integrity.

A disappointment to you grandad, not to many. Starmer is playing this well. You let them drown in their own mess first.

Starmer is playing a long game. This government are scoring enough own goals at the moment.

The trouble is Callistemon that the moment has passed. You can drive as far as you like now (unless you’re still shielding). The press hunt in a pack. If they’d focused on Cummings misdemeanours when it was quietly and briefly reported just after the event, it would have meant a lot more, but the pack were hunting PPE at the time.

Galaxy, in regard to your above post @07:23 today, with the Schools reopening and all the problems that may bring the Cummings fiasco may well be long forgotten by the media within a week and Johnson will be off the hook.

There was a huge chance for Labour to really get after the Prime Minister, if not the whole government, over the last three days but Starmer has not even shown up.

This unprecedented government crisis was a very large opportunity for the new Labour leader to show his real potential, and he has blatantly failed.

I disagree utterly, I trust his judgement more than yours I am afraid.

Galaxy no one has to trust my judgment in this matter as I am not a member of the government or opposition.

However, we have to listen to Starmer as he is the leader of the main political opposition in Britain and in that an alternative government.

However, with Kier Starmer throughout this weekend of crisis, there has been little to listen too and most definitely nothing to see.

Perhaps he was having a few beers at a barbecue. ?

What I dont understand about the Cummings fiasco is why the press arent making more of the fact that he went into work when he or his wife were displaying symptoms, he cant hide behind his childcare dilemma on that point.