Will he resign?

Downing Street claims it's all rubbish:

In response to the fresh claims in the papers' Sunday publications, Downing Street said: "Yesterday the Mirror and Guardian wrote inaccurate stories about Mr Cummings.

"Today they are writing more inaccurate stories including claims that Mr Cummings returned to Durham after returning to work in Downing Street on 14 April.

"We will not waste our time answering a stream of false allegations about Mr Cummings from campaigning newspapers."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52786206

Hmm … I guess we'll have to wait and see.

The Mail on Sunday seems to be willing to vilify Cummings to save Johnson's neck.

Meanwhile, the Spectator has removed Mrs Cummings' article (or at least put it behind a paywall) and a new article by Alex Massie is speculating how many people Cummings will take down with him.

It seems like there are forces within the Conservative Party wanting to save the party. I wonder who's behind it. Gove? Hunt? Javid?

And I wonder who wrote the Downing Street press release

The government’s apologists are now saying the story is all made up - so he didn’t go to Durham then ? Is that the new line from no 10?

A YouGov poll says that 68% of people think Cummings should resign.

It seems very Trumpian vegansrock. I think only the gullible would believe that. The government seems to be digging an even bigger hole for itself.

My theory is that Cummings wrote that denial and, of course, it makes people like Sunak, Hancock, Raab, Sharma, etc look really stupid for defending him.

They could be preparing for even more revelations. Petrol stations have CCTV, don't they?

Now it’s seen as a slur for a newspaper to be “campaigning”? Isn’t that what papers do?
Now is it the new line from no 10 ( i.e. Dom C ) that the Cummings didn’t leave London at all? Strange it was the weekend of her mothers birthday and they were to stay in her castle. We were told it was unacceptable to leave our primary residence to stay in second homes or go on holiday etc. We now know his wife has a brother who lived close by who could drop off food, Meds, help with child etc and like the rest of us I’m sure there are neighbours, community groups who would have done the same. They did not have to travel. Such action can’t be defended, so now he’s saying it didn’t happen.

I have no idea whether they were going to celebrate any birthday and I don't even think it's that relevant. The fact is that they did not need to travel. Mrs C claimed in her Spectator article that the family stayed together while the parents were ill, so it would have been possible for somebody to drop off food and supplies. If they don't already have one, they could even legitimately have hired a nanny, who could have cared for the child in a separate room with appropriate PPE. Thousands of people have had to do the same over the last few weeks. There are absolutely no mitigating circumstances. The rules were crystal clear and the majority of people followed them, sometimes sacrificing a lot.

Downing Street is calling Durham Police and two witnesses liars.

It's a disgrace that people like Jennie Harries and Suella Bravermann have presumably had pressure put on them to abandon what should be a professional, impartial position.

Apparently, the 1922 Committee (the "men in suits") aren't too happy about any of it.

So the governments position is

The two witnesses are liars

The Durham police are liars.

Which of course is itself a lie.

Where is governmental integrity?

Oh! Of course there is none!

Voting Johnson in as prime minister ?

Don’t expect moral rectitude, truth or integrity.

You can’t take anything at face value

Question everything, disbelieve everything.

I think it’s the second and consequent visits the government claim didn’t happen. Largely irrelevant. The first visit is enough to hang him (meterphorically speaking of course!).

Petition signed!

Well if the public outrage at Cummings behaviour doesn't get him removed, then any Conservative MPs worth their salt should do their utmost to persuade Boris to sack him. Surely their are some MPs who have some morals!

As I understand it, this morning there are fresh allegations that Cummings made several trips to Durham during the early period on the lockdown.

Should the above be valid then many like myself will find that truly disgusting as it puts out the message that it is one lockdown rule for the masses and another for the executive elite.

Harsh action needs to be taken by this government if the lockdown and social distancing rules are to have any further credibility whatsoever on this bank holiday weekend.

Cummings is a man of total arrogance it has always seemed, and one who always appears to be requiring a good shower and clean set of clothes.

Sorry - Cummings' behaviour and surely thereare some MPs. Really should proof read before hitting Post!!

Could automatic number plate recognition be used at this late stage to provide proof of repeated trips?

I think if Boris doesn't sack him he will loose any remaining credibilty he may have with the public and possibly many of his Tory MP's.

But of course all the nodding dogs in the cabinet who are so far up Johnson’s backside worrying about their careers more than carers are supporting Cummings he will get away with it, but mud sticks.

Well as a lone voice in this echo chamber I hope he doesn’t resign. His focus on Brexit got Boris an 80 seat majority.

He’s upset a few in places of comfort and power. He’s a breath of fresh air as far as I’m concerned. He will tackle the inept and bureaucratic PHE after this pandemic.

I don’t think he’ll go. He won’t resign and Boris won’t sack him.

It seems once they drove up to Durham (perhaps the 4y old wearing a pull-up anybody?), no stops for petrol necessary (it wasn’t to the ends of the earth - we’ve done Manchester to the Isle of Skye 9 hours - no top up required) and he didn’t move in with his elderly parents after all - what’s the harm? His sister did his shopping and Cummings and his family isolated in another building at the bottom of his parents garden!

He attended enough SAGE meetings to know the risks before he made his decision.

It would be hysterically funny if it weren't so tragic. I'm just reminded of 'Yes Prime Minister' more each day.

He should go:

www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-dominic-cummings-must-be-removed-as-aide-to-pm-after-breaking-lockdown-rules?

A breath of fresh air!? The man stinks like a sewer!

I’m with the 32%
?

Urmstongran. He drove 250 miles. That’s it. Against the guidelines. He could have found childcare solutions in London. His son is four, not a toddler.

Neil Ferguson had the good sense to resign - following his 'error of judgement'. How is this different?

Well I for one will be using my ‘common sense’ (which is more reliable than his) and if my family wish to visit me in my own garden occasionally, while maintaining physical distancing then so be it.

Hypocrites and liars.

ug how can you defend someone who through arrogance and recklessness may well have caused someone’s death.

Get a grip!!

WW2. I once heard an old lady say she’d vote for a pig if it was standing in the local election rather than a perfectly respectable labour candidate (a retired GP).

That opened my eyes ?