Why now???

Dominic Cummings….. Takes one to know one.

Alegrias1

What fascinates me is that people still think that the rules were to "keep us safe". The rules were not to keep you and me safe, they were to stop us all getting ill at the one time. And you'll remember that for a while members of the government were dropping like flies, and we don't get to hear about the civil servants.

I agree with Alegrias1 comment.

it was to stop the hospitals being overwhelmed so to stop us all getting ill at the same time!

Our family, like so many others, kept to the rules 100%

How can I ever get rid of the feeling that Boris Johnson and his friends were just laughing at us for obeying the rules that he spelled out but totally ignored>?

100% we did not break any rules whatsoever. We lost a family member during lockdown as did many others. I will never accept BJ and his feeble apology. He turns my stomach.

But the scumbag in Downing Street never thought the rules applied to him or his friends

And many of us adhered to the rules, however difficult...

Pantglas2

Are there any figures for MPs etc you’re aware of Alegrias?

I remember checking aircrew at the time and their figures were pretty low considering the close proximity/time conditions under which they work.

Not that I'm aware of Pantglas2. I've got to go and do something but I'll have a look later.

Aveline

Varian I really did keep to the rules and still do but that one time sticks in my memory as I felt so bad about it.

Feel a bit bad, but don't beat yourself up about it, especially where a child is concerned.
If it helps I too skirted the rules on a couple of family occasions. One like you was totally unforeseen.
I also exercised more than the allowed once a day by taking the dog on two walks, but I put no one in harm's way.

Are there any figures for MPs etc you’re aware of Alegrias?

I remember checking aircrew at the time and their figures were pretty low considering the close proximity/time conditions under which they work.

What fascinates me is that people still think that the rules were to "keep us safe". The rules were not to keep you and me safe, they were to stop us all getting ill at the one time. And you'll remember that for a while members of the government were dropping like flies, and we don't get to hear about the civil servants.

The Why now question fascinates me.

However, even more intriguing - how come more Tories didn’t get COVID, get hospitalised and/or die of it, given the obviously massive disregard for rules that were deemed the only things to keep us safe before vaccines?

Did I miss the reporting of the serious consequences of those actions?

Varian I really did keep to the rules and still do but that one time sticks in my memory as I felt so bad about it.

On 25th April 2020 I hugged my grandson. I couldn't help it. We'd met up on a walk and all kept our distance but it was DH's birthday and DD and the DGSs ambushed us with presents and balloons. We had to stand far apart. But I couldn't not hug the wee lad. Felt so guilty and naughty about this transgression. That's what I'm thinking about now.
Boris must go.

And we all know which group Johnson falls into, don't we?

There is a big division in our country between the people who abided by the rules, wore masks (and many still do) to protect others and those who never kept to the rules because they thought that the rules did not apply to them and they didn't give a toss for anyone else.

We did abide by the rules in lockdown so did all our family and friends as did most of the population. Some people may have broken the rules and probably got away with it. The government should not break the rules they dictate to the public. It might be a while ago but their behaviour should not be brushed under carpet just because of the passage of time.

Protests were still continuing weren't they ? House parties galore which were reported in newspapers on a daily basis. Flights continued with hordes coming and going. Buses/ trains still operated-----there wasn't even a proper lockdown !! Why ?

I think it's going a bit far too suggest that many GNs on here caused the death of other people by their breaking the rules.
But where the PM is concerned I agree that those who made the rules should adhere to them. He was in a position of trust and should pay for his error of judgment. Who knows why DC and others didn't make it known at the time? Strange.

We didn’t break the rules. Didn’t see our family for months and celebrated several birthdays on zoom.

I could have broken the rules , but when you have police checking to see how many are attending funerals, it's difficult.

No Parsley I certainly didn't break the rules. I've been living like a hermit for the past 2+ years.

Yes some people will have broken the rules but I didn't and neither did any of my friends and family.
The PM and his crew broke their own rules that many of us abided by to our detriment in some cases. Unforgivable.

I also doubt whether a new Conservative leader will result in fairer policy. However, IMO the point is that nobody should be allowed to get away with what Johnson has done. If it's swept under the carpet, I really think it says a lot about the people defending him.

We didn't break any rules,we didn't leave the house except to pick up prescriptions .No wonder it's taken so long to get a handle on the pandemic if so many on here didn't bother with "rules" how many people died because you thought you didn't have to comply .

Lizbethann55

I think I am writing this before the Grayson report is published. I certainly haven't as yet seen or heard what is in it. I know what I think and I know many friends and colleagues think the same. But in all the endless , relentless media coverage the Downing Street situation has had, there is one question that keeps going round on my head and it is "why now"?
The Christmas whatever it was that sparked all this outrage was in December 2020, but nothing was said about it for exactly one full year. Why not? I do not believe that nobody knew about it. Allegra Stanton, who fell on her sword as a result, is married to a Telegraph reporter. I do not read the Telegraph so have no idea what coverage they have given it, but surely he must have known. I can't help but wonder if not only was the event ( I will not say "party " until we know more)known about, but that some of the press were in attendance which is why there was no mention of it at the time and they only went public 12 months on when they had no choice.
As for the gatherings in the garden, well you had better shoot me and most of my colleagues now, because we have done the same. The building where I work houses umpteen NHS clinics: diabetes, podiatry, district nurses etc etc. There are also offices large, small and downright tiny where local government and council work is carried on. The ground floor is a public library and a counter for the public to come to with council issues. Outside at the back is a small enclosed garden : a lawn with some benches and tables. In the summer we all leave our offices and sit outside enjoying the fresh air and eating our lunches. We could have stayed inside, but aren't we encouraged to be outside. And once again, WHY NOW? All these events happened over a year ago. So who suddenly decided it was the crime of the century, who took the photos and who decided NOW. I know what I think.

Yes but you weren't meant to - in your own garden fine but lots of people were fined for eating lunch in parks etc. Also I doubt nurses were drinking wine and beer on duty. We are not allowed. If they were then that is a reason to report it. Now is because of the more recent things so they are investigating it all in retrospect as it should be.