Westminster Politics

sun_tzu said:
Suspect Starmer will use all his questions at PMQ's to pull holes in the cummings version of events and demand he should go

In truth though I cant help but think that an argument over cummings is preferable to the Government that real analysis of the UK death rates from CV19 in comparison to the rest of the world

It may actually be better strategically for the opposition for Cummings to remain in place given how unpopular he is
Click to expand...

This is usually the case, isn't it? I think back to Theresa May and how much of a hollow victory it was outing her.

It's so much better watching them squirm and having their mistakes building over time. A scapegoat is too convenient; their arrogance is what will fuel actual positive change.
 
ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg said:
and whether you believe Cummings or not, he said he didn’t want to tell everyone his whereabouts because he knew this would happen.
does hounding his parents and getting a picture of a farm add anything to the story?
Click to expand...
Cummings stayed at the parents property, which is the entire story, and he has gone on to claim that the accommodation he stayed at was not very nice.

The parents and their property are a critical part of this story and acquiring further details on this is an obvious place to continue to investigate.

Or please tell me what next steps any decent journalist should take.
 
I've come to realise that the dark undertone to all this is that this scandal is going on in the midst of an international crisis where hundreds of thousands of people have died around the world. At a time when we need our government to make the right decisions in a matter of life or death, they are making some awful ones. This decision threatens to derail everything that we have all worked towards to save as many people as possible, just to keep that arrogant c*nt in his job! I hope it is always remembered how awful this government was in making decisions for the good of it's people. Not that the Tories ever attempted to pretend to have the public's best interests at heart in the first place.
 
rotherham_red said:
I'm talking about his parents. It's pretty obvious this 'health scare' is patent bollocks. He went for a party on his mum's birthday. Every single one of them knew and know what he's doing, and they've all without fail, tried to obfusciate the issue with numerous excuses. From his medical emergency, his having Covid, and then not having Covid, then to his mum's excuse of his uncle dying (which happened days earlier... and in London).

Like I said, feck em.
Click to expand...
Got it.
 
buchansleftleg said:
There are an incredible number of sockpuppet accounts retweeting each others pro cummings statements today on twitter. They all have name and number profile names - have union jack logos and have around 1400 followers despite having only started tweeting in May. There is usually one bland tweet followed by a string of Move on - blame the media - this is boring tweets.
They use both the anti cummings / bojo hashtags and the pro ones. We are getting industrial scale gaslighting with russian bot factory backing here!
Click to expand...
Just had a look. Its insane!

Majority are using accounts with pictures of pretty young white women, with whataboutism messages; promoting #DominicStays, and have managed to get that term trending. Really hope MSM can report this ASAP

 
Last edited:
No. 10 lobby briefing

'No. 10 has reiterated its support for Dominic Cummings over allegations he breached the lockdown.

The PM’s official spokesman told a Westminster briefing:

"From the prime minister’s point of view, he has set out that he believes Dominic Cummings acted reasonably, legally and with integrity and with care for his family and for others."

Downing Street declined to answer numerous queries that remain unresolved...'
 
That video of Gove trying and failing to lie about driving to test his eyesight is beyond parody.
 
'Following his press conference, some 59% of Britons think Dominic Cummings should resign from his role as Boris Johnson’s senior adviser following questions about his conduct during lockdown, a new poll suggests.

YouGov also said 27% of those surveyed believe Cummings should not resign while 14% answered “don’t know”.

The data showed 52% of those surveyed who voted Leave at the 2016 EU referendum want Mr Cummings to resign, with 38% answering “should not resign” and 10% “don’t know”.

YouGov said it surveyed 1,160 adults on Tuesday.'
 
It doesn't half look dodgy that, immediately after emergency legislation was passed by-passing scrutiny of tendered contracts, Cummings' relatives and friends got multi-million-pound government contracts.
 
SteveJ said:
It doesn't half look dodgy that, immediately after emergency legislation was passed by-passing scrutiny of tendered contracts, Cummings' relatives and friends got multi-million-pound government contracts.
Click to expand...
Is there a decent source for that? All I've seen is claims his sister was involved in a company but it turn out not to be his sister, just someone who married into the same surname but no idea if they were related.
 
sebsheep said:
Is there a decent source for that? All I've seen is claims his sister was involved in a company but it turn out not to be his sister, just someone who married into the same surname but no idea if they were related.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I read about it a couple of days ago and wouldn't know where to find the source again.
 
This entire thing stinks - there are still hundreds of people dying every day of this bloody virus yet we have this circus caused by a man who thought he could do whatever he wanted being defended by a guy who is about as trustworthy as con man.
 
Next time I'm in the UK I will drive to test wether I'm too drunk to drive a longer journey.
 
fergieisold said:
Cummings might be a twat but I don't think he's done all that much wrong really. He should be punished but he's hardly been partying and snorting coke of hookers up in the North East has he?
Click to expand...
How was he to know he wouldn't need a mechanic on his way? How was he ´to know he wouldn't come across a accident requiring first aid. Or some unexpected road/bridge closures. He didn't react responisbly at all. He risked the health of the general public in full knowledge of a possible infection. Snorting coke from hookers arses puts a lot less people at risk of death and illness than what he did.
 
SteveJ said:
'Following his press conference, some 59% of Britons think Dominic Cummings should resign from his role as Boris Johnson’s senior adviser following questions about his conduct during lockdown, a new poll suggests.

YouGov also said 27% of those surveyed believe Cummings should not resign while 14% answered “don’t know”.

The data showed 52% of those surveyed who voted Leave at the 2016 EU referendum want Mr Cummings to resign, with 38% answering “should not resign” and 10% “don’t know”.

YouGov said it surveyed 1,160 adults on Tuesday.'
Click to expand...
 
I wonder how much input Cummings had on the new PHE slogan? Given he knew he'd been caught and has been going to lengths to re-edit content since the initial enquiries weeks ago.

That's the question they should be asking because if there's any implication he's altered messaging to suit his needs that's as bad as the original offence.
 
SteveJ said:
'A street heckler once shouted at David Hasselhoff: “Oi! Hasselhoff! You’re nothing without your talking car!” Cummings is the talking car to Johnson’s Hasselhoff.'

https://www.theguardian.com/comment...-boris-johnson-terrified-sack-him#maincontent
Click to expand...
Just like the 'Trump is Bannon's biatch' memes prickled Trumps shallow ego into sacking Bannon, so Cummings detractors need to repeat the same narrative until Boris also cracks. Hope we see this in the days ahead.
 
Opposition leaders write joint letter to the PM calling for Cummings to go

'The leaders of the opposition parties (excluding Labour) have sent a joint letter to the prime minister, urging him to sack Dominic Cummings over his lockdown breaches.

The letter, which was also forwarded to Sir Patrick Vallance, chair of Sage, reads:

'It is now a matter of record that Mr Dominic Cummings broke multiple lockdown rules.

He is yet to express any apology or contrition for these actions. There cannot be one rule for those involved in formulating public health advice and another for the rest of us.

This is an issue that transcends politics. It has united people of every party and political persuasion, who believe strongly that it is now your responsibility as Prime Minister to return clarity and trust in public health messaging.

We are clear that this can now only be achieved by removing Dominic Cummings from his post without further delay.'

The letter was signed by

Ian Blackford, SNP
Sir Ed Davey, Liberal Democrats
Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru
Colum Eastwood, Social Democratic and Labour party
Caroline Lucas, Green party
Stephen Farry, Alliance party'
 
SteveJ said:
Ian Blackford, SNP
Sir Ed Davey, Liberal Democrats
Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru
Colum Eastwood, Social Democratic and Labour party
Caroline Lucas, Green party
Stephen Farry, Alliance party'
Click to expand...



Ian Blackford, SNP
Sir Ed Davey, Liberal Democrats
Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru
Colum Eastwood, Social Democratic and Labour party
Caroline Lucas, Green party
Stephen Farry, Alliance party'

This lot are all largely irrelevant and will lobby/ complain and oppose the government in everything they do - boy who cries wolf.

the fact that labour haven’t done this make it a complete non story and smacks of jumping in the bandwagon.

Ian Blackford in particular is an odious windbag.
 
Few comments elsewhere that The Spectator have pay-walled his wife's article. They have and they haven't (because they're incompetent).

If you'd like to read it, click its link and add /amp to the URL

Click Here if you prefer.

It's pretty galling, but they can't really edit it as so many will have already seen it, but they can hide it away... or so they thought.
 
ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg said:
Ian Blackford, SNP
Sir Ed Davey, Liberal Democrats
Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru
Colum Eastwood, Social Democratic and Labour party
Caroline Lucas, Green party
Stephen Farry, Alliance party'

This lot are all largely irrelevant and will lobby/ complain and oppose the government in everything they do - boy who cries wolf.

the fact that labour haven’t done this make it a complete non story and smacks of jumping in the bandwagon.

Ian Blackford in particular is an odious windbag.
Click to expand...
I've always been fairly neutral on him but I must he's up shot in my estimations dramatically in the last 21 minutes.
 
SteveJ said:
Opposition leaders write joint letter to the PM calling for Cummings to go

'The leaders of the opposition parties (excluding Labour) have sent a joint letter to the prime minister, urging him to sack Dominic Cummings over his lockdown breaches.

The letter, which was also forwarded to Sir Patrick Vallance, chair of Sage, reads:

'It is now a matter of record that Mr Dominic Cummings broke multiple lockdown rules.

He is yet to express any apology or contrition for these actions. There cannot be one rule for those involved in formulating public health advice and another for the rest of us.

This is an issue that transcends politics. It has united people of every party and political persuasion, who believe strongly that it is now your responsibility as Prime Minister to return clarity and trust in public health messaging.

We are clear that this can now only be achieved by removing Dominic Cummings from his post without further delay.'

The letter was signed by

Ian Blackford, SNP
Sir Ed Davey, Liberal Democrats
Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru
Colum Eastwood, Social Democratic and Labour party
Caroline Lucas, Green party
Stephen Farry, Alliance party'
Click to expand...

Wonder why Keir Starmer hasn't signed this letter off.
 
Compton22 said:
Wonder why Keir Starmer hasn't signed this letter off.
Click to expand...

probably because he doesn’t want to be associated with these minority parties.

labour (even in disarray) have clout, none of these parties do. If he signs it, he acknowledges that labour are on a par with these leaders.
 
Compton22 said:
Wonder why Keir Starmer hasn't signed this letter off.
Click to expand...

He doesn't really need to in fairness, he has far more clout than the others do and will continue chipping away in the media and PMQs.

He and labour don't really gain anything from signing that letter with the other parties and Johnson won't care if the the SDLP and Greens are against Cummings. He'll only start to pay attention when more Tories kick up a fuss.
 
Compton22 said:
Wonder why Keir Starmer hasn't signed this letter off.
Click to expand...
I think he's very cognisant of the fact that it is the media and the public who will possibly see Cummings off, and not a united Opposition who have such a large deficit.
 
Compton22 said:
Wonder why Keir Starmer hasn't signed this letter off.
Click to expand...

I would imagine the reasoning is that it's best to keep it as Tories vs the people rather than make it Tories vs Labour. Whether they're right to take that approach or whether they'll continue with it indefinitely, who knows?
 
ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg said:
probably because he doesn’t want to be associated with these minority parties.

labour (even in disarray) have clout, none of these parties do. If he signs it, he acknowledges that labour are on a par with these leaders.
Click to expand...
africanspur said:
He doesn't really need to in fairness, he has far more clout than the others do and will continue chipping away in the media and PMQs.

He and labour don't really gain anything from signing that letter with the other parties and Johnson won't care if the the SDLP and Greens are against Cummings. He'll only start to pay attention when more Tories kick up a fuss.
Click to expand...
TMDaines said:
I think he's very cognisant of the fact that it is the media and the public who will possibly see Cummings off, and not a united Opposition who have such a large deficit.
Click to expand...
sullydnl said:
I would imagine the reasoning is that it's best to keep it as Tories vs the people rather than make it Tories vs Labour. Whether they're right to take that approach or whether they'll continue with it indefinitely, who knows?
Click to expand...

Ah, makes sense I suppose
 
You must log in or register to reply here.