Dominic Cummings visited parents during lockdown measures

[denphone]

It seems the last few days have not gone too well with the great British public as the PM's and the government's approval ratings plummet.

https://savanta.com/coronavirus-data-tracker/

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by denphone

It seems the last few days have not gone too well with the great British public as the PM's and the government's approval ratings plummet.

https://savanta.com/coronavirus-data-tracker/

Approval ratings only matter when an election is close,obviously everyone and his dog is blaming bozzer for the lockdown and the present difficulties,but as life returns to normal i expect ratings to be on the rise.

[Hom3r]

I see that the press outside his house didn't adhere to the 2-metre social distancing.

[mrmistoffelees]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

I see that the press outside his house didn't adhere to the 2-metre social distancing.

The 2m social distancing rule only applies if it can be done, arguable case that in order for the photographers to do their job to the best of their abilities that they could not adhere to it.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

Approval ratings only matter when an election is close,obviously everyone and his dog is blaming bozzer for the lockdown and the present difficulties,but as life returns to normal i expect ratings to be on the rise.

Key issue is the economy. If it recovers quickly, people may be forgiving. If it's a more-bath shaped recovery with severe redundancies when furlough schemes end, the electorate will be less forgiving.
And if there's a second wave of infection - which I doubt - then the finger will be pointed at Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson's government.

[mrmistoffelees]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Key issue is the economy. If it recovers quickly, people may be forgiving. If it's a more-bath shaped recovery with severe redundancies when furlough schemes end, the electorate will be less forgiving.
And if there's a second wave of infection - which I doubt - then the finger will be pointed at Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson's government.

Perhaps one for the other thread, but why do you doubt a second wave ?

The poll ratings will recover and besides, it's a long time until the election.

Things like this are cumulative. It impacts people's perceptions of the Government and erodes some goodwill but voters who elected the Conservatives on a large margin just six months ago haven't, and won't, all leave them over this. However, it's a knock and you only get so many before real damage sets in. Every Government has these moments. They'll pay a price but not at all a fatal one.

It will also cost Boris Johnson slightly, he has asked his ministers and MPs to back him over it and they will but it's a favour they've done him. He can only push them so far as well.

And yes people's perceptions of how they handled the pandemic will greatly override whatever Cummings does.

Originally Posted by Hom3r

I see that the press outside his house didn't adhere to the 2-metre social distancing.

There are precedents...

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/...d-coronavirus/

Boris Johnson’s key aide Dominic Cummings returned to work following his recovery from suspected coronavirus but appeared to fail to follow social distancing rules.

The Prime Minister’s senior adviser walked along Downing Street flanked by fellow aide Cleo Watson.

Mr Cummings was photographed clutching a packed lunch including a Babybel cheese and a carrot as he returned to work.

Asked why Mr Cummings was not observing the two metre social distancing rule, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Downing Street staff endeavoured to follow the guidance wherever possible.

It was probably because Downing Street was crowded...

https://twitter.com/SamCoatesSky/sta...49305163714568

His statement didn't seem to help:

59% think Dominic Cummings should resign (up from 52% at the weekend)

46% of Tory voters say Dominic Cummings should resign

52% of Leave voters say Dominic Cummings should resign

[mrmistoffelees]

Originally Posted by Damien

https://twitter.com/SamCoatesSky/sta...49305163714568

His statement didn't seem to help:

In other news bears found defecating in woods

[ianch99]

The fundamental problem the PM has is that most of the British public dislike arrogance & hypocrisy. When you are presented with a combination of them both in an individual who is a powerful and unelected member of the Government, there lies the issue.

Had Cummings said straight off that he made a clear mistake, his wasn't thinking clearly due to illness, etc. and made a clear apology, this would have died down by now. The fact that he did not and further compounded his mistake with bullshit excuses is the reason this is still active. For a man who such a self-proclaimed genius, he is remarkably stupid.

A certain, renowned left wing journalist sums this whole debacle up well:

https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/stat...07510651535360

Everyone defending Cummings would be baying for blood if Labour had won the election, Corbyn was PM in this crisis, & Seamus Milne had been caught breaking the lockdown.
UK politics is now as tribal as US - facts don't matter, only blind allegiance to the tribe. It's tragic.

In contrast, this is what true leadership looks like:

Dutch PM didn't visit dying mother due to Covid-19 rules

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was unable to visit his dying mother in her final weeks because he obeyed Covid-19 coronavirus restrictions against visiting care homes, his office said on Monday.

The news about Rutte emerged as Britain was gripped by a political row over allegations that the top aide to premier Boris Johnson broke Covid-19 rules to travel cross-country to stay on his parents' estate.

Rutte on Monday announced the death of 96-year-old Mieke Rutte-Dilling in a home in The Hague on May 13, nearly two months after the government shut all such institutions to the public on March 20.

"The prime minister has complied with all directives", Rutte's spokesman told AFP when asked about reports that the premier had stuck to the rules and so not seen his mother before she died.

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by Hugh

There are precedents...

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/...d-coronavirus/

It was probably because Downing Street was crowded...

He was following the carrot and she wanted the Babybel cheese.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by ianch99

The fundamental problem the PM has is that most of the British public dislike arrogance & hypocrisy. When you are presented with a combination of them both in an individual who is a powerful and unelected member of the Government, there lies the issue.

Had Cummings said straight off that he made a clear mistake, his wasn't thinking clearly due to illness, etc. and made a clear apology, this would have died down by now. The fact that he did not and further compounded his mistake with bullshit excuses is the reason this is still active. For a man who such a self-proclaimed genius, he is remarkably stupid.

A certain, renowned left wing journalist sums this whole debacle up well:

https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/stat...07510651535360



In contrast, this is what true leadership looks like:

Dutch PM didn't visit dying mother due to Covid-19 rules

Well that's a first,Piers moron described as a journalist he's more like an obnoxious over opinionated gobshyte.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees

The 2m social distancing rule only applies if it can be done, arguable case that in order for the photographers to do their job to the best of their abilities that they could not adhere to it.

likewise the "stay at home" rule could be swerved if you had a child safeguarding issue.

you can't have it both ways.

---------- Post added at 14:39 ---------- Previous post was at 14:37 ----------

Originally Posted by Hugh

There are precedents...

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/...d-coronavirus/

It was probably because Downing Street was crowded...

So we all agree that there are, and were, reasons why the adherence to guidance can be adapted for certain situations?

why all the fuss then?

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

Well that's a first,Piers moron described as a journalist he's more like an obnoxious over opinionated gobshyte.

It's almost as if that word (gobshite) had been specially invented to cover his (Morgan) case (and Richard Burgon, of course).

A great expression.