Dominic Cummings visited parents during lockdown measures

Originally Posted by Dave42

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1. The whole country is not asking that, I'd venture most really dont care that much, and are sick of the subject.

2. How can anyone take seriously a paper whose main banner is "Diet that could help you beat corona".

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Mick

But it is, partly.

Why the media obsession in Cummings?

Why has someone paid some expense and parked a pickup with large tv screen and parked it outside his house earlier this afternoon?

That is not normal behaviour, it's psychotic, usually attributed to people suffering some kind of derangement syndrome.

For some it will be, of course. That’s the nature of our adversarial political system, which Cummings, all SpAds and advisers to other political parties are part of. They can’t plead ignorance to the game.

However for some people in the middle it’s just a case that he made an error of judgement and rather than apologise and repent the Government has simply doubled down on it looking ridiculous in the process. You can’t dismiss all opposition to it (on this issue) by party or Brexit any longer.

They could easily have Mandelsoned him and got his input via the back door (pun not intended) on think tanks or consultancies then got him back in the game when tensions lowered.

---------- Post added at 22:41 ---------- Previous post was at 22:39 ----------

Originally Posted by Paul

1. The whole country is not asking that, I'd venture most really dont care that much, and are sick of the subject.

2. How can anyone take seriously a paper whose main banner is "Diet that could help you beat corona".

I’m sure good health is helpful but 4 pages from the Hairy Bikers maybe not so much.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Paul

1. The whole country is not asking that, I'd venture most really dont care that much, and are sick of the subject.

2. How can anyone take seriously a paper whose main banner is "Diet that could help you beat corona".

"The whole country" is a figure of speech, it's not literal.

Originally Posted by Paul

2. How can anyone take seriously a paper whose main banner is "Diet that could help you beat corona".

I wouldn't take it seriously at all anyway but it is the one of the most sold papers in the country .

1. The whole country is not asking that, I'd venture most really dont care that much, and are sick of the subject.

I think it's caught the attention of the public. At least judging by social media feeds in which people who don't talk about politics suddenly are....

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

"The whole country" is a figure of speech, it's not literal.

So I can safely say then that "The whole country" doesnt give a toss what he did, as its just a figure of speech.

---------- Post added at 22:45 ---------- Previous post was at 22:44 ----------

Originally Posted by Damien

I think it's caught the attention of the public. At least judging by social media feeds in which people who don't talk about politics suddenly are....

You mean its a Bank Holiday, and everyone is bored and fed up of lockdown, and has nothing better to do.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Paul

So I can safely say then that "The whole country" doesnt give a toss what he did, as its just a figure of speech.

If you had reliable intel to suggest a majority of people felt this way then yes. As Damien says, "If their read on their audience is that they're angry at the Tories then the Mail will reflect that anger..."

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

If you had reliable intel to suggest a majority of people felt this way then yes.

Do thay have reliable intel ? or just their own view.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

If you had reliable intel to suggest a majority of people felt this way then yes. As Damien says, "If their read on their audience is that they're angry at the Tories then the Mail will reflect that anger..."

I’m sure a straw poll of the forum would probably give a majority

Actually looking at the list of who has posted in this thread it’s quite tight.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by jfman

However for some people in the middle it’s just a case that he made an error of judgement and rather than apologise and repent the Government has simply doubled down on it looking ridiculous in the process. You can’t dismiss all opposition to it (on this issue) by party or Brexit any longer.

I think if Cummings had early on said he'd panicked and made a mistake due to pressure of work etc and apologised then to the country it would have been a non-issue. Certainly to me, anyway. But he didn't do this.

The current story of one rule for them, another for us plays out against a background io people making incredible sacrifices for the benefit of the nation. And they feel stabbed in the back. The ironical thing is that Cummings would be pleased of such strong and simple messaging. It actually plays to his theme of attacking institutions!

I think this is a prime example of Cummings' flawed genius: he sees apologising and admitting his mistakes as a weakness, so will do anything to avoid doing so. Even if it undermines the Government.

---------- Post added at 23:00 ---------- Previous post was at 22:56 ----------

Originally Posted by Paul

Do thay have reliable intel ? or just their own view.

They've been around since 1896 so they must have or they wouldn't still be in businesss.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

I certainly am.

Pierre, what about you?

I’m all for due process.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

They've been around since 1896 so they must have or they wouldn't still be in businesss.

ROFL.

So thats a no then.

Originally Posted by Paul

1. The whole country is not asking that, I'd venture most really dont care that much, and are sick of the subject.

2. How can anyone take seriously a paper whose main banner is "Diet that could help you beat corona".

It's about what sells the newspaper.I think that the Daily Mail knows it's target audience very well.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I’m all for due process.

---------- Post added at 23:11 ---------- Previous post was at 23:08 ----------

Originally Posted by Paul

ROFL.

So thats a no then.

They've got their reader panels, editorial conferences, surveys, reader comments, reader polls, reader emails, etc. They know how to gauge these matters or they wouldn't still be in business.

---------- Post added at 23:16 ---------- Previous post was at 23:11 ----------

Originally Posted by Maggy

It's about what sells the newspaper.I think that the Daily Mail knows it's target audience very well.

I think that's what makes it particularly hard for those still backing Cummings. They can accept The Mirror and The Guardian voicing such opinions. But when the voice of Middle England - the Daily Mail - voices the same opinion, they know it's a serious wake-up call.

[jfman]

I think key to any question of being seen a second time (and any subsequent time) will be did he go to London in the interim. If he was still residing in Durham I think given the way the law is phrased: “reasonable excuse“ and the first step being for an officer to ask you to return home it’s a case of “well, we don’t think you should have done that, don’t do it again”. For travelling to Durham in the first instance it’d clearly be unreasonable to make him travel back to London.

It’s always been the case the Government know the law as written, guidance and some statements made don’t 100% match. E.g. Gove said around an hour would be reasonable for exercise. I’m not having a go at Gove, or the Government for that - it’s the nature of emergency legislation - it had to be wooly to pass with consensus (e.g. no human rights challenges etc.) essentially relying on communications to fill the gaps. Something they did reasonably well.

[1andrew1]

My feeling is that no more detail is needed on this as far as the public mood is concerned, as it has already made up its mind. It feels let down with differing standards being applied. Cummings may well stay but the Government will suffer for it in the future.