The accusation against Nero was that he supposedly fiddled whilst Rome burned. It's not certain that he was guilty of the offence, but the story has stuck and he us, forever, tainted by it. That's unsurprising. It is a tale of indifference motivated by personal ambition, with a desire for gain.
Johnson fiddled whilst Cummings prevaricated in the Downing Street rose garden yesterday. I suspect that he too will be tainted forever by this, except that on this occasion the impression is of a weak leader in hock to a paranoid man of limited decision making capacity with a persecution complex seeking to run away from responsibility.
Johnson's support for Cummings defines who he is now. The reasons for the dependence are open to even more doubt after yesterday's extraordinary performance, of which the ‘eye test trip to Barnards Castle' was simple the most absurd claim.
In the minds of reasonable people Cummings resolved nothing and opened more reasons for doubting his judgement yesterday.
It is just a step further to doubting the judgement of the prime minister in that case.
And this morning's papers offer no comfort: the issue is not going away.
We face quite astonishing issues as a country. The reality that we have no idea how to now make the economy work again is clear: the government's awareness that without its support large parts of industry are at risk is at least realistic, even if the resulting policy looks misguided. And in the midst of this necessary dependence on the government we have a crisis of confidence developing because it is clear that the judgement of the prime minister and his senior adviser cannot be trusted.
I admit to having never thought Johnson fit to hold the office that he does. But I never imagined he would be as bad as this. I suspect many Tory MPs feel the same way, and quite probably much of the Cabinet too, despite being picked for the sole reason of being loyal. The Tory instinct for retaining power always overcomes all else in the end.
How and when this ends is not clear, but it must. The last thing that is needed now is this distraction and the complete collapse in confidence in the government that breaches of lockdown clearly represent, but which are themselves indicative of something much deeper.
There are no good answers to this situation. But the worst is perpetuation of the current farce. I very strongly suspect that something will have to break, and that it will soon. The degree of hostility towards Johnson and Cummings from within the media, fuelled by its perception of, for once being on the side of the people, is extraordinary.
One or both cannot survive this. There is no precedent for that happening and I suspect the pattern will not be broken this time.
Thanks for reading this post.
You can share this post on social media of your choice by clicking these icons:
You can subscribe to this blog's daily email here.
And if you would like to support this blog you can, here:
I think both are finished – the question remaining to be answered is just what does Cummings have on Johnson that Johnson continued support him even after that disastrous Downing Street briefing?
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/
Bernard castle and GlaxoSmithKline, is located there and the govt did a deal with them later on. In fact according to Murray a few days later. So we have a govt advisor driving 240 miles not once but twice and then to see if his eye sight was getting better he drove another 30 miles to a site where a company is developing a “vaccine for covid 19. It makes your post on drugs companies not wanting the virus to end so they can make a profit and hence the opening of the lock down more relevant.
Of course Cummings could of gone for a jolly ride but it is difficult to see (love the pun) how he could of done so. I suspect the govt will ride this out, in other words they will get away with it. Though there are lots of right wingers foaming at the mouth with regards to Cummings and Johnson but equality so at the media. Some wanting the police to called in on the press. You cannot make this stuff up.
Not sure it’s accurate to say the media’s ferocity is fuelled by the perception of being on the side of the people. Seems more like:
1) Many journalists are bitter over what he achieved in 2016 (rightly so to be fair)
2) Deep seated dislike due to the contempt he’s shown the media (again, fully understandable)
3) They’ve put so much into their attack they’ve chose to double down with their little witchunt, as they think they smell blood.
While I seem to be in a minority, I’m far from the only one even among Labour voters who thinks what Dom did was within both the spirit & letter of the rules.
As for the ‘absurd’ test drive, having caught viral conjunctivitis back in 2018 (which took just over a year to fully clear up) it seems perfectly sensible to me. For a while after my vision deterioration had peaked, my eyes were fine for most things, but I couldn’t do things like stare at a screen for more than 30 mins without bringing on intense pain. Driving also exercises different eye muscles compared to when you’re mostly at rest. Had I needed to going on any long drives before I’d fully recovered, I’d probably have gone on a test drive too.
Boris & Cummings are practically Keynesian social democrats compared to some of the heartless free market nutters in the Tory party. Imagine the harm that sort could do to the working class, and our chances of progress on Climate, with 4+ years & an 80 seat majority. I really doubt if even the smartest on the Left, like yourself Richard, can predict who’d step up to no 10 if this witchhunt takes down Boris & his classic friend.
Adam
Three things
These are not Keynesian social democrats. They are plutocrats maybe, but not social democrats
Second, he had not reason too drive: his wife could drive. And he could have gone by train,
Third, he did not need to be where he was – that undoubtedly broke the rules
We’ll have to disagree on this one
Richard
Most people seem to have missed that he went straight back into work after learning his wife was extremely ill. That’s the biggest infraction I see – he knew he was probably sick too, why didn’t he just phone in? So he went to spread a few more germs around Downing Street for what reason exactly?
It’s not really about him breaking the rules though – it’s that he knowingly had the virus when he did it, and that he then refused to apologise for it. Had he apologised and said he wouldn’t resign, it might have been enough for this to go away.
I for one have been livid about it all weekend. He is making it seem that all the sacrifices to our freedom were for nothing, and us stupid plebs should have known along there was no point in following the rules.
To me this was a bit of a non-event.
Cummings gave a surprisingly detailed account of what he did and why that I’ve seen many apparently ‘accountable politicians’ completely fail to do (like his boss/employee for example – you know who).
The detail just seemed to deflate the anger being thrown at him. It was a circus to be honest. He did well for a back room boy. The detail became a sort of armour, and the longer the inquisition went on, the more effective it seemed.
But like you say, it is how long this hangs around that matters. But even then, I think that the Tories are in a corner because we can see more than ever before that their Neo-lib ideas do not work. And their extremist tendencies seem to come out more when they are cornered (and they’ve been cornered since 2008). I would not be surprised if this dies down and he stays in post. This won’t be about contempt – it’s just about sticking to the plan. Remember, the Tories are at war – with Europe, and around half of the British people, plus a virus.
I think that one of the things that sickened me though was the media correspondents, many of whom have treated the Labour party really badly. And here was Cummings – part of perhaps one of the worst Governments in this country that I have ever seen in my 54 years. I found their cod outrage ridiculous. You can’t have it both ways. The media influences people into what? – making a mistake?
All I can say to Kuennsberg and the like is ‘Look at what you’ve done – look at what you have facilitated’. And for God sake take some responsibility.
Again, what a circus politics has become.
Leaving aside the lies etc…. at what point did doing something “in good faith” make it all OK??
If you make a mistake in Good Faith….. you resign.
If you break the law in Bad Faith then you should go to jail!
What surprises me about the media storm around all of this is that no one seems to be picking up on the fact that two people closest to the “science” and privy to the detailed discussions and analysis by SAGE from whence comes all of the advice about “lockdown” (Ferguson and Cummings), have blatantly chosen to ignore this advice. This isn’t about two people thinking they’re somehow immune to the virus – this is two people believing that they are not at risk from the virus – either from spreading it or succumbing to it. If they believe it is safe to travel, visit elderly parents, take tours of local landmarks, receive visits from their mistresses who then return home to their partners and children, when they are privy to the pinnacle of scientific information and analysis about this deadly virus, what should this be telling us?
Cummings, for his many faults, has a scientific and analytical brain and would not risk himself or the health of his family unless he wasn’t certain that there was no danger to them. He’s arrogant and he’s dangerous but he’s not a fool.
> Cummings, for his many faults, has a scientific and analytical brain and would not risk himself or the health of his family unless he wasn’t certain that there was no danger to them. He’s arrogant and he’s dangerous but he’s not a fool.
Absolutely disagree, apart from the arrogant and dangerous part.
Your comment raises alarms on multiple levels.
One is that, because you consider him an analytical person, and close to the “science” (he’s not a trained scientist btw), that he can reasonably assess the risk related to the virus — this is obviously incorrect.
The next is that, because of his actions, and the obvious lauding of his “analytical capabilities”, that others (and it sounds as though you fall into this camp) now believe its fine, everything’s safe. The lockdown was a scam and CV19 isn’t anything to be worried about.
Wrong
Excess deaths are now at ~ 60 000; the UK has a population of ~ 66m.
Assuming that the excess death rate gives the best approximation of CV19 kill count, CV19 has now killed ~ 0.1% of the population. Not 0.1% of those infected. Which means it is certainly something to be concerned about (and it is undeniably worse than flu, although I don’t think that has been in question for quite some time).
Thanks
Not disputing the reality of Covid-19 or the number of deaths of those who had it, or the excess deaths arising from it and the lockdown. Just saying that the man’s not a fool. He either had reason to believe he would not be harmed by his actions or he and possibly his partner never had Covid at all and there were other reasons for him to head up north.
The problem with forums is that people are free to perceive “tone” and “nuance” in what are just words on a page. I am not a Cummings fan or a Covid-denialist. I think the man is deluded and dangerous. But if we allow ourselves to be swept up only by our outrage of him and his “flaunting the rules”, it’s possible that something more heinous and reprehensible gets smuggled past us whilst our attention is diverted.
Miss N
Cummings is either supremely arrogant, a fool, or both.
I’m afraid, in this instance, regardless of whether you are a fan or not, by taking the “the man is not a fool” tack, you are acting as a Cummings apologist.
I believe this is very dangerous, for the reasons outlined above
Re the diversionary tactics – they might have backfired here, evidenced by the GSK links made by a few commentators.
I think you’re trying to make a point of don’t get too outraged because it might distract from something more important (?), but this is the top level of government blatantly flaunting their own rules without reason or apology.
There should be outrage and there should be at least resignations or sackings.
The man blatantly is a fool – his actions speak louder than words
Miss N what they knew that led them to break lockdown is not mysterious, it is simply the basic fact that as long as the population as a whole follows lockdown, the odds of any individual catching it by breaking lockdown in a limited way is very small. It’s simply free rider behaviour.
To clarify, this is not a defense or a dismissal of their behaviour – given their positions all had to/have to go, because they exploited the sacrificies they were asking the rest of us to make.
I remember when Peter Carington resigned for misinterpreting the Falkland situation. It’s said that was the last time anyone resigned as a matter of honour. The Falklands was also a matter of lives and deaths. We have now gone through the looking-glass where those at the top say “FU UK, we are in charge and we’ll do as we like, you lot will do as we say and words mean what we say they mean – for us”. Old fashioned ideas such as integrity, honesty, honour now have no meaning, replaced by “indispensable”. I suspect he is, to Johnson that is, and maybe without him Johnson will crumble.
The only other things I will add are these:
Prince Charles – did he not move around during the lockdown period too? Where’s the clamour for his come-uppance? Now he is part of the REAL elite in this country in my view. And what about Lizzie and Phil? Have they been good too?
Air travel – people have been coming and going in this country by air for some time under lock down. I’d like to know who has been doing this to be honest. Someone knows somewhere. Clue: private/executive jets: I’ve seen a few in the air believe you me.
It is well known that Cummings is a rather infamous character – he is not likely to be treated in a balanced way is he? We might not like to face up to this but…………………………
Over 1,800 private aircraft have come to the UK in the lockdown period
The issue is his role – not just that he broke the rules, which he plainly did
He’s one of many who have broken the rules in my view.
I long ago stopped expecting people in power in this country to set standards.
Would I like see to see Cummings brought down – oh yes, certainly – but I’d like too see that happen because of a rejection of his ideas and what he stands for, rather than this which given his status and reputation the reaction of which can be dismissed a number of ways.
Cummings could go or stay. It does not matter. What matters is that what he has taught us (how the BREXIT campaign was won) is here to stay and we have still not dealt with it yet. Have we?
No….
Cummings staying absolutely does matter, because lockdown compliance is reliant on a collective notion of sacrifice. You might laugh at this as a fantasy, but fantasies which are believed in have material effects. They become in effect true – this is fundamentally how religion works. The lockdown to date has worked because as a population we have been able to subscribe to this fantasy. Now we cannot. Lockdown compliance will suffer, and more will die.
I for one am pleased that Dom’s wife had a nice birthday outing.
It wasn’t as if health and care workers were dying, or being denied PPE, or that many lost loved ones who they couldn’t see.
On a slight tangent my other half watched Cummings in the Rose garden, I did not, he refered to making big decisions every day, and effectively shielding the PM from having to do so. Decisions about what? With what authority? Should the cabinet ministers be making these decisions? This worries me greatly.
It should!
Ross Thompson the first ‘something to break’ ? He’s not a big gun admittedly. I continue to monitor.
all getting a bit much. Need to go to darkened room. Getting my Ross’s mixed up. Scrub Ross Thomson and replace w Douglas Ross. Sigh. When’s it all going to end?
A piece by Fintan O’Toole in the Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/26/cummings-contempt-lockdown-rules-public-catholic-church-ireland suggesting that the Tory party might go the way of the other perenially (apparently) powerful organisation…
Methinks they need more than another Novely Toff this time (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c24nAL1lvpI )
Already tweeted
Brilliant, as usual from Fintan
Some questions not asked or left unanswered?
1. Week 1 of Lockdown. We were told – STAY AT HOME – no ifs, ands or buts. The whole population’s first instinct in week 1 was — Keep your head down. DC decided differently, no convincing answer as to why? Perhaps to shield you boss, by not being around to answer questions (a tale from the Sopranos).
2. Why go near your parents’ home, who are in the – At risk group? Don’t you care for their safety? As you knew children were less at risk, hence why you recklessly exposed child to your illness whilst travelling.
3. Asking a teenager to look after a Covid19 stricken child? That sounds a very unequal ask, from one of the country’s most powerful men. Typical sociopathic behaviour.
3. Driving 260+ miles, without a stop? Does a young child with adults treating themselves for flu/CV not need to stop. What’s the advice for this illness, again – Drink lots of fluid.
4. Rule No 1, for any worker. Tell your boss where you are, especially if you are sick or going to be out of town, and how to contact you! Especially when you consider your role is so important. Answer — Shield your boss by inferring, “He knew nothing”.
5. Team Working. He leads a team or many teams, whom did he inform in his team(s) and rule out he’s not in danger?
5. Special Phone? Govt officials have special private messaging systems and phone systems. DC would have privately messaged his team and therefore, by association, his boss. His PMs office phone would have been given to him whilst receiving security services scrutiny that it was in compliance as a safe device. The Civil Service has strict rules on this matter — no personal phones.
5. Personal Security. As the most important SPAD what are the terms of reference for his “minders”, especially as he says his home was under threat. Yesterday’s BBC footage seemed to show a minder on his doorstep. Where were his minders in London or in Durham, does HMG security leave its most important clients wander off for a couple of weeks not knowing where?
6. “Exceptional circumstances”. I don’t see the word ‘exceptional’ in the guidance “Stay at home: guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection” [1].
7. How not to spread a virus! Don’t share a confined car space for 4 hours.
8. 22 days more to the Herd (Save the Economy)? The Sunday Times article, “22 days of dither and delay…” reveals the number of cases evolving when the policy is ‘free expansion of a virus’ i.e. attaining Herd. Perhaps Cummings’ was 22 days short of attaining the Herd (Save the Economy)? Cummings, Vallance and Johnson all proclaimed the power of the Herd solution! Video evidence tells that story. The free expansion of the virus allows it to double every three days, at the lockdown. It’s estimated there were 1.5 million infections then, even with self-limiting coming into play due to a reduction in the numbers of unaffected people. In 3 more weeks the UK might have had three quarters of the population infected. 46 million infected. The penny had dropped. 46 million times x% is genocide.
Is this the real story behind the UK disaster! A miscalculation that Herd (Save the Economy) was the way forward. Any thoughts?
9. “So what if a few old people die”? No comment needed.
10. Driving 60 miles to test eyesight, with your only child in the car? My mum would have said – “What fool does he take me!”
The Cummings story is a distraction from the real story. Yesterday’s press conference was Overton window theatre.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection “If you are living with children – Keep following this advice to the best of your ability, however, we are aware that not all these measures will be possible. What we have seen so far is that children with coronavirus (COVID-19) appear to be less severely affected. It is nevertheless important to do your best to follow this guidance.”
Brilliant. I once came up with 21 reasons why Boris should not be PM based on aspects of his history and admire this detailed demolition of DC.
Just tidied the English, excuse me RM. I included gender issues that Cummings assumed were womens’ roles.
Some questions not asked or left unanswered?
1. Week 1 of Lockdown. We were told, you must – STAY AT HOME – no ifs, ands or buts. The population was frightened in week 1 and strictly adhered to stay at home and if ill rest and stay at home regardless of symptoms. Cummings decided to drive to Durham. Perhaps to shield his boss, by not being in Westminster to answer questions. (A tale from the Sopranos).
2. How not to spread a virus! Why visit your parents home, who are in the at risk category? Why expose your own child to illness in the confined space of a car for over 4 hours.
3. A teenage relative was available to care for your child, thereby exposing her to the virus and potentially the teenager’s family. Whilst a teenager made that offer why would you think that is a reliable and safe choice, in the sight of a lethal illness?
3. Driving 260+ miles, without a stop? Does a young child with adults treating themselves for flu/CV need a comfort break, when the advice is surely to drink lots of fluid and rest?
4. Common practice and courtesy. Tell your boss where you are, especially if you are sick or going to be out of town, and provide details of how to contact you! Especially when you consider your role is so important. Answer – Shield your boss by inferring, ’He was unaware, and knew nothing’.
5. Team Working. He leads a team or many teams, whom did he inform in his team(s) and rule out he’s not in danger? What is the 10 Downing St protocol (Civil Service protocol) in this circumstance? Did he ignore or disregard those protocols.
6. Special Phone? Govt officials have special private messaging systems and phone systems. Cummings would have at least privately messaged his team and therefore, by association, his boss. His PMs office phone would have been given to him whilst receiving security services scrutiny that it was in compliance as a safe device. The Civil Service has strict rules on this matter on personal phones.
7. Personal Security. As the most important SPAD what are the terms of reference for his ‘minders’, especially as he says his home was under threat. Yesterday’s BBC footage seemed to show a minder on his doorstep. Where were his minders? Were they in London and Durham; does HMG security leave its most important clients to wander off for a couple of weeks, not knowing where?
8. ’Exceptional circumstances’. I don’t see the word ‘exceptional’ in the guidance – Stay at home: guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection [1].
9. Gender choice. Throughout Cummings sees the females as having to supply the caring roles, and his insistence as having to return back to work, as the man, as the bread winner was more important than maintaining the family’s safety?
10. Only 22 days more, to achieve Herd Immunity (Save the Economy)? The Sunday Times article, ‘22 days of dither and delay’ reveals the number of cases evolving when the policy is ‘free expansion of a virus’ i.e. attaining Herd Immunity. Perhaps Cummings was 22 days short of attaining Herd Immunity (Save the Economy)? Cummings, Vallance and Johnson all proclaimed the power of the Herd Immunity solution! Video evidence tells that story. The free expansion of the virus allows it to double every three days, at the lockdown. It’s estimated there were 1.5 million infections then, even with a self-limiting restriction coming into play due to a reduction in the numbers of unaffected people available. In three more weeks the UK might have had three quarters of the population infected. 46 million infected. The penny had dropped. 46 million times x% is genocide.
Is this the real story behind the UK disaster! A miscalculation that Herd Immunity (Save the Economy) was the way forward. Any thoughts?
11. ”So what if a few old people die?” No comment needed.
12. Driving 60 miles to test eyesight, with your 4 year-old child and wife in the car?
13. The Cummings story is a distraction from the real story.
On the 30th March the Prime Minister stated in his letter to all households, “I give you one simple instruction – You MUST Stay at Home” and ending “These rules must be observed”.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection ‘If you are living with children – Keep following this advice to the best of your ability, however, we are aware that not all these measures will be possible. What we have seen so far is that children with coronavirus (COVID-19) appear to be less severely affected. It is nevertheless important to do your best to follow this guidance.’
Go and look out the views of lawyers on his very carefully drafted witness statement, attempting to retrofit a seemingly plausible narrative to the known facts (although those same facts were being denied just a day or two before). He would crumble under proper cross-examination.
At its highest, not only did he breach the unambiguous government instruction to “stay home”, he clearly broke the coronavirus regulations more than once. He did not have a reasonable excuse to leave his main residence to travel to Durham, and he did not have a reasonable excuse for his 30 mile Easter Sunday / birthday jaunt to Barnard Castle. Driving with defective eyesight it itself a criminal offence. What kind of fools do they take us for.
But I was also thinking yesterday, what else are we missing while we are distracted by this circus?
Check out David Allen Green and The Secret Barrister on twitter
Your last thought is spot on
I can’t help but think this is stage-managed
It is now more than 6 months since the general election. When are they going to publish the report into Russian interference into UK politics?
Oh, nearly six, not more than, but you know what I mean.