Current Affairs

[Manoverboard]

If I had a 4 year old child and my wife and I started showing signs of Covid 19 I would have probably done the same to ensure my child was safe. Just saying.
As for lockdown, what I have seen it's a joke anyway. It bears no resemblance to that imposed on other countries.

Not a joke for some OBF, particularly when a close friend has passed.

I have a very close friend whose brother died of cancer, no doubt about that, albeit the death certificate states the cause as being due to COVID19, as you correctly say none of this is a joking matter ... and I doubt OBF was being flippant.

[oldbluefox]

Just to clarify:
"JOKE :SINGULAR NOUN
If you say that something or someone is a joke, you think they are ridiculous and do not deserve respect.
[informal, disapproval]
It's ridiculous, it's pathetic, it's a joke.
The police investigation was a joke. A total cover-up.
Synonyms: nonsense, parody, sham"
(Collins Dictionary)

No, I wasn't being flippant at all.

[Gill W]

I am very pleased that you posted a response, so much better than firing a bullet and then retiring to the safety of the bunker like wot you did when we were all discussing Boris's leadership qualities. I will provide a post number if required.

I do agree with you that he disregarded the edict from above and that he is guilty of something ... but what is he actually guilty of ?

I would suggest, without evidence, that he was trying to protect his family. I would have done the same and sod the rules providing that I made every effort to avoid making contact with anybody along the way apart of course from the members of my family who had agreed to help me in my hour of need.

As you know, when I don’t agree with the group, people tend to get heated. Sometimes, I think ‘why bother’ and withdraw from the conversation. Thats not retiring to the bunker, that’s because I don’t want any more trouble.

What Cummings is ‘guilty’ of is blatantly disregarding government instructions that applied to everybody. He and his wife were symptomatic- the instructions were crystal clear - stay at home and self isolate. Not drive the length of the country to an out house on his parents property and have food dropped off the door. He’s got relatives in London, possibly friends, definitely colleagues, and online shopping. There was no need to make an unnecessary journey when he had symptoms

I know people who are mild and easy going and not interested in politics and they are fuming about this. It has pushed them over the edge. Everyone I has done their utmost to adhere to the rules. People have had to cope with looking after their kids when they are ill, fathers have missed the birth of their children, people have not been able to be with their loved ones when they died and haven’t been able to go to funerals. Yet Cummings completely flouts the rules as they apparently don’t apply to him.

Now, trust in the government is undermined. People are thinking like you, sod the rules, if Cummings can do it, I can do it too. By backing Cummings, the government has lost the moral authority to enforce any lockdown. That’s why this is so important.

[Onelife]

Well that was lovely, you can’t beat a good fry up on a Saturday.

First things first, nice to see Gill back firing on all “ten” cylinders …. all we need now is for Sir Merv to make an appearance and we’ll be one big happy forum again.

Its always nice to have a balanced debate, so to further my stand point I think its worth considering the timing of when this alleged breach occurred, wasn’t it back in March that this took place?

He, or indeed his wife would have had to have been headless chickens not to realise they were pushing limits on self-isolating; that being said, we have moved on a pace since March especially with regard to child susceptibility to the virus, something I would suggest most parents of a child would be taking very seriously at the time. Putting myself in their position I would have done the same because at the point that they took their child up to Durham they wouldn’t have known how bad they were going to be affected by the virus, so taking they child into the arms of their loved ones seems to me to be what any responsible parent would have done....Oh' yes you would!

[Ray Scully]

Note to self
Don't get sucked in by this self serving entitled mob again, stick with the joke page BYE

[towny44]

Other people in high profile roles who flouted the rules weren't sacked - they did the decent thing and resigned. See Christine Calderwood and Neil Ferguson

The Guardian published ...

" Catherine Calderwood steps down after visiting second home twice despite advice to stay in "

The circumstances are totally different to that of the Cummings household and yet without any evidence whatsoever you are ready to hang him out to dry. Some would say that was victimisation, surely ?

plus ...

Neil Ferguson was guilty of travelling for a bit of nooky

Without evidence? He's not denying that he did it

The problem is, he took this action in complete disregard to the instructions that we were given, and that most people have done their utmost to adhere to, even in difficult circumstances.

Always remember 'Rules are for the guidance of wise men, and the observance of fools", I prefer to be wise rather than a fool like Blackford.

[oldbluefox]

Note to self
Don't get sucked in by this self serving entitled mob again, stick with the joke page BYE

You insinuated I was being flippant when a close friend of yours had passed away. I explained this was not the case and clarified it with the dictionary definition. I don't see what the problem is or understand this reaction.

[towny44]

If I had a 4 year old child and my wife and I started showing signs of Covid 19 I would have probably done the same to ensure my child was safe. Just saying.
As for lockdown, what I have seen it's a joke anyway. It bears no resemblance to that imposed on other countries.

Not a joke for some OBF, particularly when a close friend has passed.

Cummings did isolate himself and his family, and it is extremely unlikely that his wife would have infected anyone other than him during the car journey to Durham. So the only question is, should he be hung for a very minor infringement, opposition politicians will bay for his blood, but not for the right reasons.

[anniec]

Story breaking now that Cummings made a second trip to Durham, after he'd recovered.
Is that all right too?

[oldbluefox]

Story breaking now that Cummings made a second trip to Durham, after he'd recovered.
Is that all right too?

I presume this is your source. The Guardian?
Sounds a bit far fetched but could be true and if so, no it's not.

[screwy]

The Guardian and the Mirror,Hmm,not exactly Tory loving papers. Apparently..someone said, no photo evidence, hearsay..

If true on the other hand,he is a fool and should go.

[Ray Scully]

Sorry couldn't resist

100049036_10157114788683199_1085803732844675072_n.jpg

[Onelife]

Get your facts right Ray ....It was actually a 520 there and back

[Ray Scully]

Get your facts right Ray ....It was actually a 520 there and back

So for the two trips that was ???? 1040 to my reckoning will check that with Priti

[Onelife]

Story breaking now that Cummings made a second trip to Durham, after he'd recovered.
Is that all right too?

No it wouldn't be right, but l think he will be far more instrumental in getting our country back on track than you or me so after a good spanking l think we should move on ......Our country comes first, we can do the inquests latter.......that's not to say we can't do a bit of policy bashing in between

[Onelife]

Get your facts right Ray ....It was actually a 520 there and back

So for the two trips that was ???? 1040 to my reckoning will check that with Priti

Innocent until proven guilty still makes it ??? but l'll check it out with AA route planner to be sure

[Happydays]

I am very pleased that you posted a response, so much better than firing a bullet and then retiring to the safety of the bunker like wot you did when we were all discussing Boris's leadership qualities. I will provide a post number if required.

I do agree with you that he disregarded the edict from above and that he is guilty of something ... but what is he actually guilty of ?

I would suggest, without evidence, that he was trying to protect his family. I would have done the same and sod the rules providing that I made every effort to avoid making contact with anybody along the way apart of course from the members of my family who had agreed to help me in my hour of need.

As you know, when I don’t agree with the group, people tend to get heated. Sometimes, I think ‘why bother’ and withdraw from the conversation. Thats not retiring to the bunker, that’s because I don’t want any more trouble.

What Cummings is ‘guilty’ of is blatantly disregarding government instructions that applied to everybody. He and his wife were symptomatic- the instructions were crystal clear - stay at home and self isolate. Not drive the length of the country to an out house on his parents property and have food dropped off the door. He’s got relatives in London, possibly friends, definitely colleagues, and online shopping. There was no need to make an unnecessary journey when he had symptoms

I know people who are mild and easy going and not interested in politics and they are fuming about this. It has pushed them over the edge. Everyone I has done their utmost to adhere to the rules. People have had to cope with looking after their kids when they are ill, fathers have missed the birth of their children, people have not been able to be with their loved ones when they died and haven’t been able to go to funerals. Yet Cummings completely flouts the rules as they apparently don’t apply to him.

Now, trust in the government is undermined. People are thinking like you, sod the rules, if Cummings can do it, I can do it too. By backing Cummings, the government has lost the moral authority to enforce any lockdown. That’s why this is so important.

As you know I don't always agree with what you say but in this instance I agree with you completely. He definitely should be sacked there are many of us who have been following the rules/guide lines and this is like a kick in teeth!

[Quizzical Bob]

Story breaking now that Cummings made a second trip to Durham, after he'd recovered.
Is that all right too?

No it wouldn't be right, but l think he will be far more instrumental in getting our country back on track than you or me so after a good spanking l think we should move on ......Our country comes first, we can do the inquests latter.......that's not to say we can't do a bit of policy bashing in between

If you think Cummings is the answer to getting this country on track then you’re very much mistaken. He was responsible for the initial ‘herd immunity’ approach before his u-turn and we went into lockdown three weeks behind our neighbours.

He is treating the UK as one of his experiments and we are the guinea pigs.

[Onelife]

Story breaking now that Cummings made a second trip to Durham, after he'd recovered.
Is that all right too?

No it wouldn't be right, but l think he will be far more instrumental in getting our country back on track than you or me so after a good spanking l think we should move on ......Our country comes first, we can do the inquests latter.......that's not to say we can't do a bit of policy bashing in between

If you think Cummings is the answer to getting this country on track then you’re very much mistaken. He was responsible for the initial ‘herd immunity’ approach before his u-turn and we went into lockdown three weeks behind our neighbours.

He is treating the UK as one of his experiments and we are the guinea pigs.

Hi Qb,

I'm sure you are right in that he probably had some imput into the herd immunity experiment...you are definitely right in that it put us two week+ behind in lockdown measures . The problem with most intellectual thinkers is that they see the solutions before they see the cost. I'm not sure at which point he will become surplus to requirements but presently l'm happy to see him still on board.

[Manoverboard]

As you know, when I don’t agree with the group, people tend to get heated. Sometimes, I think ‘why bother’ and withdraw from the conversation. Thats not retiring to the bunker, that’s because I don’t want any more trouble.

What Cummings is ‘guilty’ of is blatantly disregarding government instructions that applied to everybody. He and his wife were symptomatic- the instructions were crystal clear - stay at home and self isolate. Not drive the length of the country to an out house on his parents property and have food dropped off the door. He’s got relatives in London, possibly friends, definitely colleagues, and online shopping. There was no need to make an unnecessary journey when he had symptoms

I know people who are mild and easy going and not interested in politics and they are fuming about this. It has pushed them over the edge. Everyone I has done their utmost to adhere to the rules. People have had to cope with looking after their kids when they are ill, fathers have missed the birth of their children, people have not been able to be with their loved ones when they died and haven’t been able to go to funerals. Yet Cummings completely flouts the rules as they apparently don’t apply to him.

Now, trust in the government is undermined. People are thinking like you, sod the rules, if Cummings can do it, I can do it too. By backing Cummings, the government has lost the moral authority to enforce any lockdown. That’s why this is so important.

I believe that if anybody posts anything at all then one should expect and indeed welcome a response. I certainly do. The heated responses are ok by me providing that we all remember to attack the post NOT the poster. Your debating points above are there to reinforce your view, they add nothing to the ‘ facts ‘ of the matter as far as I am concerned.

I have no idea, nor I suspect have you, if any of the people you mention in London are suitable choices to care for a four year old child who may or may not have symptoms of the virus. Mobietta and I haven’t been out of the village these past two months but if we had a child of that age who needed to be in a better place at that moment then one of us would drive him to somebody who wanted to take care of him/her and was experienced enough to do so. In all honesty it beggars belief that you can seriously suggest that a child should be dumped on a colleague simply because it would be within the guidelines of containment.

The guidelines were broken, agreed, but it is not a matter for the courts because the law hasn’t been broken. It is perhaps more akin to the Rules of this Forum, if so it follows that any violation would be punished in accordance with that rule without taking into consideration any mitigating circumstances ... that cannot be right, can it ?
.

[david63]

I don't suppose that any of us know what we would have done in the same circumstances at that point in time, but we also have to bear in mind that there were/are many families in the same, or in some cases worse, situation and have dealt with it - although I suspect that there will be some that have done the same.

I do, however, think that his attitude towards all of this leaves a lot to be desired - basically he is sticking two fingers up and saying I will do as I want. A little bit of contrition would go a long way.

[towny44]

I don't suppose that any of us know what we would have done in the same circumstances at that point in time, but we also have to bear in mind that there were/are many families in the same, or in some cases worse, situation and have dealt with it - although I suspect that there will be some that have done the same.

I do, however, think that his attitude towards all of this leaves a lot to be desired - basically he is sticking two fingers up and saying I will do as I want. A little bit of contrition would go a long way.

In his situation, especially if he had just watched Ian Blackford ranting and raving, I think many of us would have felt and said similar things.
He may not be someone we would seek as a friend, but if Boris values his ideas then I certainly don't want to see him sacked for something that, even his worst enemy must admit, probably did nothing to spread the disease into the wider community, and any sensible person should think the same.

[Onelife]

I think we need to look at which will have the biggest impact on getting covid sorted....the sacking of one high profile strategist who apparently is one of the best... against....allowing the media and the political back stabbers the satisfaction of doing a bit of blood letting.

If proven...Yes' l agree, it doesn't set a good example but l can live with it because for all intents and purposes he is a great strategist and Government's stand or fall by the advice given by their strategists. This is neither the right time or the right reason to be destabilising the Government in its endeavours to get Covid sorted.

I do think a public apology is in order though, if only to acknowledge his flaunting of the rules, if indeed that is what he has done.

[Stephen]

I think we need to look at which will have the biggest impact on getting covid sorted....the sacking of one high profile strategist who apparently is one of the best... against....allowing the media and the political back stabbers the satisfaction of doing a bit of blood letting.

If proven...Yes' l agree, it doesn't set a good example but l can live with it because for all intents and purposes he is a great strategist and Government's stand or fall by the advice given by their strategists. This is neither the right time or the right reason to be destabilising the Government in its endeavours to get Covid sorted.

I do think a public apology is in order though, if only to acknowledge his flaunting of the rules, if indeed that is what he has done.

I like what I'm hearing Keith.

[Onelife]

I think we need to look at which will have the biggest impact on getting covid sorted....the sacking of one high profile strategist who apparently is one of the best... against....allowing the media and the political back stabbers the satisfaction of doing a bit of blood letting.

If proven...Yes' l agree, it doesn't set a good example but l can live with it because for all intents and purposes he is a great strategist and Government's stand or fall by the advice given by their strategists. This is neither the right time or the right reason to be destabilising the Government in its endeavours to get Covid sorted.

I do think a public apology is in order though, if only to acknowledge his flaunting of the rules, if indeed that is what he has done.

I like what I'm hearing Keith.

Ok ...you can get out of you're box re: my last PM post. P.s...If you know where Mob lives put him in it