Current Affairs

[Manoverboard]

His reason for the journey was ‘childcare’, so, unfortunately, it was relevant to give more detail.

Why would that be ?

When questioned on this matter he advised that his home in London was being targeted by the baying mob ( my words ) and that to release the address in Durham would have resulted in that place being targeted as well. In reality that is now the case because of the irresponsibility of Social Media Groups and the Press.

[barney]

Stay Home
Protect the NHS

Drive 250 miles
Call 999
Put pressure on a regional service

You couldn’t make it up
He’s taken the country for mugs and some have fallen for it.

[barney]

His reason for the journey was ‘childcare’, so, unfortunately, it was relevant to give more detail.

Why would that be ?

When questioned on this matter he advised that his home in London was being targeted by the baying mob ( my words ) and that to release the address in Durham would have resulted in that place being targeted as well. In reality that is now the case because of the irresponsibility of Social Media Groups and the Press.

Ask yourself, why was his home a security problem eight weeks ago but not now?
Smoke and mirrors

[towny44]

The things that have struck me is that Barnard Castle was true although Johnson completely denied it yesterday.

Plus, this bit about the child having to go to hospital - that’s completely new, strange that his wife never mentioned that in her account of her lockdown in the Spectator. Completely right, Barney, people were expressly told not to travel to second home in case they put the local hospitals under pressure.

If you're ill does it matter which health authority you use, it's the same result unless Durham only has a cottage hospital?

[Quizzical Bob]

So the media are baying for Cummings to make a statement and explain himself,they’ve got their wish...But. Now they’re up in arms because he’s holding it on Govt property.! Maybe he should have held it on the Thames.

From The Guardian,

"a number of people are flagging the government’s Code of Conduct for Special Advisers which states they must not take “public part in political controversy”.

Point 14 states:

Special advisers must not take public part in political controversy, through any form of statement whether in speeches or letters to the press, or in books, social media, articles or leaflets.

[Onelife]

The press has been taking the country for mugs since time began but no more so now with all this garbage they keep spouting out.

[towny44]

The things that have struck me is that Barnard Castle was true although Johnson completely denied it yesterday.

Plus, this bit about the child having to go to hospital - that’s completely new, strange that his wife never mentioned that in her account of her lockdown in the Spectator. Completely right, Barney, people were expressly told not to travel to second home in case they put the local hospitals under pressure.

Clearly you must receive a different TV transmission to us, my memory is that Boris did not pass any comment on the veracity of the Barnard Castle story.

[Manoverboard]

Ask yourself, why was his home a security problem eight weeks ago but not now?
Smoke and mirrors

I assume you mean the parental farm in County Durham rather than his London residence, apologies if not.

The farm became a security matter, imo and recently confirmed by the Durham Police Force, because as a high ranking Member of the Government it would be his responsibility to protect himself and his wider family from action that may arise because of who he is. Such security would doubtless remain in place until it was safe to reduce or remove it

As far as the London residence is concerned I would have thought that there would always have been a Police presence albeit the risk has grown unreasonably in recent times.

[towny44]

So the media are baying for Cummings to make a statement and explain himself,they’ve got their wish...But. Now they’re up in arms because he’s holding it on Govt property.! Maybe he should have held it on the Thames.

From The Guardian,

"a number of people are flagging the government’s Code of Conduct for Special Advisers which states they must not take “public part in political controversy”.

Point 14 states:

Special advisers must not take public part in political controversy, through any form of statement whether in speeches or letters to the press, or in books, social media, articles or leaflets.

Your understanding of a political controversy is different to mine, if the media had confined their criticism to the govt, rather than make Cummings the lead element of the story then he would not have been put in this situation.

[Gill W]

His reason for the journey was ‘childcare’, so, unfortunately, it was relevant to give more detail.

Why would that be ?

When questioned on this matter he advised that his home in London was being targeted by the baying mob ( my words ) and that to release the address in Durham would have resulted in that place being targeted as well. In reality that is now the case because of the irresponsibility of Social Media Groups and the Press.

If the baying mob was targeting his house, why wait until this wife starts being sick before going up north. His wife and child could have gone up to stay with relatives at any time, even before lockdown started. She’s a writer, she could work from any location.

[Gill W]

The things that have struck me is that Barnard Castle was true although Johnson completely denied it yesterday.

Plus, this bit about the child having to go to hospital - that’s completely new, strange that his wife never mentioned that in her account of her lockdown in the Spectator. Completely right, Barney, people were expressly told not to travel to second home in case they put the local hospitals under pressure.

If you're ill does it matter which health authority you use, it's the same result unless Durham only has a cottage hospital?

Well yes it does matter in a pandemic. We were told to stay home and not travel to second homes etc in case we put additional pressure on the health service of the area that we move to. This is not just a notion I’ve dreamed up, these were our instructions.

[Gill W]

The things that have struck me is that Barnard Castle was true although Johnson completely denied it yesterday.

Plus, this bit about the child having to go to hospital - that’s completely new, strange that his wife never mentioned that in her account of her lockdown in the Spectator. Completely right, Barney, people were expressly told not to travel to second home in case they put the local hospitals under pressure.

Clearly you must receive a different TV transmission to us, my memory is that Boris did not pass any comment on the veracity of the Barnard Castle story.

He blustered something about it being palpably untrue.

[barney]

Those among us who are actually in the vulnerable group will bemoan the change in attitude to the lockdown due to this guys abuse of the rules.

Two fatalities down here today in the sea because people think it’s all over, despite lifeguards not working (due to lockdown)

It’s just the start.

[Manoverboard]

If the baying mob was targeting his house, why wait until this wife starts being sick before going up north. His wife and child could have gone up to stay with relatives at any time, even before lockdown started. She’s a writer, she could work from any location.

According to his statement there was a genuine concern that both he and his wife could become victims of the virus, until that point in time there was no need to go anywhere because they would obviously wish to remain together as a family unit. Their collective concern was their 4 year old son pure and simple and only when it became a distinct possibility they may not be able to look after him properly did they head off to a trusted relative in Durham.
.

[towny44]

The things that have struck me is that Barnard Castle was true although Johnson completely denied it yesterday.

Plus, this bit about the child having to go to hospital - that’s completely new, strange that his wife never mentioned that in her account of her lockdown in the Spectator. Completely right, Barney, people were expressly told not to travel to second home in case they put the local hospitals under pressure.

If you're ill does it matter which health authority you use, it's the same result unless Durham only has a cottage hospital?

Well yes it does matter in a pandemic. We were told to stay home and not travel to second homes etc in case we put additional pressure on the health service of the area that we move to. This is not just a notion I’ve dreamed up, these were our instructions.

That presumably assumed the 2nd home was in a coastal or rural setting, which is a bit different to a county town. Additionally I would prefer to emphasise the stay in and isolate effectively rather than nit pick about where the home is located.

[barney]

If you believe that, then I have some prime real estate in Florida that might interest you

[Manoverboard]

... albeit it's full of Mexicans

[towny44]

If you believe that, then I have some prime real estate in Florida that might interest you

We no longer fly Barney so would have no interest in your property, real or imagined.

[barney]

If you believe that, then I have some prime real estate in Florida that might interest you

We no longer fly Barney so would have no interest in your property, real or imagined.

Long cruise ???

[screwy]

Spain now saying they are open to visitors. Get the ships ready , not.!

[Onelife]

I have to Question Boris on his judgement…. his comment to Robert Preston” you are a formidable journalist” seemed to me to be a bit misplaced judged on past few performance, he did however redeem himself with a classic put down of the journalist Rowena Mason (Guardian) when he said something along the lines of “the headline you used on Saturday was inaccurate, and its important that we all tell the truth"…”ROWENA”

[Quizzical Bob]

So the media are baying for Cummings to make a statement and explain himself,they’ve got their wish...But. Now they’re up in arms because he’s holding it on Govt property.! Maybe he should have held it on the Thames.

From The Guardian,

"a number of people are flagging the government’s Code of Conduct for Special Advisers which states they must not take “public part in political controversy”.

Point 14 states:

Special advisers must not take public part in political controversy, through any form of statement whether in speeches or letters to the press, or in books, social media, articles or leaflets.

Your understanding of a political controversy is different to mine, if the media had confined their criticism to the govt, rather than make Cummings the lead element of the story then he would not have been put in this situation.

It was Cummings himself that caused all this furore by his Covidiotic behaviour.

Spads are not allowed to be caught in the public eye. They are supposed to lurk in the background whispering advice from the shadows.

[Gill W]

If the baying mob was targeting his house, why wait until this wife starts being sick before going up north. His wife and child could have gone up to stay with relatives at any time, even before lockdown started. She’s a writer, she could work from any location.

According to his statement there was a genuine concern that both he and his wife could become victims of the virus, until that point in time there was no need to go anywhere because they would obviously wish to remain together as a family unit. Their collective concern was their 4 year old son pure and simple and only when it became a distinct possibility they may not be able to look after him properly did they head off to a trusted relative in Durham.
.

So the bayIng mob wasn’t an issue after all, if they were happy enough to stay until the point the wife started to feel ill. I believe that was 27th March, and lockdown started 23rd March, so there shouldn’t be anybody left outside their house anyway.

[Gill W]

Those among us who are actually in the vulnerable group will bemoan the change in attitude to the lockdown due to this guys abuse of the rules.

Two fatalities down here today in the sea because people think it’s all over, despite lifeguards not working (due to lockdown)

It’s just the start.

Everybody is going to do what they want, as the message is that you can act on your instincts.

This is what I’m going to do anyway. I don’t trust the government to safeguard me, so my instinct is to stay at home for the foreseeable future.

However, there will be people who think differently to me, and will just start going out and getting on with life. It’s not what I’m going to do, but, due to the government messaging now being undermined, I can no longer criticise those who are flocking to the beach.

[Gill W]

If you're ill does it matter which health authority you use, it's the same result unless Durham only has a cottage hospital?

Well yes it does matter in a pandemic. We were told to stay home and not travel to second homes etc in case we put additional pressure on the health service of the area that we move to. This is not just a notion I’ve dreamed up, these were our instructions.

That presumably assumed the 2nd home was in a coastal or rural setting, which is a bit different to a county town. Additionally I would prefer to emphasise the stay in and isolate effectively rather than nit pick about where the home is located.

The property is in a rural setting. And the instructions were crystal clear - do not travel to a second home to isolate. But it doesn’t matter now, everybody is free to flout the rules - that’s the result of Cummings action and the endorsement by Johnson.