Rayvin

I'm hoping they're still of the opinion that Cummings has full awareness of the public mood and are banking on that. It seems like too big a misstep from him for me to really believe it though. I think he's going to lean heavily on Brexit here tbh.

One of the Tories has just come out and said we're all going to be surprised by what Cummings has to say, and that we haven't listened to his side of the story... I'm actually a bit concerned now, what are they expecting to happen here? That Cummings will cut a sympathetic and tortured character who was just trying to do the best by his family? I've only ever seen him express condescension and rage. If he's capable of actual human feelings then he's more dangerous than we thought.

I'm currently living in a Tory constituency and have written to my MP. Not sure what good it will do, but I tried to sound as much like a concerned Tory voter as I possibly could, and not the rabid socialist I clearly am

Code of Conduct for Special Advisors: 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. They must observe discretion and express comment with moderation, avoiding personal attacks, and would not normally speak in public for their Minister or the Department.

I suppose it's possible he tries to be civil and act with humility but i honestly can't imagine him even being capable of it, let alone wanting to.

He's going to double down. Talking points will be: 1. I was following lockdown protocol. 2. None of you here are obeying social distancing. 3. You hate me cos Brexit. 4. This is actually an attempt to stop Brexit. 5. You're all cunts.

I also think it's interesting to see Labour not saying anything, and for this to be praised, compared to the previous 5 years of cautious and measured responses which were pilloried. Although of course Starmer has condemned this, just no one in the media cared very much. Which also sounds familiar... I like the guy but I'm not sure he's visible enough.

I hope you're right but can't bring myself to share the optimism. I think if he doesn't go now, no one will care in 2 months time. And by the next election Cummings will be long gone anyway, Brexit delivered and job done. By his own intention he's only meant to be an advisor for about a year anyway. It's been a good attempt that has forced the government to absolutely undermine public trust and confidence, but if Johnson chooses not to act on it then he's doing so because he knows they can ride it out.

I understand this but we live in an era that isn't functioning normally in a political sense. What is it exactly that is going to happen which will force Cummings to go? The press have shown their hand and it's a good one, but if Johnson rides out today it's not like the matter escalates from there. Unless the Tories really do force the issue themselves, which I doubt they have the spine to do, I don't think this goes anywhere from here without further revelations.

He doesn't -have- to sack him though, right? For all the press may call for it, no one can compel him to sack the guy. I mean it's still Year 1 of the cycle remember, there's not much any of us can do about this and no one will care in 4 years time. Least of all Johnson who will probably just stand down anyway. Interesting times but if Johnson intends to just stare the press down, I'm not sure exactly what can be done about it.

Just reading some of the comments from the Mail readers, they're up in arms too. As was said earlier, this really is unifying across left and right. Cummings is an arsehole and Johnson is a craven leech. But the interesting thing for me here is that this issue is the first thing that has outraged the British public to the point of standing down from Remainer/Leaver, Left/Right. And this is great for our side of this ultimately, as many uninterested observers and Brexit voters don't seem to appreciate how crucial Cummings actually is to Johnson. It's like they believe that Johnson himself is the mastermind. So they haven't quite seen the harm they're doing to their side of the divide by turning on Cummings now. If this had happened a year ago, Brexit might have been dead. I think it'll come down to whether the outrage is enough to take down Johnson and Cummings together. In effect that's what Johnson is saying it'll have to be. I don't think it'll be enough for that, but when the next scandal comes (and it will), that might be enough. I am convinced that the 1922 committee will be concerned now.

Johnson must be fucking desperate to keep Cummings if this is what we're being served up. Well, seems like nothing will happen whatsoever. Accountability simply doesn't exist.

Yeah but the inquiry will neuter Starmer too. Really felt like we were getting somewhere with this one briefly, back to the political shithousing though.

Johnson taking over the briefing later, presumably to 'take the matter very seriously, but advocate for adherence to due process' and hope that it all quietens down and then goes away over the course of a month or so.

Of course he did I really don't know then, I suspect it will have as much to do with how the day plays out as anything else. I'll stick with Hancock, they need to make some kind of a response concerning the implications of their hypocrisy on lockdown.

Civ 6 is free up until the 28th from Epic Games. As much as they suck, civ is normally 50 quid and is an incredibly good strategy game.

Did Matt Hancock end up weighing in on the Cummings affair? He could come out and claim total ignorance. It's his default setting anyway.

I mean it's the Tories, you'd think they'd smell blood in the water on this one. They're ruthless when it comes to people threatening "the party". It really does seem that they've all bought into Cummings.

I still can't believe almost the entire cabinet lined up behind him in unison yesterday. The Mirror and the Guardian have done very well with this. Cummings will be some scalp to take. Leaves Johnson entirely off kilter against the EU as well. As much as he'll still be there in the PM's ear I'm sure, he's not going to be able to wield the same level of control without a physical presence. He's on boards and committees all over the place.

I think this has been a very informed argument tbh, but i don't remember his style of play being something they had issue with. It was a class thing, like a perception that he was beneath them, at least from what I recall. They had Mourinho for years ffs, he literally lived by counter attacks. Rafa may well bring a less interesting brand of football, but even if that was true he'd be my first choice just for the sheer respect I have for the man for taking us on even through relegation, even with Ashley. Pocchetino, good as he may, right man as he may be, is only interested in us because we now have money and the potential to improve. Rafa was interested in us at least in part because of the identity of the club. Given what's about to happen to us, I think hiring a man who understands us as a city and a club would help us to retain a sense of who we are in amongst the millions being spent. I'd be fine with Poch, but Rafa would be my first choice.

I hate the Tories.

My aunt died in a care home about a month ago - she was very unwell anyway having had a stroke previously, and there's no evidence that she had COVID, but my uncle was called in once they realised she was dying and allowed 3 hours with her. He went in immediately and was there for the full 3 hours, during which time she didn't pass. He was then forced to leave due to lockdown regulations and she died alone with no family around her, 2 hours later. At her funeral, all elderly relatives were unable to attend along with any family members who were either not directly related, or had health conditions that might mean they were vulnerable. My uncle had to bury his wife and then go back to his house alone afterwards. I don't know how standard any of the above is, but the idea that Dominic Fucking Cummings was somehow allowed to travel the length of the country WHILE SHOWING SYMPTOMS and this wasn't breaking lockdown, and yet my aunt had to die alone and my uncle had to mourn her almost completely alone because any deviation from this would have broken lockdown, is one of the most repulsive notions I've encountered. No fucking surprise it's delivered by the Conservatives. For what it's worth, our whole family understood and accepted the situation with my Aunt. It was sad but there it was. Even my uncle. And to a degree I expect this sort of callous disregard for other human life from Cummings, he's just a fucking psychopath. But every single servile Tory weasel who defends this sociopathic wanker is beneath contempt.

Even if it was, what difference does it make politically? He could be snorting coke off hookers' arses and the Daily Mail would still go on about how much of a family man he is. Nothing matters anymore.

Because the BBC have damage controlled it quite well?

Google translate says they're in the final stages of the acquisition process. Which, tbf, is fuck all that we didn't know anyway.