Thread by @E_Pamplemousse

Ah, would that this be true... I've seen tweets from 2 Tory MPs this morning, trying to spin the story.
Guess we're finding out (again) who're in the Cummings coterie...

https://twitter.com/PaulBrandITV/status/1263952441080455168

Going to make this a thread of MPs defending Cummings for "visiting" his elderly parents, then his sister, in Durham, all the while he was in bed, with muscle spasms due to #COVIDー19, and his wife was praying for him, whilst making a castle with their son.

So, who do we have first? Step forward Robert Halfon.
#OneRuleForThem

Who next? Why, it's none other than Nadhim Zahawi.
#CummingsGoing

Anyone else? Why, yes, here comes Michael Gove.
#DominicGoings

Followed closely by Dominic Raab
#SackDom

Of course, the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has to join in
#DominicCummingsMustGo

Making sure she's not forgotten, here's Lucy
#ClassicDom

Well, it took Matt Hancock longer than I thought, to come up with this defence. Isn't it funny how in a city of millions, they were unable to find childcare in London, but were able to up in Durham.
Different cities, different rules?
#OneRuleForThem

Here's the MP for Devizes, trying to justify his job.
Because, of course, only #ClassicDom and his wife & child were in danger of dying from #COVIDー19.

Then we have Claire Coutinho, also trotting out the same trope - only people who live 260 miles away from you can take care of your child if you fall ill.
#SackCummings

The father of 6 can talk sense and nonsense at the same time.
Have we found Schrödinger's moggy?

Anyone else ill, with kids in the house? Haven't seen your parents for a while?
What are you waiting for? The MP for South Cambridgeshire says you can go! Cheers, Anthony Browne.
#DominicGoings

Anyone wondering what Brandon Lewis thinks of going to your parents' in Durham when one/both of you have #CoronaVirus ? Well, it's within the guidelines apparently... eventhough those same guidelines say you should #StayAtHomeSaveLives , and not put others at risk
#DominicGoings

According to Robert Courts, there's nothing to see, move along now.
#SackDom

Let's now meet Michael Tomlinson, another MP who thinks driving 260miles whilst one or both of you have #COVID19 is within the guidelines
#ClassicDom

The MP for S.Middlesborough is more than happy for a London resident to drive to Durham with #Corvid19 in the car, and to parrot the lines he's been given.
Reminder:as of yesterday, NE in Eng had the highest no. of cases per 100k pop.
Oh, and if you don't like his reply, well...

Here's the MP for Meriden, who also thinks you can't get any help in London. And that we should be looking at other things (like, perhaps, the 60k excess deaths due to people catching #COVID19 from others not staying at home???)
#DominicCummings

Oh, look. Suella thinks that highlighting someone travelling (to Durham) with #CoronaVirus when the whole family should've been isolating at their (London) home is politicising the situation.
(H/T to @Steph_Hannan114)
#ClassicDom #SackDominicCummings

Here's Rob, an MP in North Wales, thinking that nothing's wrong, move along. Wonder if he'd think the same if there was more than 421 cases in Flintshire.
#DominicGoings

Because we all need to consider the child, and forget about the grandparents, the aunt & her family, and anyone they may have come in contact with on the long drive to Durham.
Fabricant's forgotten about a 13yr old who was buried without his family attending; who cares bout him?

Conor Burns, the MP for Bournemouth West clearly believes in #OneRuleForThem and another for you

Anyone else think that this type of explanation is becoming a little repetitive? Alok Sharma clearly doesn't
#SackCummings

According to the MP for Thirsk, no-one who lives in London has friends there, and that's why #DominicCummings had to go up to Durham

You know, it'd be so much easier if the Tory MPs had all put out their parrot tweets about #Cummings this morning. I'd've missed this if it wasn't for @ThreeWomen_

I thought that was it... and then I saw this little exchange with James Heappey; someone else who thinks the same way as #DominicGoings

The definition of 'family home' has been stretched ever so slightly by Jamie Wallis here. One hell of a stretch...
#ResignDominic

Apparently, we're now supposed to sympathise with #DominicCummings for the situation he was in. Hmm. I don't know about you, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, but I'll keep my sympathies for those who've lost family & friends, and those working to keep us alive & safe

So, it's not OK to go and see your lover (eventhough you've had #COVIDー19) or to your second home, but it is OK to go to another home if you suspect you may be ill. Guess that's the excuse to use now? Well, that's the one Marcus Jones is going with.
#SackCummings

And that, ladies and gentlemen is the last tweet of this thread for the evening. 27 Tory MPs have tweeted in support of #DominicCummings; others have RT posts in support.
If you find any more, let me know, and I'll add them on.
Thank you for bearing with me in these trying times.

Late entry by Kit Malthouse at number 28. We could all show more kindness by not going out when we have #COVIDー19 , as the Govt guidelines say. Don't they Dom?
(H/T to @MrSandy_P)
#ClassicDom

I don't know how I missed this earlier on today, but here's entry no.29 - John Redwood.
I'm surprised given #Cummings made 2 trips to Durham, that they're still backing him.

Andrew Griffith thinks this is a non-story. If this is a 'non-story', then what the hell is the real story? What else is there to hide? We already know of the 60k+ excess deaths, the transfer of govt assests (incl NHS data) to private companies, poss lowering of food standards

As well as RTing Raab, Sunak, Gove, Alex Burghart also agrees with Danny Kruger. Guess he thinks travelling 260miles is acceptable when everyone else thinks you should abide by the Govt's guidelines and #StayHome
#DominicCummings

Angela Richardson seems to think that because she caught SARS & needed help, that #Cummings should be allowed to break the law (twice)(?) and go on a trip to Barnard Castle. Because he needed help too.

Karl McCartney may claim to 'not have a dog in this fight' but looking at all the RTs on his TL, it's quite clear he backs #Cummings.
Funny thing is, it wasn't "just a visit" as we now know. Wonder if Karl will change his mind?
#CummingsGo

Apparently, whilst #DominicCummings wasn't breaking the rules (eh?), the Welsh health minister was. But neither of them should resign.
Are you confused because I am. Maybe it's the time... or maybe I just don't understand David T Davies.

Here's the MP for Montgomeryshire saying that driving 260miles is fine. But you're not supposed to point this out if you're not a Tory. Or something. I don't know anymore.
#CummingsGo

Look! Another parrot tweet, this time it's Shailesh Vara. Why can't these Tory MPs manage to make it look like they've written the tweets themselves?
#SackDom

And that's really it. 36 Tory MPs have tweeted in support of #DominicCummings. More have RT some of those on this thread. Some have RT a few on this thread.
But this story changed throughout the day. Wonder what the morning will bring. Will #CummingsGo? Guess we'll find out soon.

Every time I think that's it, another pops up. This time it's Dan Kawczynski, peddling false information (the papers involved are the Mirror & the Guardian/Observer).
But look at the time he tweeted, long after the news came out here.
#DominicCummings

I really didn't expect to see this, or so early on a Sunday morning.
Steve Baker is calling for #Cummings to go

So, yesterday 37 Tory MPs tweeted in defence of #DominicCummings.
This morning, the ranks are broken. We've already seen Steve Baker's tweet (and #Ridge interview). This thread is changing from support to dissent- the #SackCummimgs calls have started.

So, who's next? Step forward Damian Collins, chair of the DCMS
#CummingsDay

Here's Simon Hoare, who was quiet about this yesterday. Wonder what's changed to make him speak out?
#SackCummmings

And now Sir Roger Gale, long standing MP for North Thanet, adding his voice to the #SackDominicCummimgs calls

Caroline Nokes spoke to the whip yesterday; today she's willing to speak (tweet) publicly about #DominicCummimgs. I wonder why she didn't just make this statement yesterday.

The member for Calder Valley has decided he can no longer stay on the fence over the issue. He joins a small list of 5 Tory MPs calling for #DominicCummings to be fired

Hmm... So, it's not the case that #DominicCummings should go because he blatantly ignored the rules, but because he's now the story.
Good to know that Sir Robert Syms doesn't care for those infected with #COVID19 or those staying at home, missing loved ones

A complete about turn by Robert Halfon here (his was the first tweet on the list, way up there ☝️)
H/T to @Andrew_F_Smith for taking it off FB
#DominicCummings

https://twitter.com/Andrew_F_Smith/status/1264571083904122881?s=19