I was booked to discuss the current #DominicCummings issue with @JuliaHB1 this afternoon but schedules have changed. As I won’t be on air any longer, I thought I’d share what I intended to say.
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I like Julia. I respect the fact that she’s sincere and understand that she’s angry. I just think that she’s wrong on this. BTW I haven’t seen my parents since January either. My father is in his 80s and unwell. But none of that’s the point.
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It seems to me that it comes down to whether Cummings broke the guidelines; on this they were vague at the time - they certainly made provision for transport for children who were categorised as vulnerable people.
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Therefore taking children to childcare is “necessary.”
That’s the test - was the journey necessary?
And on what possible basis can you say that you know that it wasn’t?
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That’s the test - was the journey necessary?
And on what possible basis can you say that you know that it wasn’t?
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Having met Dominic Cummings, I find it completely believable that he could not find someone in a 200 mile radius to help him.
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It’s not like going to your second home for fun, or having your lover come over for fun. It’s a different category of behaviour to the resignations we’ve seen.
It’s looking after his child - not just legal but responsible.
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It’s looking after his child - not just legal but responsible.
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In sum - a bad look but not a resigning / sacking offence.
People are going to town on it because they don’t like Cummings, and because they see it as a route of attacking the PM.
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People are going to town on it because they don’t like Cummings, and because they see it as a route of attacking the PM.
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Postscript x2:
- People are replying sayinghe could have put his child “in care.”
I do not know any parent who’d prefer to put their child in care rather than with a loving relative
- criticism of distance: so he should be punished for having relatives in Durham not London? 🤷🏻♂️
- People are replying sayinghe could have put his child “in care.”
I do not know any parent who’d prefer to put their child in care rather than with a loving relative
- criticism of distance: so he should be punished for having relatives in Durham not London? 🤷🏻♂️
I think that it would have been a good debate. Pity I/we got biffed!
Watching the show now, I see I was replaced by @eleanorkpenny. Both are therefore critical of Cummings, but more broadly the panel is much more balanced politically. Julia and I agree on most things!
I appeared on Sky this a.m. to discuss this; changed factor overnight was alllegation of a second trip. It was put to me based on it that “he’s got to go”- I responded that he’s given outright denial of 2nd trip which shouldn’t be reported as if true- which is happening all over.
I said that if the second allegation IS true, then having denied it he DOES have to go (I will still be accused of slavish loyalty etc but hi ho).
Point is he’s entitled to have his denial heard rather than this being reported as if simply the case. Which is widespread
Point is he’s entitled to have his denial heard rather than this being reported as if simply the case. Which is widespread
Here is the clip.
