So this tweet of mine, 3 days ago, was monumentally wrong.
I assumed a massive wave of critique - from Hartley Brewer via Tim Montgomery to The Daily Mail would be enough to topple Cummings. But I was incorrect.
I assumed a massive wave of critique - from Hartley Brewer via Tim Montgomery to The Daily Mail would be enough to topple Cummings. But I was incorrect.
The vast majority of Tory MPs favour their short term fortunes with the whips over the medium term prospects of the party.
Contorting themselves in a gruesome manner to defend Cummings has proven unsightly, but nevertheless possible.
Contorting themselves in a gruesome manner to defend Cummings has proven unsightly, but nevertheless possible.
The hold Cummings has over Johnson is even stronger than I had thought. Johnson's self preservation radar seems to be off, or otherwise he is even more spineless than we thought (hard one I know).
I think a point made by @cjayanetti is a valid one - the Tories think they are fighting a culture war here, as they were on Brexit, and their camp will back them. Some of their usual suspects (MPs, some handy journalists and commentators) will, but I am far from sure public will.
That a Special Adviser manages to get himself a press conference in the garden of Downing Street to defend himself, and behaves as he did, is quite a jaw dropping moment. 6 months from now that might look like a turning point, looking back.
But for now - unless @pippacrerar and co have some extra witness up their sleeve, I cannot see how he can be ousted now. How can this damage Johnson any more? How much of a deeper hole can Cummings dig? But that doesn't seem to matter. No hole is too deep.
British politics has hit a new low. People will die as a result of this, as policing (easing of) lockdown will now be harder than it was. If a re-tightening is needed I am genuinely worried how the UK would now attempt that.
Everyone is a loser here.
/ends
Everyone is a loser here.
/ends
