She just waltzed off with more money than we will ever see in several lifetimes so I don't see she has too much to moan about. I get my first jab tomorrow - I'll check the nurses to see if I get bluetooth or a data upgrade via Bill Gates but I'm not optimistic now
You're right. I don't doubt that mistakes were made. And I know Hancock has told bare-faced whoppers over and over again, especially about PPE. Eventually we might find out whether some of the 127,700 lives could have been saved. But I'm absolutely clear on this; Dominic Cummings is a liar and a rat. He is just as responsible for everything that happened until he got kicked out of the inner circle. Nobody elected him. He shouldn't have been influencing SAGE meetings and all that stuff. Now he rats out all his former colleagues because he's got the royal arse. And he is STILL LYING about his trip to County Durham. He even tried the old 'double bluff' to the committee today, claiming that if he was lying he would have come up with a better story. YOU destroyed public trust in the Government's message Cummings. And Boris Johnson was a fool to defend you. He should have thrown you to the wolves, you back-stabbing little runt. I had some respect for this nasty little man once, as an architect of the Brexit process - delivering the democratic will of the British People. But now I think he is pond life. And no less guilty because he's a rat as well.
He was particularly scathing about a number of Eurosceptics, which makes me wonder if he ever really believed in B****t at all. He has no affiliation to the Tory party, and was basically a gun for hire. It's quite possible IMO that he would have joined the other side if they offered him more money.
Cummings has shades of Alex Salmond, who was all puffed up with the belief that he could destroy Ms Sturgeon's career with his evidence and his Alba party. Both fell flat.
Perceived treachery goes down very badly still with most people, even in an age where many other previously frowned upon habits are now accepted. Just saying sorry for his mistakes doesn't get Cummings off the hook. He has tried to paint a picture that as the Pandemic went on, he was the only voice of sanity. And that he tried his best to be the People's champion and steer meetings full of mad scientists and barmy politicians in a more humane direction. What a load of Codswallop. He was a prime mover in all the important policies. Scientists are queueing up to refute his wild allegations. The sooner this country sees the back of him the better. If dear old Sir Geoffrey (Lord Howe as he became, bless him) was the dead sheep of political revenge attacks, Cummings is the drowned rat.
I've no doubt some of the mud Cummings threw yesterday had a solid base - the responses (or lack of them) fom the government pretty much reinforce what he is saying. And he did quietly admit some guilt. But as you say, he was right in the thick of this, although what his qualifications were to be making big decisions is a huge question. The fact is that the res`ponse in the UK was pretty awful, and even if you are prepared to say thr first wave was inevitable without hindsight (I'm not, they could see full well waht was happening in Spain and Italy, but chose to go for the impssible herd immunity) Johnson then walked straight into the second wave with it's even higher death toll, with the same casual indifference. There is blood on their hands, though to what extent and who in particular wil be impossible to define. The enquiry into all this doesn't begin till next year and probably won't report before the next election, and the government's record in this sort of stuff is to bury it under an avalanche of other news. Having Cummings well clear of government would be a great step, but Hancock, Johnson, and that gormless woman who spent billions on a useless track and trace as well as the ghastly Patel, should all be cleared out with the garbage. Probably a case of the worst possible cabinet at the worst possible time.
An interesting read: https://www.theguardian.com/comment...-covid-dominic-cummings-pandemic-labour-media Doesn't give Starmer much of a better run than Johnson.
Corbyn was leader when the pandemic struck, and was telling us that it was very serious, while the government delayed. He did get that right.
Had my first jab. Disappointed if I’m honest. I thought it was meant to give me 5G. My phone isn’t working any better
Here comes the third wave. Totally avoidable, 100% the fault of Government incompetence, complacency and wrong priorities. If they delay the final lockdown easing on June 21st it will be an utter disgrace. And there is now the real possibility that harsh restrictions may be imposed on fans at football matches come August. Limits of a couple of thousand, testing chaos at turnstiles, compulsory mask wearing and a ban on away fans will ruin the start to a new season. It did not have to be this way. After all the pain and loss of the last year, our useless leaders learned NOTHING.
The more incompetent and deceitful the Johnson Government is shown to be, the higher their ratings climb. And the culture of routine lying was largely promoted by one Dominic Cummings, who now portrays himself as "Honest Dom".
I know this is going to sound controversial, but I think... People who are hospitalised and/or die from Coronavirus should NOT be included in the daily figures, if they had been offered the vaccine and decided not to have it. They were offered a lifeline, and they chose to risk death instead. No reason the rest of us should suffer for their choice. Vaccination is all the Government is obliged to offer in my opinion. It reduces Coronavirus to the status of Flu. Yes, it will take some people, as Flu does. But each year you get your jab if you're in a vulnerable group. Eternal restrictions - masks & social distancing & bans on crowds - are not realistic options. Our Government and authorities are under no obligation to continue with them once all adults have been vaccinated (about another 3 months?) Football, like shops, theatres, cinemas etc. must be allowed to re-open. We are not going to become permanent victims of this disease, or hostages to those who refuse the solution when it's offered.
I have said all along that the clowns that disrespect Covid and US need to cop a dose of it. Too many people have made sacrifices with not seeing their loved ones for a start.
We are far too soft on "vaccine hesitancy" in this country. I'm not saying make it compulsory. But people who are offered it and say no can whistle for any more sympathy, or any further help, in my view. Folks who choose to risk hospitalisation and death when there is no need to, should not be on the daily figures. Everyone knows there is nothing wrong with the vaccine. Stories about tracking chips in it, or it making you sterile etc. are just risible nonsense.
More squirming on the Andrew Marr show regarding flights from India during April. Some have been saying that all three waves of the Pandemic are the Government's fault. Some of the evidence of the Rat Cummings supports this. But I am certain this third wave is 100% on this Government.