UK says PM's adviser did not break lockdown rules with 400 km drive

[rooster59 12,463]

UK says PM's adviser did not break lockdown rules with 400 km drive

 

FILE PHOTO: Dominic Cummings, special adviser for Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, leaves his home in London, Britain, March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resisted calls on Saturday from opposition parties to sack adviser Dominic Cummings after he travelled 400 km while his wife showed COVID-19 symptoms to ensure their son could be looked after by his parents.

 

Cummings, who masterminded the 2016 campaign to leave the European Union during the Brexit referendum, travelled the 250 miles to Durham in northern England in late March, when a strict lockdown was already in place, the Guardian and Mirror newspapers reported.

 

Johnson's office said his adviser made the journey to ensure his young son could be properly cared for as his wife was ill with COVID-19 and there was a "high likelihood" that Cummings would himself become unwell.

 

"His actions were in line with coronavirus guidelines," a Downing Street spokesman said. "Mr Cummings believes he behaved reasonably and legally."

 

One of Johnson's most senior ministers, Michael Gove, said of the situation: "Caring for your wife and child is not a crime."

 

But opposition parties called for Johnson to sack Cummings.

 

"Dominic Cummings should have done the right thing, he should have resigned but now that he hasn't, Boris Johnson must show leadership and he must remove him from office immediately," the Scottish National Party's parliamentary leader, Ian Blackford, said.

 

The Labour Party said there should not be one rule for politicians and another rule for the British people. The Liberal Democrats said that if Cummings broke the guidelines, he should resign.

 

British guidelines say people should stay at home and refrain from visiting family members unless they need essential items such as food or medication.

 

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Angus MacSwan and John Stonestreet)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-28

 

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[7by7 10,186]

As I said in another topic: will those who were vociferous in their condemnation of Sturgeon's support for Dr Catherine Calderwood be equally vociferous here?

 

As most of them are prominent government and Brexit supporters, somehow I doubt it!

[from the home of CC 7,669]

special adviser says it all - he's special! One of the reasons folks don't pay much attention to authorities during a crisis, so don't be shocked when the 2nd wave bites a lot harder than the 1st.. 

[RuamRudy 8,628]

Misleading headline - the UK has not exonerated him; he is clearly guilty of contravening guidelines. The only ones in a position of authority who are supporting him are those desperately trying to portray their truly horrific response to the pandemic as measured and appropriate. 

[Mavideol 7,500]

how many people did he had contact with and potentially infected in his driving journey... shame on you cummings, if you have any balls just resign to show that you follow your own covid social distancing recommendations, leaders are supposed to be an example (I know I am asking to much from you and your gang of geeks)

[ukrules 15,785]

28 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

don't be shocked when the 2nd wave bites a lot harder than the 1st.. 

This is the second wave...

[jonesthepost 176]

57 minutes ago, ukrules said:

This is the second wave...

So when did the first wave finnish then  

[Throatwobbler 1,466]

I don’t know what info Cummings has on people in the government but he seems to have them all by the short and curlies. They will defend anything he does.

[vogie 20,403]

Shock, horror and go to the foot of our stairs, what father would not want to be with his child whilst his mother was ill. Well done Dom for being a decent human being. All your fiercist critics on here would have done exactly the same, infact they wouldn't be much of a father if they didn't. But hey let's make it political and crucify the guy for being decent.

[Phil McCaverty 1,176]

1 minute ago, vogie said:

Shock, horror and go to the foot of our stairs, what father would not want to be with his child whilst his mother was ill. Well done Dom for being a decent human being. All your fiercist critics on here would have done exactly the same, infact they wouldn't be much of a father if they didn't. But hey let's make it political and crucify the guy for being decent.

Did you read the story? He wanted to get rid of the kid by dumping him on the grandparents 260 miles away. He had been in contact with a known Covid case (johnson) and both he and his wife had symptoms. So the kid , who was possibly Covid+ too was driven 260 miles to be dumped on his aged parents. Not a good parent, not a good son and criminally in breach of just about every government guideline on Covid.

[KhaoNiaw 811]

7 minutes ago, vogie said:

Shock, horror and go to the foot of our stairs, what father would not want to be with his child whilst his mother was ill. Well done Dom for being a decent human being. All your fiercist critics on here would have done exactly the same, infact they wouldn't be much of a father if they didn't. But hey let's make it political and crucify the guy for being decent.

Except most other people couldn't do it could they? They were told not to. One rule for the elite, one for everyone else. 

[RuamRudy 8,628]

3 minutes ago, vogie said:

Shock, horror and go to the foot of our stairs, what father would not want to be with his child whilst his mother was ill. Well done Dom for being a decent human being. All your fiercist critics on here would have done exactly the same, infact they wouldn't be much of a father if they didn't. But hey let's make it political and crucify the guy for being decent.

17th March - the government's own guidelines:

[Chomper Higgot 25,326]

One rule for some another rule for others.

 

 

[vogie 20,403]

2 minutes ago, Phil McCaverty said:

Did you read the story? He wanted to get rid of the kid by dumping him on the grandparents 260 miles away. He had been in contact with a known Covid case (johnson) and both he and his wife had symptoms. So the kid , who was possibly Covid+ too was driven 260 miles to be dumped on his aged parents. Not a good parent, not a good son and criminally in breach of just about every government guideline on Covid.

Sometimes government guidelines take second place when there is family problems, if he thought that his son would be better cared for 260 miles away it says to me 'good father' 

As Michael Gove said "caring for your family is not a crime"

[Phil McCaverty 1,176]

Just now, vogie said:

Sometimes government guidelines take second place when there is family problems, if he thought that his son would be better cared for 260 miles away it says to me 'good father' 

As Michael Gove said "caring for your family is not a crime"

By his aged parents when the kid was possibly Covid+? He could have employed an agency nurse to look after the kid at home. Might say to you "good father", to me it says "lousy father, lousy son and extremely irresponsible citizen of the UK".