Dominic Cummings

[Bryn]

...We could have had Maybotulism instead?

. . . as well!

[Dave2002]

There is also the suggestion, which can surely be verified, that Dominic Cummings' wife was complicit in a cover up, by writing an article in which there is no mention of a drive out of the London area. https://descrier.co.uk/politics/domi...the-spectator/

I don't know if this is true, or sh*t stirring by a writer with uncertain credentials, but it could/can be checked. It would also indicate that other worries were less of a concern than writing magazine articles, at the time. If some of us were seriously ill or had family problems, wouldn't we cancel all other activities?

[Frances_iom]

It would appear the latest mechanism to avoid any parliamentary scrutiny is to require the physical presence of members tho restricted to at most 50 in total - as pointed out this will remove many of the awkward squad leaving the baying mob to support whatever the nodding donkeys in cabinet suggest - quite how the UK can in future ever criticise the Chinese approach in having a complaint assembly rubber stamp decisions by a small coterie defeats me.

[johncorrigan]

There is also the suggestion, which can surely be verified, that Dominic Cummings' wife was complicit in a cover up, by writing an article in which there is no mention of a drive out of the London area. https://descrier.co.uk/politics/domi...the-spectator/

I don't know if this is true, or sh*t stirring by a writer with uncertain credentials, but it could/can be checked. It would also indicate that other worries were less of a concern than writing magazine articles, at the time. If some of us were seriously ill or had family problems, wouldn't we cancel all other activities?

His wife's article (can't remember her name) certainly got coverage on 'Have I Got News For you' yesterday evening, where Ian Hislop was as angry as I have seen him in a long time. As far as I can determine, she wrote the article about recovering from the virus and waking up in lockdown London. Janet Street-Porter seemed to think having a continued go at him was a waste of time, but I didn't think so, on last night's evidence anyway. There was also coverage of Cummings altering his social media to make it look like he had been the person who was taking the virus seriously early on. Just one lie after another from Cummings and, now it would appear, his Wife...must be well matched! Has me wondering what a household would be like where everyone just tells lies all the time.

[Dave2002]

Mary Wakefield is DC's wife - or at least that's the name she writes under - https://inews.co.uk/news/mary-wakefi...tement-2865961

[Old Grumpy]

Mary Wakefield is DC's wife - or at least that's the name she writes under - https://inews.co.uk/news/mary-wakefi...tement-2865961

Wakefield, good name for a fantasist!

[Old Grumpy]

Just over 600,000 now.

Now one million.

[Petrushka]

This post appeared in the Guardian earlier this week and I think it deserves wider currency.

Do not make the mistake of underestimating Johnson. It has become fashionable to portray him as nothing more than Cummings’ puppet, a weak and lazy man who needs Cummings to tell him what to do. John Crace memorably described Johnson as “a parasitical ball of compromised ambition fuelled by a viral overload of neediness and cowardice”, a man without substance or dignity.

It is enjoyable to hurl abuse at Johnson, but it is a mistake to regard him as negligible. Johnson is a very unpleasant character. Dominance, independent of talent or intelligence or any real capacity, is what drives Johnson. Look at Johnson’s bully’s manners. Look at how much of Johnson’s body-language is physically threatening. A person does not have to be either intelligent or hard-working to lust after dominance. There are plenty of stupid lazy dominance-freaks.

What is more, Johnson has been tolerably successful in his lifelong search for dominance. He became mayor of London; not a very good one, but he achieved office. He was Foreign Secretary and in spite of his appalling performance, May felt unable to sack him. He became leader of the Tory Party with a large majority of members backing him. He became PM with a thumping majority. He even managed to lie to the Queen about proroguing parliament and get away with it. For a man condemned as weak and without substance, he has done very well.

Johnson’s disdain for others is near-total. He has made a number of extremely offensive remarks which he quite obviously does not care about. The people he has denigrated and offended are totally beneath his notice. In the Johsnonworld they do not really exist. If tiresome people get too loud to be ignored, Johnson has been known to be vindictive. He is really not a nice person at all. Beneath the bluff and somewhat comic facade he presents to the world, he is a very nasty piece of work indeed.

My assessment of Johnson and Cummings is that they are a composite entity, a symbiosis. Each depends on the other. Together each is more powerful than they would be on their own. Johnson gives Cummings access to power and Cummings gives Johnson useful strategic guidance. Neither would do well without the other, so separating them is almost certainly impossible. The scandal is ugly but they think they will be able to brazen it out. They could be right. Mr Crace’s characterisation of them as “two men who think morality is for suckers” is very accurate.

As for Johnson himself, I think he is a great deal more dangerous than the image of a genial, not very bright, not very strong bumbler suggests. I think we are in the hands of a madman, a monster in the grip of a serious pathology, totally wedded to dominance and prepared to do literally anything to secure it. With his Cabinet of Nonentities chosen not for ability but for servility and a supportively partisan Attorney-General, it is not clear how he can be stopped. Johnson may look like a comedian, but I think he is a man to be frightened of.

[DracoM]

[Cockney Sparrow]

Thanks Petrushka - wider currency - certainly. I'll be distributing it further.....

[Frances_iom]

my boring refrain - Germany 1930s - "I think we are in the hands of a madman, a monster in the grip of a serious pathology, totally wedded to dominance and prepared to do literally anything to secure it"

[Jazzrook]

Ian Hislop on Dominic Cummings on HIGNFY:

https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/boris-johnson-s-senior-adviser-ridiculed-on-bbc-show-1-6677634

JR

[jayne lee wilson]

Remember though, about Johnson that, as with the even worse (much worse, worse and worse) Trump, he can only stay in office because his party generally supports him... all his actions and choices are the responsibility of the whole Parliamentary Party and those who voted him in. Only they can do anything about that right now.

Hearing Nadhim Zahawi on Any Questions (R4) last night (repeat on now) defend Cummings was appalling, again... I had to leave the room once or twice & not just for more brandy....I needed air...
Same same old "its not us being political its you, its them...the press, BBC, The Guardian, Labour.. its.... its..." etc.

There's some grim consolation in hearing them so embattled....

I can't wait for the Answers...should be pretty vigorous today!
The Voice of the People Will Speak....

[Dave2002]

I am no longer convinced that DT is worse - sorry.

[Petrushka]

Do Whitty and Vallance think that they are under some sort of moral obligation to see this through instead of resigning now? Johnson is clearly not 'following the science' and is prepared to risk lives in a second wave in order to protect Cummings. Shameful.

Whitty and Vallance should resign.