It’s very strange days. I can’t work out if I’m in a series of the Twilight Zone or Black Mirror, or is it more a gruesome Monty Python sketch or a perverse take on Yes Prime Minister.
By way of background, on Saturday evening, it was revealed that Dominic Cummings, special advisor to the Prime Minister drove 260 miles with his wife, who they suspected Covid-19, he was symptomatic, and their child, to County Durham to stay at his parents’ property. During lockdown. He helped draw up the rules for lockdown.
Cabinet Ministers spent much of Saturday evening defending Cummings and his right to protect his child during lockdown. Once they’d had their say, it was revealed it wasn’t just one trip to County Durham, but two. We’re told by Cummings and the PM it’s a false story.
His wife has a brother in London.
I’d imagine he could afford to arrange food to be delivered.
Yesterday (Sunday), the Prime Minister tells us that Cummings had no alternative to find appropriate childcare arrangements. ‘He has acted responsibly, legally and with integrity.’ He goes on to say in response to a reporter’s question, ‘severe childcare difficulties that presented themselves….I think that what they did was perfectly understandable…’
Soon after the person managing the UK Civil Service twitter feed posted the following:
These are strange times.
The public response
The level of public outrage is palpable. The level of outrage from even the ranks of the Conservatives is palpable. Even Church of England Bishops have expressed outrage. Many scientists are clearly concerned about what this will do to the public health messaging essential for us to all contribute to ‘flattening the curve’, to reduce rates of infections and deaths – this is deeply worrying.
Support for the PM was already waning with the change of advice from Stay at Home, to Stay Alert, which has led to confusion. I still don’t understand what ‘Stay Alert’ means.
Lots of people are not fans of Cummings, including me. But this goes far beyond that.
The anger and fury is justified. At Cummings. At the Prime Minister.
The Rose Garden
So today, Cummings gave a statement in the Rose Garden, generally a location reserved for heads of State.
That is strange enough. But the Cabinet Office has a Code of Conduct for Special Advisors. The following paragraph is worth noting:
- Special advisers must not take public part in political controversy, through any form of statement whether in speeches or letters to the press, or in books, social media, articles or leaflets. They must observe discretion and express comment with moderation..
Oops.
But onto the briefing. It started late.
Cummings arrives and sits. He reads his statement. He ran through his thinking for why he drove with his wife and child to County Durham. He believes he ‘behaved reasonably and legally.’
He was worried about threats made to his home. He was concerned about leaving his wife and child at home. His nieces, 17 and 20, offered to provide childcare. He took them up on the offer if needed. He drove 260 miles. Before driving back to London, he and his wife drove for half an hour to ‘test his eyesight’, to see if he was fit to drive to London.
It seems he’s trying to strike a sympathetic tone.
His wife, Mary Wakefield, as I understand it, has written a couple of articles The Spectator about dealing with Covid-19… while in London. Cummings contributed to one of the articles as well. They’re behind paywalls so I can’t read them.
This for him is a question of discretion and instinct. Again he refers to exceptional circumstances and children.
So let me get this straight? They live in London. His wife, Mary Wakefield, has a brother in London. Surely if that wasn’t an option, there’s a friend or two about?
Local Authorities have geared themselves up to safeguard children who may be in these circumstances. There will be children in these circumstances with parents so ill unable to care for their children. These people did not drive 260 miles. The advice was clear – Stay at Home.
Families up and down the country have been ill, have had to look after children, sometimes babies, toddlers, without being able to call on families. Without being able to leave the house. While there were exceptions, this one doesn’t cut it.
He doesn’t regret his actions. He doesn’t believe he’s broken the spirit of the guidelines. Many of us respectfully disagree.
I’m hoping from tomorrow I can resume my usual ramblings.
So that’s it for Day 63. Stay safe, stay well, and stay home!