jim - // Still seems to be a lack of appreciation for some of where the anger is coming from. Yes, some of it is politically-motivated. But for many others it is plainly and simply because it looks, and was, hypocritical for Cummings to take this trip at the exact same time that we were being told that we "must" stay in our homes. Never mind the small print that may have provided nebulous exceptions.
Cummings is staying, that much has been clear for a while, but the anger at the hypocrisy and the lack of understanding on his and the Government's part will not. We are asked to "move on". That would be a whole lot easier if there were at least some humility or contrition from Cummings, but there will be none. The neutral and vague "may" from Durham Police neither saves nor condemns him, too -- nor does the transparent attempt to stop the Government's advisers from commenting on it. Passing comment on the potential effect of undermining the Government's messaging is clearly not political -- it matters. We need to trust the Government and we need to know that they are telling us to do the right thing, and it would be one heck of a lot easier to believe that if they are seen to be on our side and bound by the same rules they imposed on us.
That is the damage done. Calling for Cummings' head is pointless. Asking him to apologise is not. //
Succinctly argued.
My ire against Mr Cummings has always been based around his nasty arrogance in flouting rules/ guidelines, it really doesn't matter, that he helped to formulate, for what turned out to be invalid reasons.
He compounded that by having an additional jolly day out, and then having the gall to insult anyone with a grain of intelligence by concocting one of the most ludicrous stories this side of a fairy tale to hide his offence, and then having the gall to be snotty with people like me who failed to believe his nonsense, and were angry with him for his offence in dreaming that we would.
Top it off with his rigid self-righteousness and refusal to actually admit his errors and apologise, and compounded by cabinet ministers actually saying he acted with integrity -
In case anyone is unsure of what the ministers are saying about Mr Cummings -
integrity
/ɪnˈtɛɡrɪti/
noun
noun: integrity
1.
the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
"a gentleman of complete integrity"
and you have a nation of seriously annoyed people making their feelings clear.
Anyone who is trying to make this a political issue has a vested interest in simply missing the point - this is not about politics, it's about doing what is right, which apologising for being wrong.