Well done Boris. It take more bottle to show loyalty in the face of rabid media pressure than it does to throw someone under the bus. Boris has had in depth conversations with DC and accepted his explanations. I trust Boris’s judgement.

Ditto Mr I., can’t abide the “trial by media’ rubbish, “saw someone who looked like”, what kind of evidence is that. I’m not a Cummings fan or against him either but someone needs to be in there mixing it up, challenging the establishment.

I agree, jesus how many times do you have to say the thing.

I heard after he went to Barn Yard castle, he went to the head land for a Half a lot from versailles

I would have been much more impressed with Boris if he had said something along the lines that "Cummings got it wrong and I've given him an absolute bollocking but in this crisis I want his input and support into beating this virus". I think it is only a matter of time before he goes. The Scottish medical advisor tried to face it off and lasted about 24 hours. The Tories will look at the depth of public anger and loss of support and get rid in the next few days. Its inevitable so do it now.

That wasn't bottle , he squirming like a worm on a fish hook , the look of a guilty man all over his face. It was like he was saying , I am wrong , but I am going to continue saying I am right regardless, and if you don't believe it , then that's your problem , absolutely disgraceful. He did bottle it though when he cut off a couple of journo's who were asking him difficult questions.

You are not telling me a person as senior as Cummings doing what he did, would not make the national news , knowing the storm exposure would bring him if he was caught , any normal person would've contacted the press themselves. Why wouldn't something like that not be front page news ?.Clearly he didn't because of a guilty conscience and decided to take the risk , a risk that hopelessly backfired , as you would expect from these clowns.

If I was him I would get rid , if only to keep the heat away from himself , which will surely happen if he fails to act.

It’s very strange that at around the time Cummings had his jaunt up north that the Mantra changed from Stay At Home to Stay Alert???

Statement by the Leader of the Opposition (Her Majestys Most Loyal Opposition.........didn't know that)

This was a test of the Prime Minister and he has failed it.

It is an insult to sacrifices made by the British people that Boris Johnson has chosen to take no action against Dominic Cummings.

The public will be forgiven for thinking there is one rule for the Prime Minister’s closest adviser and another for the British people.

The Prime Minister’s actions have undermined confidence in his own public health message at this crucial time.

Millions were watching for answers and they got nothing. That’s why the Cabinet Secretary must now launch an urgent inquiry.

Nonsense. If it was a test of anything it was Boris’s ability to listen to the statement from the person involved and make a decision based on the evidence without pandering to the media.

Incidentally, has it only become the ‘most loyal opposition’ since Corbyn was packed off to his allotment?

Apparently it's the official title and yes I think it will be a bit more loyal.
I wonder what Mr Corbyn grows on his allotment or Mr Johnson also.

Check your dates Ray. Cummings went up north at the end of March, we are now almost eight weeks later and stay alert came in three weeks ago. Concentrate on getting it right as against getting it against boris and you will be much more believable.

I think it is time for the media to produce the evidence of their accusations against Cummings. Was he gallivanting all over Durham or not. Put up or shut up. If he was then he goes, if he wasn't you apologise.

It's a right kick in the face to everyone whose been staying home and not going too see family.

We may aswell just open everything up if the dude who wrote the rules cant even follow them.

Sky News says that the number plate taken by the retired teacher who spotted him checks out as one belonging to a car he uses. obviously The Observer already knew this. Make sit more likely that the other allegation is also true because he was clearly ignoring lockdown when it suited him. it isn't a very civil phrase but you should put up or shut up Derwent - either produce evidence that discredits the retired teacher's account or apologise for casting doubt on an honest member of the public.

That arrogant twat Boris should do the same if his team of expert dirtdiggers can't come up with something better than repeating the somehow dull but simultaneously insulting and inflammatory 'responsible parent' mantra soon.

Too true. Also, remember the messages:-

- anyone can catch it, anyone can spread it
- people should be able to social distance at work
- people who cant social distance should have access to PPE
- if you cannot obtain childcare then you dont need go to work
- vulnerable people should be protected

......unless you are a teacher, then you are fair game.

The fact that NHS staff are now threatening to resign says it all. It also will put far more pressure on Boris so DC will have to go.

Can someone please direct me to the small print in the government guidance on Corvid 19 so i and my mates can have a great time this bank holiday drinking, travelling, shagging and partying whilst all the rest of you have to stay indoors and be miserable.

One of his trips was in March, what about April which coincidentally was around the time of his mams birthday. They changed the mantra on May10th because they knew this was going to come out.

at least cummings could have picked my lad up at junction 26 of the M1 and gave him a lift up to middlesbrough to pick his car up. bloody selfish sod. he,d have given him his half of the petrol.

Notice his wife's birthday is 12th April , his wife a journalist anarl. You would've thought given Cummings position and his wife being a journalist they would've been well aware of the consequences of what they were doing. As I said in an earlier post , any sensible person would've first ran it by Johnson , to ascertain whether he was in breach of the lockdown guidance or not , bizarre given they created it. To make doubly sure you would then have thought Johnson and him would've said " do you not think it would be wise to inform the press , just in case they get wind of it and twist it to our detriment , at least then if it is seen as a breach , at least we can say we were upfront about it and made a genuine mistake" they could then go for the sympathy vote , any parent would do this to protect their family blah blah blah.

But the reality is they thought they didn't have to come clean, that they are above the law , with their track record of getting away with things who can blame them. They are mavericks , they have both been caught yet again with their trousers down , and the only way for Johnson to survive a little longer until his next cock up is to sack Cummings.

Ah right,,,,how did you get access to this meeting where they changed it, just to suit Cummings. Anything else happen or was said at the meeting that you think we should know about??? Aren't we lucky to have our very own mole in the government camp? Keep up the good work, mate.

Just been stood in a queue in Blackhall CO-OP waiting to pay for a bottle of milk. Was interesting looking at the newspaper stand with all the headlines castigating Johnson , never seen the media with such a united front on one topic. One of the only exceptions was the Northern Echo , always been a tory rag that , sucking up to its toffee nosed tory voting North Yorkshire/ Teesdale readership.

So what you are basically saying is that, even though they knew that their careers and reputation would be at risk, they put all that on the line for their child. What a lucky little boy to have such loving parents and caring relations.

So what you are saying is that you agree with the newspapers that attack Johnson but those who don't are rags. You let yourself down and our party down at every corner and underline once again why we are not electable. Hatred only gets support from extremists.
Surely your friends at Momentum don't approve of this approach, or maybe they do, or even maybe they are writing and orchestrating these rants which, incidently, are appearing in various other forums. Now why doesn't that surprise me. Having virtually destroyed a once great party, they have demonstrated that they'll stop at nothing.

It is not my responsibility to provide evidence of what was seen, not seen, done or not done. Normally in this country the onus of proof is on the accuser. Produce it and then we can sack him. It's not rocket science. This teacher does exist I presume, you obviously believe she does, so wheel her out, put her under oath and let's get to the bottom of it. I stand by what I said and that is if Cummings has made multiple breaches of the guidelines then there are no mitigating circumstances and he must go.

Of course the national papers are ganging up against him, he has shaken up their easy way in and stopped lobby briefings. They’ve been fucked off in all sorts of ways that they don’t like and Cummings is the boogeyman who delivered Brexit. Why didn’t they get so excited when Stephen Kinnock did the same thing?

Almost to a man they were remainders and the knives are out because he upset their Londoncentric club.

You also forget that Boris has a huge majority and he won’t sack him unless he has to. They are wasting their time.

the tories have a huge majority and not boris. imagine over the last few days his standing in the party popularity league has dropped somewhat even with his own supporters.

I disagree. I don’t believe this effects Boris one iota. Most Tories will see this for what it is: payback from the media.

What you need is a new leader , the problem you have is the most suitable candidate is the leader of the Labour Party

And therein lies the problem with British politics.

There comes a time when defending the indefensible simply makes one look a fool.

How can you tell other people to put up or shut up and they say it isn't your responsibility to do the same? I'd suggest you bear all the hallmarks of a hypocritical bag of wind and piss but that wouldn't be very civil.

Ah, the Trump method "fake news from the lefty mainstream media". I can't believe what people are saying about Cummings, as I didn't read it in the Sun and it didn't involve Diane Abbot.

It was a mere statement of fact. I called nobody a fool!

I think Phil is been sarcastic Mr. Charco. Sadly, some people here have been banned recently for opinions of that nature.

Is it wrong to question whether the press have got it right or not?? I am prepared to back them if they can substantiate their claims of multiple trips around The Durham countryside. If they can't then they should shut up. I am not accusing anybody of anything so am not putting anything up. If they can prove their allegations then fine.
Please remember that you started the name calling but don't worry I am not descending to that level.
Civil debate.......you don't know the meaning of it.
Thanks for mentioning it though. Every little helps.

Yesterday Boris Johnson mentioned about health problems when defending Cummings, so don't be surprised if Cummings, in his statement this afternoon, mentions that his son has a health problem which precludes him from being looked after by just anyone. My money is on Autism and the stress it causes in children when they are removed from people they are comfortable with.
I have no inside information on this, it is just a guess but he is not being thrown in front of the media without something up his sleeve.

We'll see.

I vote Tory but this is wrong he needs dealing with.

That autistic child rumor is apparently just that, but it does seem very specific to be a baseless rumor.

That doesn't excuse anything by the way, countless autistic people and people with autistic children have suffered far more than most neurotypical people during this lockdown. Some autistic children live away from their families and those ones are stuck in a permanent limbo.

I really hope this rumor is false, and Cummings is just a normal c.unt, and not one who uses his child's condition as a shield from criticism.

I am not defending the guy. I was speculating on what he would use as an explanation and my guess was wrong. That's all it was ....a guess.

That's not uncivil in any way shape or form, Phil. You are entitled to your point of view and you have put it well. I hope, in doing so, you will respect the fact that others may not subscribe to your view and respect their entitlement to say so.

I also hope it is false for no other reason that I hope the child hasn't got it. Terrible condition and I have unfortunately had first hand experience of it and it's heartbreaking.

That solves nothing. This is going to run and run.
Mousetrap?

Salad days.

Panorama

What has this place become?

Derwent, Cummings just admitted that the allegations of gallivanting are correct. He made excuses for the gallivanting and, to be fair, haven't we all indulged in test drives to check our vision that end up at beauty spots on our wives birthdays? It is also absolutely normal to take the kids with you on such trips and then stop off for a frolic in the woods when they say they need a piss.

His excuses don't really matter though, he admitted to repeatedly breaching lockdown and he should be prosecuted for the Barnard Castle trip if nothing else.