I’ll give you lot a chance to exonerate yourselves. A simple yes or no will do. No need to write a Story!! The question is; Did Cummings break The lock down rules. Yes or No?
I'll try to answer your question Charlie and provide a bit of balance away from the entrenched political camps.
There have been a number of perceived breaches of Lock down rules by Government officials and MP's that have been reported, some haven't. The most noticeable apart from Cummings being;
Catherine Calderwood Scottish CMO who stood down after visiting her Holiday Home twice after having told Sturgeon it was only once. She was spoken to by the Police as a result no further action taken.
Neil Ferguson Leading Scientist on the epidemic who visited his lover for carnal knowledge. The police decided not to take any further action because he had taken responsibility by resigning.
Rosie Duffield Labour Chief Whip who visited her boyfriend twice and had to stand down as Whip bearing in mind this post was to instil discipline in the party.
Two of the above clearly broke the Lock down rules through a major breach by exposing themselves to non members of their household and increasing the risk of infection. The CMO travelled to a Holiday Home not once but twice again a breach, simply put by being economical with the truth and being the face of Scotlands Health campaign she had to go.
Vaughan Gething Labour MP and Welsh Health Minister had a picnic in a park with his family when it was not allowed. Despite his protestations he had done nothing wrong the park seating area was sealed off afterwards. He is part of the Welsh Government developing the lock down rules and interestingly on the Monday following him being spotted in the Park the rules changed. He remains in post.
Stephen Kinnock Shadow Minister tweeted a picture of himself visiting his father on his birthday. South Wales police immediately tweeted back telling him this was not complying with Lock down rules and urged him to comply. He remains in post with no outcry that he should resign his position.
So we come to Cummings. Durham police said he did nothing wrong with his trip to his fathers property so dismissing claims this was a major breach. They did however state that there might have been a breach over the Barnard Castle visit and if he had been stopped by Police he would have been told to return to the property. As there were no breach of social distancing no further action would be considered. So yes possibly a minor breach IMO akin to Gething but nothing in comparison to Calderwood, Ferguson and Duffield. Kinnock it could be argued visited persons from another household so this was a more serious breach than Gething and Cummings.
If Starmer attempts to argue tomorrow at PMQ's that Duffield did the right thing by resigning, a theme being developed by the BBC, and consequently Cummings should do the same then Starmer has dug a hole for himself as he is suggesting any implied breach whatever the circumstances and lack of follow up action requires resignations. Kinnock and Gething would also have to go for his point to remain credible.
UTB
