DOMINIC Cummings has become the only story, he is now a total and continuing distraction from the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic (Dominic Cummings investigated by police after flouting lockdown rules. The National, May 23, 2020).
There are two ways of looking at this, the explanation is so obvious that it is surprising the media has bothered to publicise the incident now, especially as it is so long since it happened.
Dominic Cummings and Prince Charles clearly breached the regulations, did have Covid-19 and did need to self-isolate, but owing to their positions in the UK’s hierarchy of governance are unique and irreplaceable. In fact with no expertise in pandemics they were probably acting on advice to take their personal risk of spreading the virus as far as possible from the centres of government and monarchy.
The Chief Medical Officer in Scotland and Sage adviser in England clearly breached the regulations, did not have Covid-19 and did not need to self-isolate, but owing to their positions in the UK’s hierarchy of experts in pandemics were instantly replaceable. In fact as experts on pandemics they didn’t need any advice on staying where they were and should have known better.
Or that the media didn’t mention this until forced because there is no explanation other than that there is one law for them and another law for us.
If Boris Johnson does not sack Dominic Cummings then he can wipe his floor with his five-stage plan to ease lock-down.
John Jamieson
South Queensferry
I WON’T be holding my breath waiting for Murdo Fraser, Jackson Carlaw and co calling for Dominic Cummings to be sacked. They – along with the usual BritNat crew – were quick to call for the resignation of Catherine Calderwood but are strangely silent on the Prime Minister’s lead advisor breaking the lockdown rules and travelling 250 miles to his parents’ home. It’s clear that Cummings has been the one controlling the UK Tory Government’s response to Covid-19, especially the herd-immunity strategy and controlling what information would be followed from the so-called Sage.
There is no excuse for Cummings to break a lockdown he has imposed on others (via his control of Johnson’s puppet government), and in breaching this lockdown he has to go. If Johnson was really in charge of his government he would sack him.
Cllr Kenny MacLaren
Paisley
EMER O’Toole’s article is a damming indictment of the Conservative establishment at Westminster.
By his actions Dominic Cummings has demonstrated that either he has no faith in the rules that his boss, the PM, is trying to persuade the people in England to follow in order to defeat the coronavirus, or he does not think that these rules apply to him but only to lesser mortals – arrogance? It staggers me that given his position he did not obtain clearance from the PM and the police before he undertook the 500-mile round trip to Durham.
What is more worrying is that in England people are flocking to the beaches and other recreational areas, thereby increasing the risk of spreading the virus to local communities. I would suggest their actions demonstrate that they have no confidence in Boris Johnston and his government.
The problem is that there would not appear to be anyone in the wings capable of filling the chasm created by our “confused.com” PM and his inept Cabinet.
Thomas L Inglis
Fintry
AS if choosing the wrong strategy initially to tackle Covid-19 wasn’t enough, those in powerful and influential positions have routinely broken rules.
How do we expect anyone to follow restrictions when princes, CMOs, Sage advisers and chief spin doctors are caught doing what they like?
Stephen Robertson
Perth
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