Oh boy, has Cummings got the knives out!

[victor]

My view ?
Well be lied about going to Barnyard Castle - didn't he?

So we are supposed to believe he is being truthful now?

Once a liar always a liar in my book.

[cromwell]

Yes, he is a slippery character; but even liars can tell the truth sometimes.

One interesting thing that has passed virtually unremarked is a question put to Cummings about the economic cost of lockdown - was any work done on trying to establish the cost? Short answer, no.

Cummings is allegedly very close to Michael Gove, who is a very ambitious gentleman. It is noticeable that Gove escaped any criticism from Cummings.

One person who could be in trouble is Matt Hancock on the question of did Hancock promise that all hospital patients sent to care homes would have been tested?
I saw Hancock's reply and he looked like a worried man. If Hancock has lied to the PM and cabinet then he should be out.

Cummings is a disingenuous individual. He slagged off Johnson, Hancock and virtually everyone else.
How about himself? His defence is that it was ludicrous that he should have been put in such an important position - so the implication is that if he did make mistakes it was someone else's fault for appointing him!
If it was so ludicrous then he could always have refused the position, but he didn't.

A very dogmatic and dislikeable person, on the whole.
Cameron did once describe him as "a career psychopath" and you can see why.

[Suff]

What is the point of doing detailed analysis on the cost of a global pandemic to the country? You might as well order the most expensive and well recommended crystal ball and then spend untold hours gazing into it. It will have the same effect as playing with a spreadsheet.

Did anyone count the cost of WW2 at the outset? Or WW1? There are things you just have to do and the monetary cost can be dealt with after. It was absolutely the right approach.

[victor]

Quite agree Suff . So easy to have /know all the answers with hindsight

[cromwell]

What is the point of doing detailed analysis on the cost of a global pandemic to the country? You might as well order the most expensive and well recommended crystal ball and then spend untold hours gazing into it. It will have the same effect as playing with a spreadsheet.

Did anyone count the cost of WW2 at the outset? Or WW1? There are things you just have to do and the monetary cost can be dealt with after. It was absolutely the right approach.

Perhaps they could have done a bit of research on how many more people would die of cancer because the NHS was shut down then?
I realise it's difficult. But to ignore every other consideration and concentrate 100% on Covid is a bit blinkered. Imo.

[Kaz]

I agree with you Cromwell. I think the toll from other causes will eventually be greater than that from Covid

[Workingman]

Yes, it's been a Disaster Circus for those with other illnesses yet not brought down with Covid.

But.... it is a pandemic and we have had to prioritise. Sad, very sad. I am glad that I was not the one to make the choices.

Covid can hit anyone and at any time because it is infectious. Cancer, heart disease and obesity are not infectious - it's a bloody tough choice to have to make for the medics.

[Kaz]

It is Frank, but if you're dead you're dead, whether from Covid or not........

[Suff]

Looking at the news today it is clear that Cummings made a very clear tactical error.

Nobody wants Bojo's job right now and that includes Starmer.