General discussion on current situation

[Greensleeves]

My favourite review of Cummings' performance so far:  "He sounded like a man in A&E explaining why he had a cucumber stuck up his bottom". 

[jillruss]

So, can his wife drive or not? That was running through my mind as well. If she can, it makes a mockery of the whole Barnard Castle road test as she was supposed to be well by then. And do you really take your beloved wife and child out on a test drive when you think you may have vision problems?

I thought I'd also heard or read that he also has family in London. I should have realised there would be a nanny on the scene as well - I don't move in those circles, so it wasn't something I considered!

I must say that he came across a lot better than I was expecting: quite quietly spoken and didn't lose his temper once (though he was getting a bit edgy with Robert Peston, but, then, who wouldn't). I should imagine he (DC not RP) had been well schooled in how to present himself.

I just can't get beyond the fact that they supposedly drove all that way when they were both unwell and with a 4 year old in the back rather than hunker down and call local relatives or friends. I can accept that he was probably panicking a bit but its the fact that it doesn't seem to have even occurred to him to stay put that worries me. Its that whole sense of entitlement these people have - that they can do what they decide is right, come what may.

And, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think he once said sorry. The truth is probably that he didn't think twice about making the journey because in his mind he's entitled to do what he thinks fit, and may well have been intending to leave wife and child in Durham for the family to look after whilst he returned to work where he obviously thinks he's indispensable. He then got sick himself and the plans were scuppered.

Other than the above, apparently it was all the media's fault!

[mazi]

A few observations

I saw no arrogance, just patience in the face of loaded questions.

A four year old needs supervision 24 hours a day 7 days a week, not a responsibility I would trust to a nanny, grandparents yes, very very few others.

I’m ok at the moment but an hour or so checking might be a good idea, done it myself more than once, you can always turn back after ten minutes if you are unsure.


At least I wait till the trial is over before passing judgement
Mike

Added,    I will pass on the vulgarity lest I offend

[KGarrad]

A four year old needs supervision 24 hours a day 7 days a week, not a responsibility I would trust to a nanny, grandparents yes, very very few others.

WOT?!

What on earth do you pay a nanny for, if not to competently look after a child?!

[Gaie]

My favourite review of Cummings' performance so far:  "He sounded like a man in A&E explaining why he had a cucumber stuck up his bottom".

   

[IgorStrav]

Apparently Mrs Cummings CAN drive.

[JenB]

A four year old needs supervision 24 hours a day 7 days a week, not a responsibility I would trust to a nanny, grandparents yes, very very few others.

I disagree.
My aunt worked as a nanny for a family throughout the 1950’s and she frequently had sole responsibility for three children, a duty which she discharged superbly. In the 1960s she was nanny to one child and again often had sole responsibility. She was very highly thought of by both families for whom she worked.

Edit: sorry off topic I know but I just had to say it.

[Marmalady]

His prepared statement went over well -- i was halfway to giving him the benefit of the doubt -- and if he had come out with all that when the story broke on Friday night he wouldn't be in anywhere near as much bother now.
But once he was off script, he undid all the good he had done by his continued "my circumstances were so exceptional there was no other choice and I'm not in the least bit sorry" attitude. Plenty of other couples were both ill and had children to care for but still didn't even consider driving 260 miles.

From what I understand:
There were relatives a couple of streets away
There may have been a nanny who could have been called on
His area of London has an active COVID Aid group of volunteers who could have done the shopping and arranged childcare
The advice was that if you were ill and needed emergency childcare and had no-one else to call on, you should contact Social Services

A 260 mile overnight drive when at least one of the couple was not feeling well was not the only option

[Marmalady]

A few observations

A four year old needs supervision 24 hours a day 7 days a week, not a responsibility I would trust to a nanny, grandparents yes, very very few others.

I would rather trust a young active fit trained nanny  to have 24 hour care of a lively 4 yr old than a pair of pensioners -- or even the 16 yr old & 20 yr old nieces he was planning on using if childcare was needed
And if they could not trust their nanny, why on earth was she being employed at all??