Some Conservative MPs have suddenly found the courage to call for Dominic Cummings’ resignation or sacking after his careless travel from London to Durham during the lockdown. But is that enough to get him out of Number 10?
First published in May 2020.
As an online petition calling for the sacking of Dominic Cummings has already gathered over 56,000 signatures, some Conservative MPs have suddenly found the courage to call for Dominic Cummings’ resignation or sacking after Boris Johnson’s SpAd carelessly travelled with wife and son from North London to Durham, during the lockdown, and despite being infected with the coronavirus.
Here is a list of those who have been the most vocal so far:
It is intolerable that Boris’ government is losing so much political capital. Three changes are immediately required:
— Steve Baker MP (@SteveBakerHW) May 24, 2020
1 - Govt needs competitive expert advice
2 - Govt must insist on high software engineering standards
3 - Dominic Cummings must gohttps://t.co/zUOCVcDAmN
With the damage Mr Cummings is doing to the Government’s reputation he must consider his position. Lockdown has had its challenges for everyone. It’s his cavalier “I don’t care; I’m cleverer than you” tone that infuriates people. He is now wounding the PM/Govt & I don’t like that
— Simon Hoare MP (@Simon4NDorset) May 24, 2020
Dominic Cummings has a track record of believing that the rules don’t apply to him and treating the scrutiny that should come to anyone in a position of authority with contempt. The government would be better without him.
— Damian Collins (@DamianCollins) May 24, 2020
While as a father and as a grandfather I fully appreciate Mr Cummings’ desire to protect his child. There cannot be one law for the Prime Minister’s staff and another for everyone else. He has sent out completely the wrong message and his position is no longer tenable.
— Sir Roger Gale MP (@SirRogerGale) May 24, 2020
Peter Bone, Conservative MP for Wellingborough, said when an advisor becomes the story, the advisor has to go.
— LBC (@LBC) May 24, 2020
He said Boris Johnson can carry on without Dominic Cummings if he goes but it will be hard if he stays.
I made my views clear to my whip yesterday. There cannot be one rule for most of us and wriggle room for others. My inbox is rammed with very angry constituents and I do not blame them. They have made difficult sacrifices over the course of the last 9 weeks.
— Caroline Nokes MP (@carolinenokes) May 24, 2020
I totally agree that Dominic Cummings position is untenable. I'm sure he took the decision in the best interests of his family but like every decision we take we also have to take responsibility for those decisions. You cannot advise the nation one thing then do the opposite.
— Craig Whittaker MP (@CWhittaker_MP) May 24, 2020
The Govt have to explain Test Track and Trace and the next phase of lifting lockdown next week. Whatever the merits of a Govt Advisor they should never be the story or it detracts from central message which is to get us out of this crisis. The advisor should go.
— Sir Robert Syms MP (@RobertSyms) May 24, 2020
It’d be a big mistake for the PM & DomCummings to dismiss the anger as “Remoaniac Twitterati bleating”. It isn’t.
— George Freeman MP (@GeorgeFreemanMP) May 24, 2020
It’s about people who’ve made huge personal sacrifices, as instructed, fearing double standards by all-powerful, unaccountable elite advisers. Time for some humility https://t.co/YIl6rsve9H
BREAKING: Senior Essex MP @halfon4harlowMP says “I am really sorry” for tweeting support for #DominicCummings yesterday.
— Simon Dedman (@SiDedman) May 24, 2020
Rob Halfon: “I do not support, or condone anyone who has broken the law or regulations.” Says “there should be serious consequences”https://t.co/qKCyDmXkA0
At his press conference this Sunday afternoon, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson stood by his special adviser, saying that he had followed the instinct of every parent and did not do anything unlawful.
Questions not answered
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) May 24, 2020
-What did PM know and when?
-Did DC stop en route?
-Did he go to Barnard Castle?
-How can "self isolation" possibly cohere with long-distance travel?
-Did his child receive childcare?
-How can it possibly be said that DC's actions "suppressed the virus"?
Today we needed:
— George Freeman MP (@GeorgeFreemanMP) May 24, 2020
- some humility
- a clear acknowledgement that people would be rightly angry if they sensed double standards,
- a sincere thank you to the millions of people (inc fathers) who have made sacrifices Dominic Cummings didn’t, and
- a public apology from him. https://t.co/Ymes2pMsL3
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