Current Affairs

[Stephen]

More like Dancing Queen

[Manoverboard]

This morning we watched an extract from the show. Not a boom-banga-boom in sight, a sad loss

[Bensham33]

You're like a puppet on a string Keefy.

Or a Jack in the Box

[Ray B]

The U K, Billy no mates.

[Kendhni]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhEX9n5DjZQ

[Ray B]

Bit of cause for concern when a puppet dictator and his henchmen can orchestrate an hijack of a civilian aircraft by saying there is a bomb on board and 'escort' the aircraft to to one of their airports with the sole aim to capture a dissenter Roman Protasevich along with his girlfriend.
The strongest action must be demanded and taken before another upstart tries the same thing.

[Kendhni]

I have no idea who or what to believe at the minute, but if Cummings can back up what he is saying with evidence it is absolutely damning for the Johnson and his government for the early days of this pandemic. The oft used 'hindsight' excuse has evaporated into pure incompetence.

But then they say 'a man with poor eyesight scorned' and all that.

[david63]

I somewhat agree Ken but we are only hearing one side of the story from someone who was not involved in the actual decision making and possibly has an axe to grind.

[Gill W]

I have no idea who or what to believe at the minute, but if Cummings can back up what he is saying with evidence it is absolutely damning for the Johnson and his government for the early days of this pandemic. The oft used 'hindsight' excuse has evaporated into pure incompetence.

But then they say 'a man with poor eyesight scorned' and all that.

What is striking for me is that he's not making himself look blameless - he seems to be accepting his part in the debacle.

[barney]

What is striking to me is that the guy has absolutely no self awareness.
He was clearly lying through his back teeth on the Barnard Castle story so I have no idea why he thinks any sane person would believe him now.
He’s certainly made himself totally unemployable.

[Onelife]

Anyone with good judgment can see that Cummings is telling the truth…

…”lions led by donkeys” seems quite apt.

[Manoverboard]

They were all to blame ... but only for being totally out of their depth during a challenge that would undoubtedly have defeated any of us. Cummings is a wounded animal and will seek revenge but can his word be trusted, some on this site thought not.

[barney]

Anyone with good judgment can see that Cummings is telling the truth…

…”lions led by donkeys” seems quite apt.

The point is, he was part of it.
Can we really believe that virtuous Cummings was a rational voice in the wilderness of conspiracy and incompetence?
The guy is a sociopath and and serial liar.
So is his ex boss who will soon become our ex PM.
Scurrilous rogues, the lot of them.
I’m amazed at the halfwits in the media who are hanging on Cumming’s words as if he’s the new Messiah.
The same halfwits who had previously vilified him.

[Gill W]

Anyone with good judgment can see that Cummings is telling the truth…

…”lions led by donkeys” seems quite apt.

The point is, he was part of it.
Can we really believe that virtuous Cummings was a rational voice in the wilderness of conspiracy and incompetence?
The guy is a sociopath and and serial liar.
So is his ex boss who will soon become our ex PM.
Scurrilous rogues, the lot of them.
I’m amazed at the halfwits in the media who are hanging on Cumming’s words as if he’s the new Messiah.
The same halfwits who had previously vilified him.

The thing is, he doesn't seem to be saying he's virtuous - he appears to be holding his hands up to his part in the debacle

[barney]

The thing is, he doesn't seem to be saying he's virtuous - he appears to be holding his hands up to his part in the debacle

Good act but it won’t wash with me.
I’d be perfectly happy never to see his ferret face on our screens again and hopefully when he goes down burning, he’ll take his chubby blonde mate down with him.

[Gill W]

They were all to blame ... but only for being totally out of their depth during a challenge that would undoubtedly have defeated any of us. Cummings is a wounded animal and will seek revenge but can his word be trusted, some on this site thought not.

I haven't watched every bit of today's proceedings - but the bit I saw he seems to be acknowledging the damage done regarding his trip north and that he regrets doing the Rose Garden appearance. I don't think he adequately explained the Barnard Castle Eye Test thing - but he did acknowledge that what was said last year sounded weird in this respect. (and it was weird, and remains weird, but many on here bought the explanation)

[Gill W]

The thing is, he doesn't seem to be saying he's virtuous - he appears to be holding his hands up to his part in the debacle

Good act but it won’t wash with me.
I’d be perfectly happy never to see his ferret face on our screens again and hopefully when he goes down burning, he’ll take his chubby blonde mate down with him.

They can take Hancock with them when they go

[Gill W]

What is striking to me is that the guy has absolutely no self awareness.
He was clearly lying through his back teeth on the Barnard Castle story so I have no idea why he thinks any sane person would believe him now.
He’s certainly made himself totally unemployable.

What I don't understand is why any sane person believed him last year

[barney]

What is striking to me is that the guy has absolutely no self awareness.
He was clearly lying through his back teeth on the Barnard Castle story so I have no idea why he thinks any sane person would believe him now.
He’s certainly made himself totally unemployable.

What I don't understand is why any sane person believed him last year

I didn’t then and I don’t now.
The only thing that he is spot on about is that Johnson is not fit to be Prime Minister.
On that we can agree.
Johnson will just do what Johnson does and ride the whole thing out.
When the official enquiry comes and he’s compelled to give evidence, he’ll run for the trees.

[Kendhni]

The thing is, he doesn't seem to be saying he's virtuous - he appears to be holding his hands up to his part in the debacle

I noticed that too ... maybe somewhere under Cummings' thick mop of hair and milk bottle bottom glasses there is some integrity

[Kendhni]

Anyone with good judgment can see that Cummings is telling the truth…

…”lions led by donkeys” seems quite apt.

I did say back in post 9942
"Cummings v Johnson, two of the most mendacious, integrity devoid people of our time having a public bitch-slap - this could be hilarious."

[Gill W]

Whatever people think of Cummings, his performance was impressive today.

He answered questions for hours today, and his body language gave the impression that he was quite relaxed and telling the truth.

It’s also refreshing that he actually answered the questions, as we have become so used to evasion, deflection or obfuscation.

There may well be an element of Cummings wanting to throw Johnson and Hancock under the bus…… but he was giving evidence to a parliamentary committee, so he’d have to have a lot of front to lie constantly for 7 hours in such a relaxed way.

So, the question has to be asked - what if he’s telling the truth? Can it just be brushed aside as something else that doesn’t matter?

I understand that Hancock is giving evidence in two weeks time, so it’ll be a chance to hear what he says, and examine the body language

[Kendhni]

Whatever people think of Cummings, his performance was impressive today.

He answered questions for hours today, and his body language gave the impression that he was quite relaxed and telling the truth.

It’s also refreshing that he actually answered the questions, as we have become so used to evasion, deflection or obfuscation.

There may well be an element of Cummings wanting to throw Johnson and Hancock under the bus…… but he was giving evidence to a parliamentary committee, so he’d have to have a lot of front to lie constantly for 7 hours in such a relaxed way.

So, the question has to be asked - what if he’s telling the truth? Can it just be brushed aside as something else that doesn’t matter?

I understand that Hancock is giving evidence in two weeks time, so it’ll be a chance to hear what he says, and examine the body language

Just listening to several parts of the interview and he has come across as very credible (surprisingly). The timeline he details shows that Johnson and his government totally mishandled the start of this crisis beyond just being incompetent - they wilfully put peoples lives at risk (however to add balance to this you do have to give hum credit for ensuring Dilyn was safe at the peak of this crisis).

Its funny when you listen to those who know and have dealt with Johnson they all say the same ... don't trust him and don't believe a word he says. It appears that is one thing that has not changed throughout his career. Cummings referred to it as 'Lions being led by donkeys' in the case of those that believed Johnson it was more a case of 'donkeys being led by donkeys'.

[Manoverboard]

What I don't understand is why any sane person believed him last year

What I don't understand is how any sane person can believe him this year ... the man is clearly bitter and an accomplished manipulator who has complete control over his emotions and body language.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Whatever the truth or not of the detail it is hypocritical that Labour, who previously would have sent Cimmings to the Tower of London for execution, are now calling for Hancock's resignation on the basis of his say so alone.

I'll wait until all the evidence from all sides has been heard before I reach any conclusion.