Whirlwind over Prime Minister Boris Johnson's campaign strategist: Despite Covid 19 symptoms, Dominic Cummings drove across England to visit his parents. There are severe consequences.
- Despite lockdown, Dominic Cummings traveled across England to his parents.
- The campaign strategist of Boris Johnson was suffering from symptoms of the disease Covid-19 .
- Now many British and Tory MPs call for the expulsion of the adviser of the prime minister.
- Here you will find the basic facts about the coronavirus *. The most important thing about the topic is also on our Facebook page Corona News.
Update from May 24th, 10 p.m .:
An unusual one
critical remark about Prime Minister Boris Johnson
from the official account of British civil servants (Civil Service) caused a stir on social media on Sunday. It said: “Arrogant and insulting. Can you imagine what it's like to work with these truth twisters? ”
It was initially unclear who wrote the message. She apparently referred to a press conference at which Johnson defended his controversial advisor Dominic Cummings against allegations of violating the country's lockdown rules. Media had previously reported that at the end of March, Cummings drove across the country to his parents with his wife, who had Covid-19, and his son to go there to isolate themselves. As a result, requests for resignation hailed from all sides . But Johnson held on to Cummings.
This has just been tweeted from the UK Civil Service account.
This is the craziest political weekend for a long time. pic.twitter.com/u4x0i6plHL
Instead, the government announced it would follow up on the critical tweet. "An unauthorized tweet was broadcast from a government channel tonight. The message has been removed and we are investigating the matter. ”But that got her ridiculed. Harry Potter writer JK Rowling replied, "If you found out who it was, let us know, I want to give them an annual salary." Former soccer star and BBC presenter Gary Lineker tweeted, "An unauthorized trip was undertaken by a government adviser. The advisor is not removed and we are not investigating the matter. ”
Johnson defends chief adviser Cummings despite Corona violation - opposition is stunned
Update of May 24, 6.45 p.m .: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has backed his top advisor Dominic Cummings, who is controversial over alleged corona violations . Cummings "acted responsibly, lawfully, and with integrity," said Johnson on Sunday.
According to British media reports, Cummings had left his London apartment at the end of March despite signs of a corona infection and had gone to his parents' house in Durham, north-east England, more than 400 kilometers away.
Later he is said to have violated the curfew more times . The alleged violations are in stark contrast to Johnson's policy, who has been vehemently insisting on compliance with the initial corona restrictions since his own Covid 19 disease. A Johnson spokesman had previously said Cummings had followed the corona pandemic guidelines. He only went to his parents so that family members could take care of his little son.
Criticism of Johnson's attitude was not long in coming. The oppositional liberals predicted the Prime Minister's “anger” from millions of British people who had followed the Corona rules. Johnson's "failure to act undermines his authority and cast doubt on his judgment," the party tweeted. In a tweet, Labor MP Ian Lavery complained that the decision showed that there was a rule for the rich and powerful and one for the rest of us.
Millions of people who've made huge sacrifices to keep to the rules will be angry at how the Prime Minister is now bending the rules for his closest aide. # BorishJohnson's failure to act undermines his authority and calls his judgment into questionhttps: //t.co/5cpBrPSu37
- Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) May 24, 2020Boris Johnson under pressure: Corona scandal for top consultants - press conference still in the evening
Update of May 24, 5:50 p.m .: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to go to the press shortly after strong criticism of his chief adviser Dominic Cummings . The London government headquarters Downing Street announced in the afternoon. Johnson will lead the daily briefing on the fight against the coronavirus pandemic at 6:00 p.m. CEST.
The pressure on Cummings to withdraw from his post due to alleged violations of the lockdown rules had previously increased. Johnson promised "full support" to his key advisor on Saturday evening. Since then, however, new allegations have become known (see below).
Corona scandal in Great Britain: Tories also demand Cummings' resignation
Update of May 24, 12:35: against Dominic Cummings , an adviser to the British prime minister Boris Johnson, allegations have been raised recently, after which he is said to have repeatedly violated Corona rules . On Sunday, members of the conservative government party also joined the demands for resignation in the room for the first time . "Dominic Cummings has to go before he does more harm to Britain, the government, the prime minister, our institutions, or the Conservative Party," wrote Steve Baker, Tory MP and ore Brexiteer, on The Critic website .
The conservative politician Damian Collins criticized that Cummings had repeatedly shown in the past that he believed that rules would not apply to him. In addition, he has trampled accountability for anyone who holds a powerful position. "
The government would be better off without him, ”Collins concluded. A government spokeswoman rejected the allegations as "wrong" on Saturday evening . The government will not waste its time answering a stream of false claims about Mr. Cummings from politically motivated newspapers, the spokeswoman said. However, she did not go into what was wrong with the reports. The government had previously admitted that Cummings and his family had gone to Durham .
Despite Corona Lockdown, Dominic Cummings traveled to Durham with his family - apparently he wanted to regulate the care of his son.
© AFP / GLYN KIRK
Cummings insisted that he acted "reasonably and legally". Because his wife was ill with Covid-19 and he also had to expect infection, he wanted to ensure the care for his son . According to his own account, the Johnson consultant fell ill shortly after his arrival in Durham. According to government guidelines, travel was only allowed for inevitable reasons at this time . However, the government defended Cumming's actions as justified. The reason: It was about the child's best interests.
Corona virus rules ignored? Johnson consultant Cummings resigns
Update of May 23, 10:45 p.m .: Johnson consultant Dominic Cummings , who was criticized for an alleged lockdown violation , is said to have repeatedly violated the British government's rules. This was reported on Saturday by the Sunday Mirror and Observer , citing eyewitnesses. Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to give his key adviser "full support" early in the evening after opposition politicians demanded his resignation (see below). According to the newspaper reports, he was also seen on April 19 in Durham. At this point he had already been photographed in London again.
Also on April 12, he was allegedly recognized by a passerby, this time at a popular destination, just under 50 kilometers from Durham. If the reports are true, Cummings should have traveled at least a second time during the lockdown.
Incidentally, not only Johnson consultant Cummings has to worry about allegations. There have also been outrageous allegations recently against Brazil's head of state Jair Bolsonaro. A recently released video increases the pressure on the president.
Corona vortex in the UK: Cummings violates lockdown rules
Original article from May 23, 2020:
London / Durham - It seems Boris Johnson may have to do without his key advisor in the future. After breaking the lockdown rules in the UK, well-known campaign strategist Dominic Cummings is faced with demands to be kicked out.
The Guardian and Daily Mirror first reported that the 48-year-old Cummings traveled to his parents in late March from England's capital London to County Durham in the northeast, over 430 kilometers away.
A few days earlier, the British government had imposed strict restrictions on freedom of movement to curb the coronavirus pandemic *: from then on, travel was only permitted for urgent reasons. In addition, people with suspected coronavirus need seven days of self-isolation. According to the government, Dominic Cummings was one of these people at the time .
Dominic Cummings came under fire because of an illegal Corona trip.
© AFP / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS
After the allegations a government spokesman initially did not want to comment on dpa requests. The BBC -Reporterin Laura Kuenssberg wants from the personal environment Cumming s have experienced, the government adviser to Boris Johnson with his wife and son for the self-isolation that his parents quartered in a separate building in the yard. Since both Cummings himself and his wife had suffered from symptoms of Covid 19 *, his sister took care of the young child.
Corona Restriction Violation: "Cummings Completely Unsustainable"
Naturally, the opposition has been particularly critical of Cummings ' corona offense : "Dominic Cummings' position is completely untenable - he has to resign or be kicked out," said Ian Blackford, leader of the Scottish National Party in the British Parliament. Labor MP Tulip Siddiq told the Guardian: "The public does not expect there to be one rule for them and another for Cummings," the MP said.
The headwind for Boris Johnson is also growing stronger given his public reluctance in the Cummings case :
The 12th day in a row Mr Johnson has now decided that the #DailyBriefing isn't worth his time or effort. He should be here explaining why Dominic Cummings has not resigned or being sacked despite breaking lockdown rules. Others were forced out, why not him?
A part-time PM. pic.twitter.com/1K37RPxToh
How did Dominic Cummings' Corona trip come to the public? When visiting the province in Durham, Boris Johnson's campaign strategist was seen by a local resident - and reported to the police regarding the breaking of exit restrictions .
Renowned scientist Neil Ferguson had to give up his advisory role just a few weeks ago because he received a visit from his girlfriend during the lockdown. Scottish government medical advisor Catherine Calderwood had also had to take her hat off to a corona offense.
PF with dpa
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Rubric list image: © AFP / ANDREW PARSONS