Scrutable

Well, he's flounced out the front door.

(I just wanted to be first with the thread title)

Pootered out with his box.

Rat, meet sinking ship.

Well as the UK faces its second lockdown with the government's authority shredded, its coronavirus response a shambles and a public far less inclined to comply the second time round, let's all appreciate just how important it was that Cummings was allowed to remain in place over the summer.

His career seems to be quite cyclical, I wonder if he’ll be lupin back to favour in No 10 in a year or two.

I've not really been following this properly, can anyone do a tl;dr version of why he's left now?

discovolante wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:58 pm

I've not really been following this properly, can anyone do a tl;dr version of why he's left now?

He wanted Lee Cain as chief of staff, Tories (and Carrie Symonds) opposed it. So now they've both left

discovolante wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:58 pm

I've not really been following this properly, can anyone do a tl;dr version of why he's left now?

One explanation is that Cummings has been found to be behind the leak of the government’s lockdown plan and Johnson is very pissed off.

Another is that Johnson is planning on agreeing to a deal with the EU and he wants to remove Brexit headbangers like Cummings.

ETA and what Stephanie wrote

I do wonder what news this is hiding. It seems like the ultimate dead cat.
Or have I got seriously suspicious of everything because of this shower of shits?

TAFKAsoveda wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:06 pm

I do wonder what news this is hiding. It seems like the ultimate dead cat.
Or have I got seriously suspicious of everything because of this shower of shits?

It really does feel like an excellent distraction technique. As various peeps on twitter have pointed out, there's plenty of ways to leave Downing Street other than the front door. Doing so to get photographed with the box was deliberate. Either it's Johnson trying to signal "he's gone" or it's Cummings taking the fall for something even bigger. Given Johnson refused to get rid of him after the Barnard Castle debacle I find myself incapable of believing it's just a falling out, but at the same time, seeing all those charts about the incestuous nature of the government, personal relationships are clearly key and if Cummings has pushed Johnson to his limit then I can see him trying to humiliate him. And then I find myself incredibly angry that I'm having to think of the highest levels of government as some f.cking sorority.

He's just going to be working from home. Doesn't need to be physically in Number 10 to make Johnson dance to his tune.

Giving up the appearance of power to preserve the actual power.

Stephanie wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:01 pm

discovolante wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:58 pm

I've not really been following this properly, can anyone do a tl;dr version of why he's left now?

He wanted Lee Cain as chief of staff, Tories (and Carrie Symonds) opposed it. So now they've both left

Also (AIUI), Allegra Stratton (new No10 Press secretary) wanted to report direct to PM Johnson, whereas LC wanted her to report to him. Hence LC leaving.

Fortunately an easy going considerate person like our Dom won't consider sticking the boot in.

For about the sixth time in a few months I'll ask... didn't the superpredictor see this coming?

Woodchopper wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:04 pm

discovolante wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:58 pm

I've not really been following this properly, can anyone do a tl;dr version of why he's left now?

One explanation is that Cummings has been found to be behind the leak of the government’s lockdown plan and Johnson is very pissed off.

Another is that Johnson is planning on agreeing to a deal with the EU and he wants to remove Brexit headbangers like Cummings.

ETA and what Stephanie wrote

Totally unsubstantiated rumour is that Johnson now realises that the cold chain for a vaccine from Europe being held up might be a bit of a f.cking catastrophe and is thinking about a Brexit extension.

https://www.ft.com/content/6f0fc7a4-bec ... d9c8419551

Fishnut wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:11 pm

TAFKAsoveda wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:06 pm

I do wonder what news this is hiding. It seems like the ultimate dead cat.
Or have I got seriously suspicious of everything because of this shower of shits?

It really does feel like an excellent distraction technique. As various peeps on twitter have pointed out, there's plenty of ways to leave Downing Street other than the front door. Doing so to get photographed with the box was deliberate.

The box contained a dead cat.

The one thing is that for a Friday 13th in 2020, fate trolled us all!

Vertigowooyay wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 8:13 pm

Woodchopper wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:04 pm

discovolante wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:58 pm

I've not really been following this properly, can anyone do a tl;dr version of why he's left now?

One explanation is that Cummings has been found to be behind the leak of the government’s lockdown plan and Johnson is very pissed off.

Another is that Johnson is planning on agreeing to a deal with the EU and he wants to remove Brexit headbangers like Cummings.

ETA and what Stephanie wrote

Totally unsubstantiated rumour is that Johnson now realises that the cold chain for a vaccine from Europe being held up might be a bit of a f.cking catastrophe and is thinking about a Brexit extension.

It’s too late for an extension. A new legal agreement would have to be negotiated in days and ratified in weeks.

I don’t think reality tops panic.

Stephanie wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:01 pm

discovolante wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:58 pm

I've not really been following this properly, can anyone do a tl;dr version of why he's left now?

He wanted Lee Cain as chief of staff, Tories (and Carrie Symonds) opposed it. So now they've both left

Woodchopper wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:04 pm

discovolante wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:58 pm

I've not really been following this properly, can anyone do a tl;dr version of why he's left now?

One explanation is that Cummings has been found to be behind the leak of the government’s lockdown plan and Johnson is very pissed off.

Another is that Johnson is planning on agreeing to a deal with the EU and he wants to remove Brexit headbangers like Cummings.

ETA and what Stephanie wrote

Thank you both. What a dysfunctional clusterf.ck.

TAFKAsoveda wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:06 pm

I do wonder what news this is hiding. It seems like the ultimate dead cat.
Or have I got seriously suspicious of everything because of this shower of shits?

Mirror suggests the account of the sackings is rubbish: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/ ... s-23008426

Vertigowooyay wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 8:37 pm

https://www.ft.com/content/6f0fc7a4-bec ... d9c8419551

57E18F01-14AC-427C-AA99-D19475AA6B6D.jpeg

I think it would be strange if Johnson has suddenly decided that loyalty to and respect for his partners is a cherished virtue.

Galton & Simpson left Tony Hancock and created Steptoe & Son; Clement & La Frenais left Bob & Terry (&Thelma) and created Porridge: Cummings & Caine...

tenchboy wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 8:46 am

Galton & Simpson left Tony Hancock and created Steptoe & Son; Clement & La Frenais left Bob & Terry (&Thelma) and created Porridge: Cummings & Caine...

So you're suggesting their future careers might be scrap or in prison?

TAFKAsoveda wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:06 pm

I do wonder what news this is hiding. It seems like the ultimate dead cat.
Or have I got seriously suspicious of everything because of this shower of shits?

I'm generally sympathetic to the dead cat argument, but in this case I'm trying to wonder what it might be trying to cover up for, given that COVID-19 and Brexit are front and centre anyway. So unless we're about to be told that Jacob Rees-Mogg is to be the next king, it seems to me that the dead cat may actually be the real story here.

Also, why is nobody referring to Cain and Cummings as the two C's?