Cummings and Goings
Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:38 pm
Well, he's flounced out the front door.
(I just wanted to be first with the thread title)
(I just wanted to be first with the thread title)
He wanted Lee Cain as chief of staff, Tories (and Carrie Symonds) opposed it. So now they've both leftdiscovolante wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:58 pmI'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.discovolante wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:58 pmI've not really been following this properly, can anyone do a tl;dr version of why he's left now?
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.TAFKAsoveda wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:06 pmI 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?
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.Stephanie wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:01 pmHe wanted Lee Cain as chief of staff, Tories (and Carrie Symonds) opposed it. So now they've both leftdiscovolante wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:58 pmI've not really been following this properly, can anyone do a tl;dr version of why he's left now?
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.Woodchopper wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:04 pmOne explanation is that Cummings has been found to be behind the leak of the government’s lockdown plan and Johnson is very pissed off.discovolante wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:58 pmI've not really been following this properly, can anyone do a tl;dr version of why he's left now?
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
The box contained a dead cat.Fishnut wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:11 pmIt 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.TAFKAsoveda wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:06 pmI 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’s too late for an extension. A new legal agreement would have to be negotiated in days and ratified in weeks.Vertigowooyay wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 8:13 pmTotally 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.Woodchopper wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:04 pmOne explanation is that Cummings has been found to be behind the leak of the government’s lockdown plan and Johnson is very pissed off.discovolante wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:58 pmI've not really been following this properly, can anyone do a tl;dr version of why he's left now?
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
Stephanie wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:01 pmHe wanted Lee Cain as chief of staff, Tories (and Carrie Symonds) opposed it. So now they've both leftdiscovolante wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:58 pmI've not really been following this properly, can anyone do a tl;dr version of why he's left now?
Thank you both. What a dysfunctional clusterf.ck.Woodchopper wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:04 pmOne explanation is that Cummings has been found to be behind the leak of the government’s lockdown plan and Johnson is very pissed off.discovolante wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:58 pmI've not really been following this properly, can anyone do a tl;dr version of why he's left now?
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
Mirror suggests the account of the sackings is rubbish: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/ ... s-23008426TAFKAsoveda wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:06 pmI 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 think it would be strange if Johnson has suddenly decided that loyalty to and respect for his partners is a cherished virtue.Vertigowooyay wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 8:37 pmhttps://www.ft.com/content/6f0fc7a4-bec ... d9c8419551
57E18F01-14AC-427C-AA99-D19475AA6B6D.jpeg
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.TAFKAsoveda wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:06 pmI 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?