I was booked to discuss the current #DominicCummings issue with @JuliaHB1 this afternoon but schedules have changed. As I won’t be on air any longer, I thought I’d share what I intended to say.

1/7

I like Julia. I respect the fact that she’s sincere and understand that she’s angry. I just think that she’s wrong on this. BTW I haven’t seen my parents since January either. My father is in his 80s and unwell. But none of that’s the point.

2/7

It seems to me that it comes down to whether Cummings broke the guidelines; on this they were vague at the time - they certainly made provision for transport for children who were categorised as vulnerable people.

3/7

Therefore taking children to childcare is “necessary.”

That’s the test - was the journey necessary?

And on what possible basis can you say that you know that it wasn’t?

4/7

Having met Dominic Cummings, I find it completely believable that he could not find someone in a 200 mile radius to help him.

5/7

It’s not like going to your second home for fun, or having your lover come over for fun. It’s a different category of behaviour to the resignations we’ve seen.

It’s looking after his child - not just legal but responsible.

6/7

In sum - a bad look but not a resigning / sacking offence.

People are going to town on it because they don’t like Cummings, and because they see it as a route of attacking the PM.
7/7

Postscript x2:
- People are replying sayinghe could have put his child “in care.”

I do not know any parent who’d prefer to put their child in care rather than with a loving relative

- criticism of distance: so he should be punished for having relatives in Durham not London?

I think that it would have been a good debate. Pity I/we got biffed!