Here is what I don't understand. This could all have gone away if Dominic Cummings had said something like, 'I'm very sorry. I was desperately worried about my child and I made an error in judgment. I completely understand the public upset and can't apologise enough.' 1/

Then the Prime Minister and every single government spokesperson go out and talk about the sacrifices made by ordinary people. They speak of the sorrow and the loss and the worry. They prove that they get it. They are a study in empathy and humility. 2/

They, too, apologise. They could mention that everyone is allowed to make a mistake. What grown-ups do is admit that mistake and try to fix it and make reparations. They take responsibility for their actions. This can be painful, but it's not splitting the atom. 3/

These are populists. They declared themselves 'The People's Government'. I find it so strange that they seem devoted to not listening to the people. Say sorry. Say we hear you. Say we understand. How hard would that be? It's just an ordinary bit of human decency. 4/