What does the Cummings saga mean for the rule of law - and public faith that it applies equally to all of us?

I have spoken to some of our top legal minds over the past day or two

Helen Mountfield, one of our top QCs and a deputy high court judge, told me

"The law is the same for everyone. If it is not the same for everyone, respect for the rule of law ends."

"Whether Cummings breached regulation 6 (of the lockdown regulations) is "a question of public importance"

David Hope, former deputy president of the Supreme Court, told me

"It was obvious that the PM was not being straight with the public yesterday. Where our health and safety is at stake, we need to be able to trust in what we are being told"

Hope added: "Once that relationship breaks down, as it is at risk of doing now, we are in real trouble"

This controversy goes even wider than the rule of law (as Hope told me) . But law, and public faith in it, is a crucial element. I will update this thread if I have further conversations