Dominic Cummings evidence: learning lessons or political vendetta?
Former No. 10 aide’s appearance in front of MPs tipped to be ‘one of the most remarkable moments in modern political history’
Dominic Cummings has fired off a volley of scathing tweets ahead of his long-awaited appearance in front of MPs this week to give evidence on the government’s handling of coronavirus.
In what The Guardian describes as a “curtain-raiser” to the public grilling on Wednesday, Boris Johnson’s former right-hand man has spent the past week posting a thread of messages in which he dismisses as “bullshit” claims by ministers that herd immunity was not considered by Downing Street last year.
The ousted adviser points to government graphs from the start of the pandemic showing projections for a single prolonged but flattened wave of infections and deaths, with herd immunity described as “the optimal single-peak strategy”. He also suggests that if “competent” people had been in charge, the UK would “probably” have avoided the first national lockdown.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Cummings, “a figure who fascinates Westminster, has already hinted at damaging revelations” to come when he sits before the joint inquiry into lessons that can be learned from the UK’s handling of the Covid pandemic, says the BBC��s Mark D’Arcy.
Allies say that Cummings “wants revenge” and plans to “napalm” the prime minister with his revelations to the Health and Social Care and the Science and Technology committees, The Sunday Times reports. And he is expected to produce papers, text messages, WhatsApp threads and recordings to back up his claims.
As the clock ticks down to his tell-all appearance, speculation is rife about how much Cummings wants to help his country avoid mistakes in the future handling of national crises - and how much he simply wants to settle scores after being booted out of Downing Street last November.
The Sunday newspaper’s Tim Shipman says the ex-aide intends to “spin a wounding narrative” about his former boss’s “mistakes and shortcomings as a leader”.
“The scene that will unfold at 9.30am on Wednesday promises to be one of the most remarkable moments in modern political history, when the two men who have done most to shape British politics over the past five years collide head-on,” Shipman writes.
The Sun is predicting a political bloodbath, publishing a Brighty cartoon portraying Cummings as a Freddy Krueger-like character under the caption “Dommy’s revenge: a nightmare on Downing Street”.
Other commentators are hoping that “Dommy” can step beyond his villain role, however. Jane Merrick at the i news site hopes that the former No. 10 insider will “provide some answers to the questions bereaved families have been asking for more than a year”. If he does so, he “will have done something good”, she adds.
“If Mr Cummings’s contribution is designed to ensure that we are better prepared in future to deal with a pandemic then it is to be welcomed,” agrees The Telegraph.
But “if it is the latest chapter in a lengthy vendetta motivated by personal grievance, it needs to be seen in that context”, the paper concludes.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How to find cheaper car insurance as premiums accelerate
The Explainer Car insurance costs are rising but there are ways to put the brakes on price rises
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
What to know when planning an awe-inspiring hike on the Inca Trail
The Week Recommends Peru's most famous trail leads to Machu Picchu
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Lead poisoning remains a threat
The Explainer The toxin is built into our lives
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Is David Cameron overshadowing Rishi Sunak?
Talking Point Current PM faces 'thorny dilemma' as predecessor enjoys return to world stage
By The Week UK Published
-
Less than total recall
Editor's Letter Why our brains want to forget the darkest days of the pandemic
By Theunis Bates Published
-
'A wonky bureaucratic tweak has dramatically changed how Americans drive'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Can Boris Johnson save Rishi Sunak?
Today's Big Question Former PM could 'make the difference' between losing the next election and annihilation
By The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published