This has turned into a lose / lose situation for our great leader! If he retains Cummings he will be seen as sticking two fingers up to the general public and favouring his mate, and if he sacks him after all this time it will be seen as a massive U-turn and weak leadership. The easiest way out of it would be for Cummings to resign, but his arrogance will stop him doing that unless he is forced. Kier Starmer's chances of becoming the next Prime Minister have suddenly increased without him having to do anything at all!
His mother has said that the press have not reported that they are a grieving family because his uncle died on April 5th and this should be recognised.
Are this family for real? I am not saying it is wrong for them to grieve, of course not, but to use it as a defence for him being so far from home at a time when thousands upon thousands of others have faced the same situation is simply wrong.
Just a tiny bit of contrition would help, but as was said this morning, he doesn't do that.
I've heard the saying of falling on your own sword but in this case it seems more like Johnson falling on someone else's.
... this hysterical outbreak of media righteousness shows how the lemmings are so easily lead. We have always been able to go where we want - it was ADVISORY, NOT A DICTAT - but if you choose to follow the advice by the book you have no right to criticise others who apply common sense flexibility. Get over it ...