Coronavirus: Cummings Attended Meetings Of Key Scientific group

[Jim D]

Hmmm, seems he did interfere after all.

View attachment 122921

Not impressed.

Interesting if true, but I think we'd need to see a bit more corroboration from a named source. Also, isn't lockdown what most people were demanding? Herd immunity was seen as a very dangerous move.

 

[CHAPPERS]

On the face of it, I am glad he interfered. Most countries have used lockdown. The jury is out on its overall effectiveness over time, but in the short term it undoubtedly saved lives.

But he's not a scientist?

 

[Is it PotG?]

But he's not a scientist?

I have some sense of feeling that the decision wasn't his. What tends to happen is that everyone puts in their 5ps worth then the PM makes the plan.

 

[beorhthelm]

full Bllomberg article. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-s-johnson-pushed-scientists-to-back-lockdown
sounds like a spin job to me, Cummings suddenly painted as in favour of lockdown. or we've been led to the wrong conclusion on him?
interesting point in the article that suggests the group more than advised and directed government policy.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

But he's not a scientist?

I know. And I will neither criticise nor condone his presence there because I honestly don't know the protocols or if there even ever have been any.

However I have noted that some fierce criticism of Cummings in the past on this board, has levelled the accusation that he was the one arguing with the government against the scientists in favour of herd immunity and that he didn't want a lockdown. What a vile callous b@stard he is type thing.

This information, if true, turns those comments on their head. What a conundrum for posters who shrilly complained, now, I guess, they will now be full of praise for him?

 

[Bakero]

I know. And I will neither criticise nor condone his presence there because I honestly don't know the protocols or if there even ever have been any.

However I have noted that some fierce criticism of Cummings in the past on this board, has levelled the accusation that he was the one arguing with the government against the scientists in favour of herd immunity and that he didn't want a lockdown. What a vile callous b@stard he is type thing.

This information, if true, turns those comments on their head. What a conundrum for posters who shrilly complained, now, I guess, they will now be full of praise for him?

I won't be full of praise for him any time soon. Why was he pressuring the experts to do anything? What's more, his calling for a lockdown is in stark contrast to what we've heard previously.

Will we ever get to see the minutes from these meetings?

 

[WATFORD zero]

I know. And I will neither criticise nor condone his presence there because I honestly don't know the protocols or if there even ever have been any.

However I have noted that some fierce criticism of Cummings in the past on this board, has levelled the accusation that he was the one arguing with the government against the scientists in favour of herd immunity and that he didn't want a lockdown. What a vile callous b@stard he is type thing.

This information, if true, turns those comments on their head. What a conundrum for posters who shrilly complained, now, I guess, they will now be full of praise for him?

As I pointed out in an earlier post on this thread, responding to another poster, there are very clear protocols about political appointees not attending Advisory or Scientific groups.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough with my explanation of why information is not freely passed between Government bodies and Political bodies, but surely you must be able to see the potential problems with corruption, undue influence, cronyism, security clearance, etc etc with no segregation of the two bodies.

This possibility of 'misinterpretation' is already covered in the Government's own rules on SPADS which doesn't allow them to transmit the advice from the meeting back to the PM for that very reason.

'nor may officials’ advice be transmitted to Ministers via Special Advisers'

https://www.civilservant.org.uk/spads-homepage.html

It's almost as if the Government had already thought of this situation, put rules in place to stop it happening, and are now breaking those rules.

So, If these two aren't Government officials or scientists and can't contribute anything to the meeting, and aren't allowed to legally transmit advice back to the PM.

Why are they there ?

The very reason for these protocols is to try and ensure Scientific and Specialist advice to Government Ministers is not subject to political spin. The fact that we now have political spinning (from both sides) about SAGE somewhat justifies why these protocols are in place and shouldn't be overridden.

(And I'm aware I'm coming over very Rees-Mogg about the protocols of Parliament )

 

[A1X]

Hmmm, seems he did interfere after all.

View attachment 122921

Not impressed.

"We are guided by the science"

 

[RossyG]

"We are guided by the science"

So are Sweden.

 

[Springal]

Now being reported that Cummings dialled in the CEO of Google Deepmind - their AI division to a SAGE meeting.

This same Deepmind - https://www.independent.co.uk/life-...lligence-ai-privacy-streams-app-a8633316.html