Social Distancer

Dr Cornel West addresses the racist murder of George Floyd. Institutional racism is driving higher rates of death from COVID-19 in BAME communities. The UK government's decision to loosen lockdown has been criticised by 5 epidemiologists on SAGE and a poll in Sunday's Observer shows the Tory lead over Labour shrinking from 12% to 4% in a week! *Contains swearing*

The government's lockdown easing is too soon, designed badly, against scientific advice and communicated terribly. I look forward to the tensions that arise when guests in gardens use sheds as toilets. *Contains swearing*

With daily infections estimated to be 8000, it's far too early to ease the lockdown. But hey, social distancing has collapsed thanks to Cummins, so who gives a damn? Meanwhile, impress your friends with the best anagram ever!*Contains swearing*

Yvette Cooper tries to get a straight answer out of Toby Jug Johnson. Emily Maitlis is removed from Newsnight for laying our the facts of the Cummins debacle. 44 Tory MPs now show a bit of courage. Those who support Cummins and Johnson are just as responsible as them for a 2nd peak. *Contains swearing*

Cummins staying, like it looks like he might, is probably the biggest gift politically for Labour. It will probably lead to more deaths, though, so tonight I wrote to my Tory MP (the only people Bonson Johnson will pay attention to) to register my wish that Cummins goes. *Contains swearing*

Social distancing was observed by about 50% of the people we saw on Dartmoor today. Meanwhile Cummins tests his eyesight by driving miles with his four year old child in the back! The two strands of the COVID-19 story have converged. *Contains swearing*

Well that was a surprise! With no apology, no inquiry and avoiding questions, an insulting and dangerous Johnson praised Cummins' instincts and left it at that! We'll see in the next few days if people start to ignore lockdown. With warm, sunny half term days the instinct of many will be to 'do a Cummins'. *Contains swearing*

The wheels are falling off the cart with revelations tonight that Cummins visited Durham again, after recovering! He went to a castle on Easter Sunday! My thoughts on BoJo's crisis in a 30 minute special episode: listen in installments over the course of a few lifetimes. *Contains swearing*

**BREAKING NEWS** Dom Cummins broke lockdown while he had COVID-19 symptoms. The calls for him to resign are growing. Meanwhile, will we soon be able to look up the local R number as easily as the local weather? That's one of the ideas from Independent SAGE. The real SAGE (the cartoon version, like The Real Ghostbusters) didn't shed much light on whether schools would be safe when they open. *Contains swearing*

At PMQs yesterday Starmer said Labour would table an amendment to the Immigration Bill, calling for the NHS surcharge to be scrapped for NHS and care workers. BoJo defended it, but tonight he's U-turned. A victory! Meanwhile Hattie Mancock is backing away from the track and trace app being ready for June 1st. *Contains swearing*