One rule to ring them all

Here in the UK, people have broadly adhered to government guidelines regarding the coronavirus lockdown. From March 23rd, we stayed at home where possible, only to go out for essential reasons like going to work, getting food or seeking medical care. The economy has crashed, people are suffering hardship, including separation from family and friends, but if that what it took to minimise the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, we've mostly been good boys and girls and obeyed the rules.

Not everybody, though. The Prime Minister has an aide, named Dominic Cummings, who has been the prime mover and shaker behind things like the Brexit referendum 4 years ago, as well as the general election campaign that brought Boris Johnson into 10 Downing street. Mr Cummings hails from Durham, 260 miles north of London, 15 miles south of Newcastle upon Tyne. When he and his wife started to develop Covid-19 symptoms they hightailed it to Durham to self-isolate; rather than doing so in London. That's already bad enough; 260 miles is a 6 hour drive, so Mr C would have had to stop off here and there to take a break. After returning to London, he has since been sighted in Barnard Castle, 30 miles southwest of Durham.Went there for a jolly?

A furious backlash ensued over the weekend. One rule for the masses, and another rule for the ruling classes? Is anybody going to pay any attention to directives issued by Mr J et al? This is very serious, as it undermines the credibility and authority of government at a time of international crisis