Agenda for an Extraordinary Virtual meeting of the Council

Thursday, 28th May, 2020, 5.00 pm

Motion: to determine whether to hold a meeting to elect positions

‘Should the Council hold an Extraordinary General Meeting on 8th June 2020 at

6pm to elect the positions of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Council.’

Agenda for an Extraordinary Virtual meeting of the Council

Thursday, 28th May, 2020, 5.30pm

Motion: to elect a Leader and receive the Leader’s appointments

‘Following the resignation of Cllr Ben Ingham as the Leader that the Council elect

a new Leader for the remainder of the civic year and that Council receive the

Leader’s appointments of the Deputy Leader and the Cabinet and their Portfolios’.

Owl is adding as a footnote the comment Angie East made on the recent post concerning Cllr. Mike Davies’ resignation from the Conservatives in West Devon over Boris Johnson’s backing for Dominic Cummings’ “no regrets, no apology”. Cllr. Davies is a former Mayor of West Devon Borough Council.

Her comment reads:

Well done, Cllr MIke Davies.
A man of principle.
What will it take for principles, integrity and responsibility to be recognised and valued by our Prime Minister?

Well, how about if a few of our Conservative Councillors at EDDC took a leaf out of Cllr Davies’ book?

I’m not talking about the ones who will always be self-serving, always be ‘back -your-chums- no-matter-what’ animals.
There ARE some Conservative Councillors at EDDC who are really highly principled, put their public first and don’t always toe the party line.
I’d suggest that now is the time for them to choose to be Independent.

Three cliff fall’s have occurred within the space of just 24 hours in a Devon town.

The cliffs in Sidmouth have yet again toppled into the water, creating a huge cloud of dust.

Two of the landslides occurred today (May 27), one during the morning at around 8.45am and the other around 2pm.

Residents are remain on the beach, despite being so close to the dangerous crumbling cliffs.

Yesterday (May 26), a key-worker witnessed a landslide during his shift around midday.

Local resident Ray Moseley, 58, said: “I was walking along York Street with my wife this morning.

“We stopped to have a look around and take in the view when we notice a large cloud of dust.”

The 58-year old is unsure as to how much of the cliff face toppled due to being a fair distance away from the scene, but believes that it must have been a substantial amount to create a plume of dust.

There have been several reports of Sidmouth’s cliffs crumbling into the sea this year.

Ray adds: “If you look closely, there are cracks all the way along the cliff face.

“It is ridiculous the amount of people you see walking near to them, they just ignore the signs.  It is extremely dangerous.

“I think it is only a matter of time until something really serious happens.”

Clear signage is displayed near to the cliffs, warning the public of the dangers.

Another resident, Verity Graves-Morris, 37, was on the beach when she witnessed a cliff fall in Sidmouth at around 2pm today (May 27).

Verity said: “I heard a grumbling noise.

“When I turned around there was a large cloud of red dust.

“Other people on the beach also saw it, but they have continued to walk around near to where it fell.”

A spokesperson for East Devon County Council (EDDC), said: “It is not physically possible to stop the public entering East Beach below the cliffs, however to gain access they must pass several warning signs advising them of the danger and lack of an alternate exit point.”

Ian Barlow, Chair of Sidmouth Town Council, said: “At this time of year as the cliff dries out it is very usual to have more falls which we are now experiencing.

“Until EDDC Beach Management Committee are able to put the larger plan into place to protect the cliffs we would, in my opinion, support emergency actions to help slow the natural process.

“However, to date no emergency action plans have been proposed by them.”

A spokesperson for EDDC said: ““Cliff falls are a natural and unpredictable occurrence along the East Devon coast, this is because the rock from which the cliffs are formed is soft and therefore prone to rock falls and landslides, which can happen at any time, although periods of heavy rainfall such as the wettest February on record and now a long dry period, can cause an increase rate of falls.

“The Sidmouth and East Beach Management Plan (BMP) scheme aims to reduce the risk of flooding to Sidmouth by maintaining the standard of defences along Sidmouth Beach, and to reduce the rate of erosion to the cliffs to the East of the town (and therefore the rate of exposure of the East side of Sidmouth to coastal conditions).

“It cannot , however, stop cliff falls. In fact, many of the recent cliff falls are beyond the area the BMP will protect, occurring further East on National Trust land.”

A Beach Management Scheme for the town which aims to protect Sidmouth’s crumbling cliffs is in place.

The scheme which costs somewhere in the region of £8.7million, is now moving to the next stage after the funding gap was bridged earlier this month.

Ian Barlow adds: “For now the simple message is unchanged from previous years keep off east beach it is dangerous .

“We are lucky to have miles of beaches around with the best water quality available for people to enjoy the seaside safely even with social distancing!”

The 44 Tory MPs who have said Cummings should resign or be sacked

• George Freeman Mid Norfolk
• Douglas Ross Moray
• Harriett Baldwin West Worcestershire
• Roger Gale North Thanet
• Martin Vickers Cleethorpes
• Peter Bone Wellingborough
• Robert Goodwill Scarborough and Whitby
• Paul Maynard Blackpool North and Cleveleys
• Mark Pawsey Rugby
• Robert Syms Poole
• Tim Loughton East Worthing and Shoreham
• Jason McCartney Colne Valley
• Peter Aldous Waveney
• John Stevenson Carlisle
• Caroline Nokes Romsey and Southampton North
• Damian Collins Folkestone and Hythe
• Philip Davies Shipley
• Julian Sturdy York Outer
• Alec Shelbrooke Elmet and Rothwell
• Mark Harper Forest of Dean
• Stephen Hammond Wimbledon
• Simon Hoare North Dorset
• Simon Jupp East Devon
• David Warburton Somerton and Frome
• Jeremy Wright Kenilworth and Southam
• Mark Garnier Wyre Forest
• Andrew Percy Brigg and Goole
• Elliot Colburn Carshalton and Wallington
• Jackie Doyle Price Thurrock
• Bob Neill Bromley and Chislehurst
• Laurence Robertson Tewkesbury
• James Gray North Wiltshire
• Craig Whittaker Calder Valley
• Robert Largan High Peak
• Andrew Selous South West Bedfordshire
• Duncan Baker North Norfolk
• Bob Stewart Beckenham
• Andrew Jones Harrogate and Knaresborough
• David Simmonds Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
• Giles Watling Clacton
• Pauline Latham Mid Derbyshire
• Henry Smith Crawley
• Stephen Metcalfe South Basildon and East Thurrock
• Royston Smith Southampton Itchen

The 17 Tory MPs critical of Cummings, but who stop short of calling for him to go

• Penny Mordaunt Portsmouth North
• Sajid Javid Bromsgrove
• Richard Holden North West Durham
• Dehenna Davison Bishop Auckland
• Paul Howell Sedgefield
• Christian Wakeford Bury South
• Fiona Bruce Congleton
• Mike Freer Finchley and Golders Green
• Tom Tugendhat Tonbridge and Malling
• Robert Halfon Harlow
• Craig Mackinlay South Thanet
• Jeremy Hunt South West Surrey
• William Wragg Hazel Grove
• Jonathan Gullis Stoke-on-Trent North
• Steve Brine Winchester
• Damian Green Ashford
• Alicia Kearns Rutland and Melton

Key worker Stu White, 37, was on shift when he noticed the large cloud of dust over the town.

Stu said: “I was at work when I just looked over and noticed it.

“I didn’t hear a noise or anything.”

Stu, who describes himself as a “cliff geek”, noticed another large slab of rock which looks as if it could fall at any moment.

Given the history of Sidmouth cliff’s recent landslides, Stu’s prediction is not a surprise.

Last month pedestrians in Sidmouth witnessed a large cliff fall which created a huge plume of dust over the town.

A further two landslides in Sidmouth took place in March.

A Beach Management Scheme for the town which aims to protect Sidmouth’s crumbling cliffs is in place. The preferred option of the plan would see a new rock groyne placed on East Beach, shingle imported, and the height of the seafront splash wall increased.

The scheme which costs somewhere in the region of £8.7million, is now moving to the next stage after the funding gap was bridged earlier this month.

Cllr Geoff Jung, earlier this month, when he was still the Environment portfolio holder for East Devon District Council, said: “Now the Sidmouth and East Beach BMP is most likely to be fully funded, the East Devon team can concentrate on finalising the details of the project, such as accommodating an attractive new splash defence along the esplanade, improved slipway access and a recharged beach, which are all part of the preferred option, which is estimated to cost £8.7m.

“It is planned that as soon as is possible an exhibition and a chance to “meet the team” session will be held in Sidmouth (subject to Coronavirus emergency measures) providing local people the opportunity to see and understand the final designs.

“The project team will also have to apply for planning permission which will be subject to further period of public consultation, and agreement from strategy consultees which will include the Town Council, Natural England, and Historic England. Final assurance checks by the Environment Agency must also be passed to confirm the eligibility of the central Government Grant.”

The council is planning to host a public exhibition, when circumstances allow, in order to gather feedback on the details of the proposals, including the glass splash panel, prior to submitting a planning application.

The former Mayor of West Devon said: “The lack of a resignation from Mr Cummings, a government advisor, undermines public trust and will now encourage people to break current and future rules.

“Following Mr Cummings’ lack of foresight to resign because of the impact of his actions, the Prime Minister should now terminate Mr Cummings’ employment.”

Mr Davies, who is a part-time church pastor, added: “Covid-19 needs to be controlled and as we have been constantly reminded ‘Staying at home saves lives’.

“NHS staff, care workers, school teachers and others have been under tremendous pressure to meet the consequences and challenges of this virus. Examples must be set at the highest levels of Government.

“Can you imagine the consequences if everyone decided, at the start of lockdown, to drive to the most convenient place in the country if they thought they might have some of the symptoms?

“Locally, Devon & Cornwall Police fined over 800 people for breaking lockdown rules. In England and Wales over 13,000 fines were issued. Lockdown surely meant lockdown. We are now being told it was ‘guidance’.”

Mr Davies is suspected to have had Covid-19 himself and was seen by two GPs, but this has yet to be tested or confirmed.

He discussed his resignation with Mel Stride MP before making his decision.

He has been a West Devon Borough councillor since 2015 and prior to that was an Okehampton town councillor since 2003. As well as Mayor of West Devon, Mr Davies was Mayor of Okehampton twice.

“I appreciate that many Conservatives may not sympathise with me or share my convictions,” he added. “However, from the concerns raised to me, as association chairman for Central Devon, in the days prior to my resignation I know that many do.”

A Devon MP has called for Dominic Cummings to ‘consider his position’ following allegations he broke lockdown rules.

East Devon MP Simon Jupp, who worked as Special Advisor to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab before last year’s General Election, said that if placed in the same situation, he would not have made the same decisions that Mr Cummings made.

The MP said that while his actions were motivated by a father’s desire to do what he felt was necessary to protect his family in exceptional circumstances, those actions were wrong and said if it was him, he would have considered resigning from his role.

In a statement, Mr Jupp said: “Like you, I have felt a mixture of anger, disappointment and frustration in recent days. We are all making significant sacrifices and coping with situations we couldn’t imagine just a few months ago. Many of us, including myself, have lost people in our lives and haven’t been able to see family and friends. It’s been incredibly tough for everyone.

“Hundreds of people have contacted me regarding Dominic Cummings. I have read each and every email sent to me on this topic. I wanted to know the facts before responding to you. I have raised questions which I felt needed answering and made the strength of feeling in East Devon clear to the party leadership.

“Although I believe his actions were motivated by a father’s desire to do what he felt was necessary to protect his family in exceptional circumstances, if placed in the same situation I wouldn’t have made the same decisions and would have since considered my position.

“I will continue to share my views and those of my constituents with the party leadership. This has been a deeply unhelpful distraction we could do without as a nation dealing with a pandemic.

“As your MP, I will continue to focus my efforts on the hundreds of emails I continue to receive daily from constituents requiring my help and support. I would be doing a disservice to you and those who need support during this difficult time if I acted in any other way.”

On Tuesday, a government junior minister resigned over the issue. Douglas Ross, Under Secretary of State for Scotland, said Mr Cummings’ view of the government guidance was “not shared by the vast majority of people”, the BBC reported.

Mr Cummings said at his press conference he believed he had acted reasonably and within the law when he drove his family 260 miles from London to County Durham after his wife developed Covid-19 symptoms in March.

He said he and his wife had self-isolated at a property on his father’s farm to be close to relatives in case they needed help with care for their young son, and had no regrets about his decision.

North Devon MP Selaine Saxby, who is also still a North Devon councillor for Instow, did not condemn the actions of Mr Cummings but stopped short of throwing her backing behind him.

She said “I do not personally know Mr Cummings. All I know of his behaviour in recent weeks is the frank and open statement he gave to national media yesterday afternoon, where he explained why he took the decisions he did as a father and a husband.

“I prefer not to jump to a judgement unless I am aware of all the facts, particularly as there seems to be a lot of misinformation in the media these days often generated by social media assaults on individuals.

“The Prime Minister knows far more of what has happened throughout the pandemic than you or I. He has taken his decision to retain the services of his advisor who is an employee and not an elected representative.

“We have all had to take difficult decisions in the last couple of months and do our best to look after ourselves, our families and those we are responsible for within the guidelines. I am a big believer in taking responsibility for one’s self and the decisions we each take.

“I understand residents’ anger at this situation but I very much hope the Government can move on from this as there are so many other pressing matters associated with Covid-19 that need attention.”

Gary Streeter, the MP South West Devon, initially told the prime minister that Mr Cummings should go for breaking coronavirus lockdown rules.

But the MP then decided that after watching the press conference given by the prime minister’s chief adviser on Monday that he had “just about” kept within the rules.

He added: “I strongly agree that there must not be one rule for Government insiders and another for everybody else. I have therefore followed the Cummings story very closely.

“Over the weekend I formed the view that there had, on balance, been a breach of the lockdown rules and fed into Downing Street my recommendation that Mr Cummings be sacked.

“However, I then watched the extraordinary press conference in the rose garden yesterday and reached the conclusion that the actions of Mr Cummings just about kept him within the rules, given the clear exemption for looking after vulnerable people which obviously includes a four-year-old child.

“There is no doubt that this media storm has blurred the government message and hurt the government politically. It is now important that we move on and focus on leading the country back to some kind of normality. Schools and shops will start to re-open next month and we must ensure that happens safely.

“For us in the south west a much bigger challenge lies around the corner: namely how do we gradually start to re-open our hospitality and tourism sector without causing a second wave of the virus. That will be my focus for the next challenging few weeks.”

Cllr Phil Bullivant, Chairman of Newton Abbot Conservative Association and leader of the Conservative group on Teignbridge District Council, said that many important questions have been raised about the very difficult decision in which there is no correct response.

He said: “What does a person do to protect their autistic child if both parents become ill and their London home is the location for aggressive attacks from political opponents?

“The government guidelines recognised that there are circumstances which will require alternative solutions. If we believe that it is right that as a person in government should sacrifice the health and wellbeing of their family because of their position then Dominic Cummings was wrong.

“A charitable view would be that as he maintained an appropriate degree of separation and sought to put his autistic child into the hands of his family he stretched the guidelines for reasons he thought acceptable.

“I think the choice we would all make if we were confronted with a similar situation would require the Wisdom of Solomon.”

John Gray, Chairman of the Torridge & West Devon Conservative Association, said that he was satisfied that Mr Cummings’ actions were within the rules and that he should remain in his post.

He said: “Having watched the full statement and the subsequent questions I’m satisfied he was within the list of exceptional circumstances and that justified his actions.

“He continues to have a great deal to offer the country and even if some disagree with the decisions he made, his reasoning is clear and sensible.”

Asked what the feeling locally was, he added: “Things improved after his statement. It seems much of the public anger was caused by earlier press reports. Once the full situation was known it became difficult to criticise the guy. He clearly went through a horrendous time, under massive pressure, yet managed to make sensible decisions.”

As of time of writing on Tuesday afternoon, 32 Conservative MPs had broken party ranks to condemn Dominic Cummings

Tourists and VE Day parties could be to blame for a new spike in coronavirus cases which forced a Somerset hospital to close, according to a NHS worker.

Weston General Hospital in Weston-super-Mare stopped accepting new patients at 8am on Monday (May 25) because of a ‘high number of patients with coronavirus’. The hospital appears to still be closed to newcomers this morning (Tuesday, May 26).

A message sent to NHS workers in the South West, who may usually use the hospital, revealed it had at least 64 coronavirus patients and that 40% of staff who had been tested had also tested positive for the virus, as Somerset Live reported at the weekend.

The NHS worker who shared that message says VE Day parties and a surge in tourists visiting Weston’s seaside could be to blame for the new wave of virus.

The NHS worker told Somerset Live : “VE Day parties made it rise in London, I reckon.

“People starting off socially distancing then getting drunk and then ignoring.

“Areas which are not tourist destinations have had very few cases, so maybe there is something in that being a factor, too.

“The visitors have probably spread it around the country now.”

New figures show an alarming rise in the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Weston area.

A total of 55 new cases were confirmed in North Somerset in the past week, the latest figures showed.

John Penrose, the MP for Weston, referred to the rise as a ‘spike’.

The local NHS worker’s warning about the surge in cases followed calls from doctors to stay home – even as the government looked to relax lockdown further.

Boris Johnson announced plans to reopen non-essential shops in June on Monday (May 25).

That process will begin next week, with outdoor markets and car showrooms getting the green light to trade again.

But doctor Dominic Pimenta said the infection ‘R’ rate of the virus, which has to stay below ‘1’ for the number of infections to keep falling, was on the up again.

He suggested hospitals like Weston struggling was a bad sign, pleading with people to continue to stay at home.

He said : “The R is likely rising again. Hospitals are struggling with coronavirus in Weston-super-Mare.

“YOU did the right thing. The lockdown DOES save lives.

“PLEASE. PLEASE. PLEASE. STAY HOME PROTECT THE NHS SAVE LIVES.”

‘Day trippers’ and VE Day parties to blame?

People across the country, as well as in Weston itself, seemed to blame a combination of VE Day parties, tourists and the apparent bad example set by Downing Street adviser, Dominic Cummings, for the worrying virus figures in the town.

Sam Trego, a Weston resident, blamed ‘day trippers’ for the new wave of virus and the hospital closure in an angry post on Twitter.

The Weston cricket club coach wrote: “We must thank all the ‘day trippers’ for popping in and out of our town.”

Later on Monday (May 25) he quoted a tweet from the health secretary, Matt Hancock, which had said the country must ‘move on’ from the Dominic Cummings controversy.

Sam wrote: “Why don’t you pop down to Weston-super-Mare where we have no hospital open for a town with over 76,000 people living in it because we have had a surge of coronavirus cases!”

Rhiannon, another Weston local, also feared people gathering on the beaches had led to the hospital closure.

“Two weeks ago for VE day weekend people piled onto the beach. It felt like lockdown had stopped,” she wrote on Twitter.

“Now our hospital has had to stop admissions as there are so many cases of covid.”

She also shared an image taken by her brother showing the busy beach and seafront promenade on Monday (May 25).

There were a number of large gatherings in the sunny weather across our region over the Bank Holiday weekend – including a busy car meet in Cheddar.

Christine Murray also drew the link to VE Day, pointing out Weston’s hospital had closed a few weeks after the Bank Holiday celebration – enough time for new virus cases to be noticed in hospitals.

Despite the concern of many locals, experts have urged caution when linking virus spikes to specific causes.

Following concerns that events like the Bath Half Marathon and Cheltenham Festival had allowed coronavirus to spread, analysis suggested it was too soon and very difficult to tell.

But a maths lecturer from the University of Bath said it was ‘possible’ big gatherings played a role and said it might be possible to work out a link from the data ‘when the dust settles’ on the crisis.

Dominic Cummings row fuels local anger at new virus spike

Another Twitter user was also unhappy that ‘more people travelling’ had contributed to the Weston closure – and feared the actions of Dominic Cummings would make things worse.

He wrote : “Given Mr Cummings actions it’s only going to get worse when people now start doing what they want when they want.”

Kit McCarthy was another to fear the actions of the Prime Minister’s adviser could make things worse, referring on Twitter to the views of Durham police’s former chief constable, who said Mr Cummings’ behaviour would make lockdown harder to enforce for police.

But Jodi Owens was fed up with the media focus on Mr Cummings, when the issue of Weston’s hospital closing and a possible second wave of virus was getting much less coverage.

She said on Twitter, tagging in Sky and ITV during Boris Johnson’s press conference on Monday evening: “Reports today hospital in Weston has had to close is doors yet your journalists are just repeating the questions they asked Dominic Cummings 2 hours ago.”

What Weston hospital said

Dr William Oldfield, medical director at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, explained the reasons for the hospital’s closure on Monday (May 25).

He did not suggest why the number of cases had gone up locally.

He said: “As with any hospital, the number of patients with COVID-19 will frequently change as people are admitted and discharged.

“We currently have a high number of patients with COVID-19 in Weston General Hospital.

“While the vast majority will have come into the hospital with COVID-19, as an extra precaution we have taken the proactive step to temporarily stop accepting new patients to maintain patient and staff safety.

“This is a clinically-led decision and we are being supported by our system partners to ensure that new patients receive the care and treatment they need in the appropriate setting, and we are continuing to provide high quality care to existing patients who are being treated in the hospital.”

“We have a robust coronavirus testing programme in place for patients and staff to identify cases quickly, with appropriate measures taken by clinical teams as required.

“We will keep the situation under constant review.”

Contrition in short supply from both players. Were it a play we could have called it No Regrets: A Tragedy in Two Parts.

For Act One we were treated to Dominic Cummings’ statement on his recent lockdown controversy. News that Mr Cummings was to appear in front of the media had driven Westminster into a state of apoplexy.

For geeky politicos, this was a pass the popcorn moment like no other. England v Germany times one hundred. Captain Kirk wrestles Jean Luc Picard.

That the PM had decided to unleash Cummings on a baying Press pack was a high risk strategy. One might sooner place a spitting cobra in a cage full of mongooses. Sure enough, it was an indelicate affair.

A theatre reviewer with a bit of venom in his quill would have labelled Cummings’ performance a 90-minute sulky shrug of the shoulders.

The Prime Minister’s most trusted aide had come to snarl not to schmooze. The eyes did lots of distracted darting around. There were unnecessarily lengthy pauses as he spoke. Every now and again he would emit a breathy sigh of contempt.

The bucolic charms of the Downing Street rose garden was where we laid our scene. Naturally Cummings arrived late. Around half an hour he kept us all waiting.

Nothing like keeping your detractors roasting on one of the hottest days of the year. Having ditched the peculiar Rumpelstiltskin clobber, he managed to don something resembling a smart shirt.

He sat at a table opposite the waiting media as though he was there to interview them rather than the other way around. ‘Sorry I’m late…thank you for coming,’ he fibbed as he shuffled forward in his seat.

Cummings made it clear he was there under duress. The PM had forced him to come apparently. It was then we heard his story unfold.

His wife’s illness, their inability to secure childcare, how he had not wished to leave his family at home alone.

Despite the late arrival, it was not a well-rehearsed statement. He rattled through as though he were reeling off a dictation to one of the Downing Street garden girls. Oratory was largely non-existent.

Throughout, we heard repeated little justifications for his behaviour. ‘I believe I made the right judgment’, ‘I behaved safely and legally’, ‘I tried to exercise caution’ etc.

Strangest moment came when he explained his visit to Barnard Castle, where a witness had spotted him strolling by the riverbank. He claimed he and his family had driven there to check his eyesight was up to driving back to London.

Not many defending silks worth their salt would feel uber-confident about entering a courtroom with that alibi under their wig.

Members of the media were momentarily summoned to a microphone as though auditioning for X Factor. ‘Hello Laura from the BBC what are you going to ask me today?’

Best grilling came from Channel 4’s Gary Gibbon who suggested members of the public would be staggered by Cummings’ refusal to acknowledge he’d broken any of the rules.

Cummings was non-plussed. Bovvered. Wrapping things up, he bade journalists goodbye, urging them all to take care. Another barefaced whopper of course.

For Act Two we were transported to where Boris Johnson was delivering the daily Press briefing.

Judging by the Spirograph twirls under his eyes, our hero did not bear the look of a man who had enjoyed a relaxing weekend by the barbecue.

Predictably, he pushed his precious boosterism button straight up and discussed plans to reopen schools in June.

There were proposals too for retail outlets to be allowed to open their doors. ‘We’re making progress,’ he insisted.

No one, of course, was interested in any of that. The BBC asked if the PM had any regrets on the Cummings affair. Boris said he regretted the confusion. ‘People can make up their own minds,’ he shrugged.

Robert Peston queried Cummings’ peculiar story about why he visited Barnard Castle.

Boris said his aide had given ‘chunkable biography’ of what had happened already. Translation: ‘Please, please ask me about something else’.

By now the PM had turned an uncomfortable shade of magenta. Yet still the Cummings questions kept coming.

Queries did at least yield one interesting fact: Boris is now wearing glasses. We look forward to seeing those.

At just after 7.30pm, the PM finally shuffled off and the curtain came down on this day of high political drama. Whether that was the end of the Cummings saga is another matter.