May 26, 2020 11.36 am
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Lincolnshire leaders defend Cummings, but health officials fear message could be “damaged”
Lincolnshire leaders have rallied to defend the Prime Minister’s chief aide Dominic Cummings after he came under criticism for journeys he took while the Coronavirus lockdown was in effect. Public health leaders trying to keep the general public complying with safety measures, however, have admitted the latest news could make that message hard to enforce.…
Dominic Cummings, former special advisor for Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves his house in London, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), London, Britain, May 24, 2020. REUTERS/Simon Dawson
Lincolnshire leaders have rallied to defend the Prime Minister’s chief aide Dominic Cummings after he came under criticism for journeys he took while the Coronavirus lockdown was in effect.
Public health leaders trying to keep the general public complying with safety measures, however, have admitted the latest news could make that message hard to enforce.
Mr Cummings held a press conference yesterday, in which he defended a 260-mile drive in March from his home to County Durham with his ill child and wife.
He said he acted reasonably and legally in going to stay on his parents’ farm and made no apology for his actions.
He also defended a later further trip to nearby Barnard Castle, saying it was to test his eyesight.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended Mr Cummings’ press statement in the government’s daily briefing.
Director for Public Health Derek Ward confirmed today (Tuesday) that he feared the core message had been damaged.
Mr Ward would not comment on Mr Cumming’s individual circumstances adding: “I think it’s really important what I do is reiterate the key messages for anybody who does have symptoms.
“Anyone with symptoms must stay at home for seven days, and other house members must stay home for 14 days.
“I understand that everybody responds to this particular case, and the decisions that has individual made, but the important thing is that we’ve done really, really well in the county to keep our numbers down, it seems to be flattening.”
The government has been accused of hypocrisy over its handling of Mr Cummings’ decision with some questioning why they should abide to the rules when those in power haven’t led by example.
Nationally, NHS Confederation chief executive Niall Dickson raised concerns on BBC Radio 4 about the “potential damage” to public confidence.
Meanwhile, Scottish government minister Douglas Ross announced his resignation saying he could not tell his constituents “in good faith” they were wrong to miss funerals or not visit relatives and that Mr Cummings was right.
Local health campaign group SOS Pilgrim Hospital said: “So a government advisor breaks his own rules, yet presents himself as the victim and he even deflects it back onto the public.
“Meanwhile, how many people have died without their families with them? Parents carried on without help? Forgotten.”
Lincoln MP Karl McCartney.
However, in tweets prior to Mr Cummings’ briefing, Lincoln MP Karl McCartney defended the aide.
He said he did not know“Dominic C” personally, but that he was “not the devil”.
“Just someone who has won (a lot) in the “game of politics (if you lost, get over yourself),” he said.
He said Mr Cummings had done his best and added “we are all human”.
The county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jonessaid he was “shocked” by the decision of the “unelected, acting PCC of Durham” to ask for Mr Cumming’s actions to be investigated.
Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones.
“His ‘directing’ of the Chief Constable to take operational action is well outside of PCC remit. It is the first time I have encountered such politicking and I hope the last,” he said.
Others, including Lincolnshire County Councillors Richard Butroid and Colin Davie blamed a “shameful media campaign” against Mr Cummings.
“The way he has been hounded is a disgrace and it’s time to move on. The media will soon have plenty to report on concerning themselves,” said Councillor Davie.
East Lindsey District Council leader Craig Leyland also criticised the “appalling” media scrum, but said: “I certainly know that this has impacted on how people view that and how they view the government direction.
“I would say two wrongs don’t make a right, if you’re thinking of justifying a trip on the basis of what Dominic Cummings has done.
“I know people have got more sense not to do that. You’ve got to act in your best conscience.”
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With February half-term imminent, a series of pop-up free-to-all activities have been organised across Lincoln city centre to keep the family entertained during time off school.
Running every day from February 12 to 20, the activities will be situated across various locations in Lincoln, including the Waterside Shopping Centre and the Cornhill Quarter.
The activities have been organised by Lincoln Business Improvement Group, and are funded through the European Regional Development Fund and the Welcome Back Fund.
Arts and crafts workshops will be up around Lincoln this half-term. | Photo: Lincoln BIG
The money has been allocated to Lincoln by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lincoln BIG says it wanted to bring something “exciting and new” to the city, while also encouraging people to get out the house as coronavirus restrictions are gradually lifted.
Various street performances will be held in the city centre. | Photo: Lincoln BIG
All activities will be free of charge and all families are welcome to take part in the fun.
The full activities list is:
Arts and crafts workshops, such as hula hooping and making balloon animals
Makendoo workshops for painting and making both spring and space themed things (rockets, stars, flowers, butterfly masks etc)
Street performances and characters, including puppetry walkabout, Granny Turismo, speed painter Jon Hicks, physical comedian Ian Marchant and a cookery demonstration like no other from Lee Whittingstall and Hugh Fearn
The mother of a man who was allegedly stabbed to death by his partner told a jury the couple would “bicker a lot”
Charlie Stevenson, 21, is alleged to have deliberately stabbed Christopher Higgs, also 21, with a kitchen knife at her home in Portland Street, Boston.
Mr Higgs, from Spalding, was found with a single stab wound to his heart after Ms Stevenson called the ambulance service to her property on July 14.
His mother, Jody Manchester, today (Tuesday) gave evidence from the witness box at Lincoln Crown Court.
Police investigating an alleged murder at the property on Portland Street, Boston. | Photo: David Dawson
She told the jury Christopher had an older brother called Charlie, and two sisters called Paris and Paige.
He grew up in Surrey, and was diagnosed with ADHD and then autism when he was 12.
“He relied very heavily on routine, things could not change,” Ms Manchester added. “He was also fussy about clothes and food.”
The jury heard Christopher was taken into care at the age of 12, but still had regular contact with his mother, seeing her six times a year.
Mr Higgs later decided to return to his family, and undertook a carpentry course, before meeting Ms Stevenson in 2018.
Officers in boiler suits at the scene of the incident. | Photo: David Dawson
Ms Manchester said: “Sometimes they were alright, but they did bicker a lot.”
Asked by prosecution barrister Christopher Donnellan QC, if she saw injuries to Christopher during his time with Charlie, Ms Manchester replied: “Yes.”
When asked by Mr Donnellan what the injuries were, Ms Manchester stated: “Black eyes, scratches down his neck, and a lot of the time his clothes were ripped.”
Ms Manchester said she had regular conversations with the couple on Facetime after they had a baby.
But Ms Manchester told the jury she did witness one incident at her home in Surrey where Ms Stevenson punched Christopher who responded by pulling her hair.
Ms Manchester said she told Christopher “to let go”, and Ms Stevenson picked up a kitchen dish which was taken off her by one of Christopher’s sisters.
The jury heard Mr Higgs was moving backwards and forwards from Surrey to his brother’s home in Spalding, while Ms Stevenson and their child were living in Boston.
Ms Manchester admitted she was aware Christopher should not have been staying at the house in Portland Street because of a bail condition from an incident involving Ms Stevenson.
The defence argue Mr Higgs could also be violent towards Ms Stevenson.
Under cross-examination from James Newtown-Price QC, defending Ms Stevenson, Ms Manchester replied: “I have never seen it, but it is possible.”
Ms Manchester admitted she was aware of occasions where Mr Higgs was alleged to have assaulted Ms Stevenson.
She accepted there was also one occasion where she had to call the police after Mr Higgs became violent towards her partner.
When asked about the level of violence between the couple, Ms Manchester replied: “It was equal.”
She also accepted Mr Higgs would regularly use cannabis.
Charlie Stevenson, 21, of Portland Street, Boston, denies murder on July 14, 2021. The trial continues.
A double murder suspect tried to get in a farm manager’s car and asked police to shoot him after assaulting an off-duty police officer, a jury heard on Tuesday.
Daniel Boulton, 30, was seen at Hallington House Farm, near Louth, just before midday on June 1.
A jury at Lincoln Crown Court heard Boulton had run away from PC Stephen Dennis who had tried to detain him while walking his dog near Hubbard’s Hills in Louth.
The site of Daniel Boulton’s arrest at Hubbard’s Hills in Louth. | Photo: Jon Aron
Boulton had spent the night in a nearby cottage after brutally stabbing to death his former partner Bethany Vincent, and her nine-year-old son Darren Henson, it is alleged.
The jury heard farm manager Greta Roberts was driving through the property when she noticed a man with a blue rope around his neck run out from the side of the silage store.
Mrs Roberts said she realised the man was probably the suspect wanted by police and instinctively locked her vehicle as he came towards her car and tried the door handle.
Double murder suspect Daniel Boulton resisted arrest following a manhunt in Louth | Photo: BBC
“I put my foot down and drove away,” Mrs Roberts said in her statement which was read out in court.
The jury heard Boulton encouraged armed officers who arrived at the scene to shoot him but he was tasered and held on the ground.
A silver kitchen knife was taken from him, and he was also found to have two skateboard type pads on his knees.
Flowers, candles and photographs were laid by a tree as a vigil was held in memory of alleged Louth murder victims Bethany Vincent and her nine-year-old son Darren Henson. | Photo: Graeme Whitworth
Boulton made no comment when he was arrested on suspicion of the two murders and assaulting PC Dennis.
The court heard Boulton was transported to Skegness Police Station and taken into custody where he made several comments to an officer observing him.
Boulton asked the officer: “Does this happen often, when people kill their girlfriend?”
He also told the officer he had a baby.
A GoFundMe page was set up to raise money towards the funerals of Louth stabbing victims Bethany Vincent and Darren Henson.
Boulton, 30, of Alexandra Road, Skegness, admits the manslaughter of his former girlfriend Bethany Vincent and her nine-year-old Darren Henson, but denies their murder.
Ms Vincent and Darren, known to his family as DJ, were both found stabbed to death at their home in High Holme Road, Louth, shortly after 8pm on May 31.
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