Gary Lineker: Dominic Cummings should just say sorry
Gary Lineker has said government aide Dominic Cummings should, “Just say I’m sorry,” for breaking lockdown rules.
The special adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave a press conference to discuss accusations he breached quarantine rules to drive 260 miles from London to his parents’ home in Durham.
Cummings said he and his wife believed they were coming down with coronavirus and needed help caring for their son.
Lineker tweeted: “Oh dear. By his own account he broke the rules 3 times. Apologising is the least he could do when so many people have made such enormous sacrifices. Just say I’m sorry.”
Oh dear. By his own account he broke the rules 3 times. Apologising is the least he could do when so many people have made such enormous sacrifices. Just say I’m sorry.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 25, 2020
Lineker added: “Shouldn’t be a question of sides, although to some it is. Many of us don’t have a side. And to be honest, if he’d just admitted he messed up, if he’d just said sorry and shown some remorse, many would forgive his mistakes. We all make them and break rules...even our own rules.”
Shouldn’t be a question of sides, although to some it is. Many of us don’t have a side. And to be honest, if he’d just admitted he messed up, if he’d just said sorry and shown some remorse, many would forgive his mistakes. We all make them and break rules...even our own rules. https://t.co/F7CeIsGH27
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 25, 2020
And the TV presenter blasted Cummings’ press conference, in which he refused to apologise or resign, as: “The least impressive performance from a member of the Westminster elite in living memory.”
However the former professional footballer turns TV presenter went on to defend Cummings, insisting he did not deserve the level of abuse directed at him on social media.
Lineker added: “However wrong his actions may have been, it helps no one to be abusive. We all mess up.”
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The 59-year-old Match of the Day host was himself forced to self isolate in March after one of his sons experienced symptoms of the coronavirus.
The father-of-four tweeted in March: "In self isolation as @GeorgeLineker has symptoms. They’re not the regular ones, but complete loss of sense of taste and smell.
"Odd these have not been pointed out much. Been nearly a week and has spent time at mine. I’ve been vigilant, hand washing/distancing but isolation it is."
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During lockdown the government asked people not to leave their homes except for essential food shopping, medical treatment, to go to work if they were unable to work from home and for once daily exercise. However if anyone was showing symptoms then everyone in their household was asked to stay at home for 14 days isolation, to prevent spread of the disease.
