[Cenk]

He didn’t technically break a law, but definitely broke very clear government guidance – “Stay Home“ is about as unambiguous as it gets. Millions of people took the rules very seriously, missing loved one’s funerals for example, and he drove 260 miles to his parent’s house and a local castle.

[M2Ys4U]

The law said one must not leave one's house without a "reasonable excuse".

Going for an hour+ drive just to see if your eyes work is not a reasonable excuse.

[Bantros]

So no law was broken, just guidance... maybe. Depending on interpretation

[Cenk]

How else could one interpret “Stay Home“?

[smcl]

"Drive across the country and go for a picnic in Barnard Castle" apparently

[Bantros]

Not sure about you, but I certainly don't take a brightly coloured PR slogan plastered on a Tory government podium as gospel

[DanBC]

The guidance from Government needs to read in conjunction with the law because the guidance describes "reasonable". The guidance was clear: do not leave home; do not travel to second homes; don't mix households; if you need help use your local networks.

[Bantros]

You've been allowed to leave your home from Day 1 of the lockdown and there is no law to say otherwise

Edit: Though under reasonable terms, including exercise and food shopping. If you have only obeying the slogans, which was my point, well that's unfortunate

[DanBC]

> You've been allowed to leave your home from Day 1 of the lockdown and there is no law to say otherwise

Again, only with reasonable excuse. He didn't have a reasonable excuse. The law says

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6/ma...

> 6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.

It then lists some reasonable excuses. Travelling to a second home is not listed in the reasonable excuses.

The government guidance is important because it provides context to "reasonable" -- it expands the list of reasonable excuses.

The guidance at the time was "You must stay at home", "you must not travel", "you must not travel to a second home".

The Crown Prosecution Service guidance is important because it curtails police action. The CPS guidance was similarly clear: travelling to a second home is unlikely to be reasonable, unless it's someone fleeing domestic abuse.

Police guidance tells us how they would have handled Cummings if they'd stopped him as he travelled from London to Durham. The police have said that they'd have turned him back.

Very many people have been fined for doing exactly what Cummings did, and those fines are not going to be withdrawn.