with the latitude of Mr Cummings

[GoodTaste]

I feel that the expression "with the latitude of Mr Cummings" has a strong sense of criticism against Mr Cummings. Because, Horton points out, if all families explain the order to stay home in the way of Cummings, there will be no stay home, no lockdown - that is, Cummings's way/latitude is do whatever you like. Am I correct in the understanding?


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richard horton
@richardhorton1
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1h
Dominic Cummings offers no regret. He blames media reports for creating public anger. Yet the fact remains that if all families interpreted the instruction to stay home with the latitude of Mr Cummings, there would have been no lockdown, only anarchy.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

The entire two sentences are critical of Mr. Cummings. There's nothing more critical in the phrase "with the latitude of . . . ." The phrase is just part of Horton's argument that Cummings is irresponsible.

Latitude does not mean way or method. Horton is saying that Cummings has interpreted the stay-at-home rules too broadly — that is, not strictly enough.

 

[GoodTaste]

Latitude does not mean way or method. Horton is saying that Cummings has interpreted the stay-at-home rules too broadly — that is, not strictly enough.

But Cambridge Dictionary defines latitude as "freedom to behave, act, or think in the way you want to."

 

[Tdol]

Horton is saying that Cummings has interpreted the stay-at-home rules too broadly

He did not stay at home when he knew his family had the virus. That's a breach in any interpretation. Whatever your position on him, he broke the rules.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

He did not stay at home when he knew his family had the virus. That's a breach in any interpretation. Whatever your position on him, he broke the rules.

I was simply explaining what Horton said. (Not, apparently, to Good's satisfaction.) I wasn't agreeing or disagreeing with him.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

But Cambridge Dictionary defines latitude as "freedom to behave, act, or think in the way you want to."

Yes. That's not saying that latitude means way. Horton is saying that Cummings interpreted the rules too liberally, that Cummings allowed himself too much freedom to act.