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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Barney Davis

Three Bellends pub renamed Two Helmets in new dig at Tory Government

A pub mocking senior Tories has rebranded after Dominic Cummings left Government.

The James Atherton in New Brighton, the Wirral, was initially renamed The Three Bellends after the region was plunged into Tier 3 in October.

The pub’s sign featured the faces of Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings and Matt Hancock.

But since Cummings left Government, it has now been renamed The Two Helmets with sign depicting the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary wearing cracked helmets.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo after the first renaming, Daniel Davies, CEO of parent company Rockpoint Leisure, said: “Our business has been decimated and their lack of action has compounded the problem.

“Westminster’s further decision to pick and choose which types of venue may open, based on those serving meals, for example, is mind-boggling.

“Whilst the renaming of the pub is clearly tongue in cheek, as far as I’m concerned the gloves are off and ministers need to understand the gravity of the perilous situation they have placed us in.”

Last year, Mori Sert, who lived around the corner from the pub said: “I think this response defines the North in a nutshell.

“No matter what hits us, we’ll never lose our spirit and humour.”

Mr Johnson has been forced to throw his support behind Mr Hancock after Cummings leaked messages from the PM in which he called the Health Secretary “hopeless”.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury Jesse Norman said the Prime Minister is “firmly behind” Mr Hancock following the extraordinary revelation of private WhatsApps from his former chief aide.

No 10 has not disputed the authenticity of the messages from the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic but insisted Mr Johnson has full confidence in Mr Hancock.

Mr Cummings published one screenshot in which the Prime Minister described Mr Hancock as “totally f****** hopeless” in an exchange about testing.

In another message about struggles to procure ventilators, Mr Johnson responded: “It’s Hancock. He has been hopeless.”

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