Doesn't matter what Cummings was actually doing there, what matters was the perception. If the gov't were 'smart' as you say, they would have made sure no-one saw him up there.

Easier said than done. Cummings is highly recognisable, especially in the town where he was (Durham?). I guess he could have worn a disguise! But instead he took his kids along to make it look like he was on a family trip.

I mean, it's just too much of a coincidence for me. I don't trust government, or any politician or govt "adviser" for that matter, I also don't trust pharmaceutical companies, so I'm quite comfortable assuming this was not really a family trip. Obviously I could be wrong, but it would be quite the coincidence.

It's my assumption that the government correctly assume that the people would freak out over his "lockdown breach" and pay no attention to anything else.

Also, have you learned nothing about polls yet? They are used by those who conduct them to attempt to influence public opinion, and it doesn't work. You could get 5:1 odds on us leaving the EU just hours before the results started coming in. Everyone expected us to remain because "the bookies know what they're doing". Trump was not expected to win, and he's not expected to win this year either, if the polls are to be believed (51-43 as of 20th Sept, according to BBC).

Ignore the polls, they tell you nothing useful.