‘ENRAGED’
Cardiff doctor’s fury at being unable to visit dying father while PM’s advisor broke lockdown rules Johnson criticised over claims Cummings ‘followed instincts of every father’ in visiting family
PM DEFENDS GOVERNMENT OVER ‘DO AS WE SAY, NOT AS WE DO’ ALLEGATIONS
A LEADING Cardiff scientist has described himself as “flabbergasted, disgusted and appalled” after being unable to visit his dying father in his final days because of lockdown rules – while the man who helped write them travelled 250 miles across the country to see his family.
Neuroscientist Dean Burnett, whose father died in March, spoke of his anger at the Prime Minister’s advisor Dominic Cummings ahead of a press conference last night at which Boris Johnson effectively rewrote England’s lockdown regulations in an attempt to justify the journeys to the North-East,
Mr Johnson, speaking at the daily Downing Street coronavirus briefing, said Mr Cummings had “acted responsibly, legally and with integrity”, and repeatedly attempted to justify the trips on the grounds they were permitted under lockdown regulations on the grounds of childcare.
But in comments that will resonate with families across South Wales who have been forced to keep their distance from loved ones in order to observe lockdown, Mr Burnett said: ““I’m enraged he felt it was OK to do this while I, and many others, have had to go through hell.
“When my dad Peter contracted Covid-19, I couldn’t see him. When he went to hospital, I couldn’t visit him. And when he passed away, I couldn’t be there.”
The 37-year-old dad-of-two said he was distraught when his father was dying in hospital and he could not visit him.
He said: I’ve endured the worst emotional pain of my life. All because of the lockdown. Yet I stick to it, as I can’t imagine ever inflicting this pain on anyone else.
“I need to be there for my wife and two small children while in intense grief, because nobody can help us out.”
Leading the Government press conference for the third time since being discharged from hospital on April 12, Mr Johnson said he could “not mark down” Mr Cummings for the way he acted.
The PM said: “I have had extensive face-to-face conversations with Dominic
Cummings and I have concluded that in travelling to find the right kind of childcare, at the moment when both he and his wife were about to be incapacitated by coronavirus – and when he had no alternative – I think he followed the instincts of every father and every parent.
“And I do not mark him down for that.
“Though there have been many other allegations about what happened when he was in self-isolation and thereafter, some of them palpably false, I believe that in every respect he has acted responsibly and legally and with integrity and with the overwhelming aim of stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives.”
But there was condemnation of Mr Johnson’s blustering defence of his key ally from political opponents – and continued calls from his own party that Mr Cummings’ position had become untenable.
The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, said: “This was a test of the Prime Minister and he has failed it.
“It is an insult to sacrifices made by the British people that Boris Johnson has chosen to take no action against Dominic Cummings.
“The public will be forgiven for thinking there is one rule for the Prime Minister’s closest adviser and another for the British people.
“The Prime Minister’s actions have undermined confidence in his own public health message at this crucial time.
“Millions were watching for answers and they got nothing. That’s why the Cabinet Secretary must now launch an urgent inquiry.”
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said in a statement: “Boris Johnson’s breathtaking arrogance sends out the message that there is one rule for the Tory Government and another for the rest of us.
“He is trying to take the public for fools, but I have no doubt that people will see right through it.
“Families across all parts of the country have struggled through lockdown, without the ability to call on friends and family for childcare.
“In a desperate attempt to save his adviser, Boris Johnson has thrown public health advice and the solidarity and sacrifice of millions to the wind.
“The Prime Minister’s refusal to act demeans his office and will cause lasting damage to public confidence in the Tory government and its response to Covid-19.
“There is no question that Dominic Cummings broke the rules the minute he chose to drive to Durham. He is fatally undermining the public health message and must go.”
Sir Roger Gale, one of a host of MPs to speak out yesterday, said he was “very disappointed” the Prime Minister had opted to stick with Mr Cummings.
The veteran Tory told the PA news agency: “I’m very disappointed, I think it was an opportunity to put this to bed and I fear that now the story is simply going to run and run.”
Somerton and Frome MP David Warburton – not one of the initial dissenters – tweeted that he was “unconvinced by the PM’s defence of Cummings”.
“We’ve all been tasked with tempering our parental, and other, instincts by strictly adhering to Government guidance,” the Somerset representative said.
Conservative MPs had been baying for Mr Johnson to dispense with Mr Cummings after it emerged he had travelled 260 miles to County Durham in March to self-isolate with his family while official guidelines warned against long-distance journeys. Further reports also suggested he took a second trip to the North-East in April, having already returned to London.
Mr Cummings denied the fresh allegations, which were reported by the
Observer and the Sunday Mirror, and Mr Johnson announced he would be standing by his most senior aide.
During questioning from the press – marred by a number of journalists being muted before being able to ask follow-up questions – about how Mr Cummings’ behaviour could be justified, Mr Johnson said: “The advice makes it absolutely clear that if you have particular childcare issues then that is a factor that has to be taken into account and when I look at what actually happened, Dominic Cummings and his family self-isolated for 14 days and that is what you’ve got to do.
“And there was a risk that if they both went under, in such a way to be unable to care for their child, then they might have needed the help of relatives living nearby who could come in a socially distanced way.
“As it happened, that was not necessary for medical reasons I don’t want to go into.