The British people have made important sacrifices

“didn’t look good”, he said: “Who cares about good looks?” He added: “It’s a question of doing the right thing. It’s not about what you guys think.”

A No 10 spokesman insisted earlier in the day Mr Cummings had not breached guidelines by travelling to Durham after his wife got Covid-19.

Downing Street also denied Durham Police had spoken to Mr Cummings or his family after their confirmation that they visited the property on March 31.

But the force stood by its statement and said “officers explained to the family the guidelines on self-isolation”.

Mr Cummings’s father Robert, 73, claimed the scandal was a “pack of lies” when contacted yesterday. Durham’s Police and Crime Commissioner said officers acted appropriately.

And the PCC from Northumbria, Kim Mcguinness, said the PM “should stop delaying, do the right thing and sack him”.

Opposition parties also said Mr Cummings must go. SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford said there seemed to have been a “cover-up” over his whereabouts. And Labour demanded Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill hold an urgent inquiry into his actions.

The party’s Rachel Reeves said: “The

British people have made important and painful sacrifices to support the effort. It is therefore vital the Government can reassure the public its most senior figures have been adhering to the same rules as everyone else.”

Labour slammed No10’s explanations for Mr Cummings’s behaviour as raising “more questions than they answer”, including when the PM was made aware of his decision to go to Durham.

Tories backing Mr Cummings included Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Cabinet Minister Michael Gove, his former boss, said: “Caring for your wife and child is not a crime.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the PM had given Mr Cummings his full support. He added he did not know when Mr Johnson became aware of his decision to go to Durham.

No10 declined to comment on the two new sightings on April 12 and April 19 and reiterated yesterday’s comment that Mr Cummings’s actions were “in line with coronavirus guidelines”.

A Yougov poll said 68 per cent believe Mr Cummings broke the rules and 52 per cent say he should resign.