Johnson risks sabotaging advice coming out of Downing Street

If there was a saving grace from Catherine Calderwood’s terrible lapse of judgment when she flouted her own lockdown rules, it was that her resignation came quickly.

Her swift departure as Scotland’s chief medical officer, after making trips to her holiday house in Earlsferry, at least underlined that the “stay at home” message was for real.

Her public humiliation was a graphic reminder that breaking the rules was a very serious matter.

She also apologised profusely within hours of the news breaking. Despite her apology, the reaction to her behaviour made it abundantly clear that she could not continue taking the country through the coronavirus crisis without undermining her own life-saving advice.

In contrast, the furore over Dominic

Cummings’ 260-mile trip to Durham at the height of the pandemic has lingered. Now, thanks to Boris Johnson’s defence of his aide, the damaging controversy has escalated dramatically.

By standing by him, Boris Johnson has caused outrage and has added to the feeling that he does not have a proper grip on the Covid-19 crisis.

Furthermore, Mr Johnson appears prepared to undermine the UK Government messaging that is so important when it comes to dealing with this deadly illness.

At a time when lockdown restrictions are being eased, it is more important than ever that the public can trust the advice coming out of Downing Street.

The prime minister has sabotaged that trust by letting this row rumble on. That sort of arrogance, as Dr Calderwood well understood, could prove extremely dangerous.

“By standing by him, Boris Johnson... has added to the feeling that he does not have a proper grip on the Covid-19 crisis