Let’s move on from Mr Cummings

There is an old political maxim that when the adviser becomes the story it is time to step aside. Dominic Cummings, who is in overall charge of the Government’s media relations among other responsibilities, has certainly become the story but has no intention of stepping aside. Indeed, he gave an unapologetic defence of his actions at an extraordinary press conference in the garden of 10 Downing Street.

He showed greater emollience than has hitherto been evident and looked far from the diabolical Svengali character of popular myth.

Indeed, he came across as a somewhat nervous individual who fled London fearing the spread of a virus about which he had been warning for many years but which has turned out to be less lethal than predicted.

He was not surprised that people were angry but this was because of the “false” way the media had portrayed what he had done, even if few of the central facts are disputed. He showed little regret and did not offer to resign.

The Prime Minister’s aide gave a detailed account of his movements at the end of March when coronavirus cases were spiralling. He drove his wife, who was sick, and his child to Durham to be close to family in case childcare was required.

They did not stop en route and isolated in a cottage on his parents’ property for 14 days. Later he drove 30 miles to a nearby town to test his eyesight before driving back to London. This was, he said, responsible and reasonable given the concerns for their child and the complicated circumstances in which he had found himself.

In the event, the help of family members in Durham was not required, which invites the obvious question of why the family could not then have stayed in London?

His contention that Durham was better is hard to justify. Many people would have loved to isolate at a second home in the country but were explicitly told not to and hounded out if they did.

Mr Cummings gave a good account of himself but appears to have made personal judgments for the benefit of his family that were not obviously available to others who were in equally difficult circumstances. But for now, he stays in his position and we need to move on.

He gave an unapologetic defence of his actions at an extraordinary press conference