Police say Cummings did break

● Johnson blocks journalists from questioning top scientific advisers over controversial aide’s lockdown trip to Durham

Boris Johnson blocked his scientific advisers from answering questions about the row engulfing his top aide as police said Dominic Cummings had committed a “minor” breach of lockdown rules – but would face no further action.

At yesterday’s Downing Street press conference, the Prime Minister stopped Sir Patrick and Prof Whitty from commenting on Mr Cummings to “protect them” from a “political argument”.

It came after Durham Constabulary issued a statement on Mr Cummings’ travel to the county days after lockdown had been imposed, saying it did not consider that by locating himself at his father’s premises he committed an offence.

However, the force said it would have taken action if police officers had stopped Mr Cummings on a further 50-mile round trip to Barnard Castle, which he said he had made to test if he was well enough for the drive back to London.

Mr Johnson said he regarded the issue as “closed” after police said they did not intend to take “retrospective action”, though the force found that the aide may have committed “a minor breach” of lockdown rules in driving to the town.

“And I intend to draw a line under the matter, as I said yesterday to the Parliamentary liaison committee,” the Prime Minister said.

Blocking a question to his scientific advisers from the BBC’S Laura Kuenssberg, the Prime Minister said: “I know that you’ve asked Chris and Patrick but I’m going to interpose myself if I may and protect them from what I think would be an unfair and unnecessary

“There is serious concern that this scandal is eroding public trust in the health guidance and distracting from efforts to tackle coronavirus”

IAN BLACKFORD