CRISIS OVER UK PM’S ADVISER GETS WORSE AS MINISTER QUITS

LONDON: The row over British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s chief adviser breaching lockdown rules continued to bedevil the government as a junior minister resigned in protest on Tuesday and several ruling Conservative MPS and others reiterated their demand that he step down or be sacked.

The story of chief adviser Dominic Cummings travelling over 400km from London to Durham in violation of official advice in March end after he and his wife had coronavirus symptoms overshadowed the British government’s plans to reopen some shops and markets from June 1.

Douglas Ross, minister for Scotland, referred to fury among his constituents over Cummings’ actions in his resignation letter to Johnson, and said questions remained for the aide to answer after he appeared before the news media on Monday evening.

Ross said, “I have constituents who didn’t get to say goodbye to loved ones; families who could not mourn together; people who didn’t visit sick relatives because they followed the guidance of the government.”

“I cannot tell them they were all wrong and one senior adviser to the government was right,” he wrote in his resignation letter.

Johnson announced partial opening of markets, saying, “Outdoor markets and car showrooms will be able to reopen from June 1, as soon as they are able to meet the Covid-19 secure guidelines to protect shoppers and workers.

“All other non-essential retail including shops selling clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books, electronics, plus tailors, auction houses, photo studios, and indoor markets, will be expected to be able to reopen from June 15.”