Defiant Boris shrugs off Cummings storm as ‘political ding dong’
BORIS Johnson has flatly rejected calls from senior MPs for an official inquiry into Dominic Cummings’s behaviour during lockdown.
The Prime Minister dismissed the outcry over his aide’s decision to travel to Durham as a “political ding dong”.
He also insisted the public wanted the Government to “move on” from the row and focus on the effort to conquer the disease.
During a 90-minute grilling by the Commons Liaison Committee he said: “Quite frankly, I’m not certain that an inquiry into that matter is a very good use of official time.
“We are working flat out on coronavirus.
“This has really been going on for several days now – in the media at least.
“I, of course, am deeply sorry for all the hurt and pain and anxiety that people have been going through throughout this period.
“But I think we need to move on and get on to how we are going to sort out the coronavirus.”
Mr Johnson also dismissed demands for Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill – the most senior civil servant – to investigate the chief Downing Street strategist.
Warned
Both Tory and opposition MPs raised concerns about Mr Cummings’s decision to quarantine his family in a cottage on his parents’ farm in the North East rather than at his London home.
Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin, the committee chairman, asked whether the Government’s “moral authority” had been undermined by the row.
Conservative Simon Hoare also warned that members of the public could be “far less energetic” in following measures to curb coronavirus as “a direct result of the activities of your senior adviser”.
He said: “This is now a distraction. People are very annoyed. Prime Minister, is that on your radar?”
Mr Johnson replied: “I don’t think that’s true about how the British people will respond to the next phases. I don’t think that’s how they responded at all throughout the crisis.
“If, just suppose for a second that you were right, which I don’t accept, all the more reason now for us to be consistent and clear in our message driving those key messages.”
Mr Johnson said he had seen evidence to prove that some of the allegations made against Mr Cummings were false.
But asked by Labour MP Meg Hillier whether the Cabinet Secretary should also see that evidence, the PM said: “I would not be doing my job if I were now to shuffle this problem into the hands of officials who, believe me, Meg, are working flat out to deal with coronavirus.
“I totally understand public indignation, I totally understand that, but I do think it would be much better if we could now move on and focus on the next steps.”
Pressed by Labour MP Yvette Cooper on his advice for parents concerned about childcare if they fall ill with coronavirus, the PM said: “The clear advice is to stay at home unless you absolutely have to go to work to do your job.
“If you have exceptional problems with childcare that may cause you to vary your arrangements.”
Mr Johnson went on to describe the row over Mr Cummings as a “political ding dong” and said: “A lot of the allegations that were made about that adviser were simply not correct.”
Despite the PM’s attempt to dampen the row, fury about the aide continued to intensify in his party’s ranks yesterday.
Former Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt claimed there were “inconsistencies” in Mr Cummings’s account of his actions.
In an online statement, she said: “What is clear is that the scenes of the last few days will have undermined key public health messages. I deeply regret this and am very sorry for it.”
David Simmonds, Tory MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, said: “It is important not to engage in trial by media.
“However, I have conveyed the strength of feeling locally to relevant colleagues, and my own view that Mr Cummings should step down.”
Tory MP Giles Watling added: “Judging by the email traffic, anger is engendered by the meanderings of Mr Cummings. I am deeply unhappy too.”
Former Tory minister Andrew Murrison and Conservative MPs Steve Double and Pauline Latham also called for Mr Cummings to resign or be sacked.