Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Police: We would have turned back Cummings
They say he may have breached rules
DOMINIC Cummings escaped prosecution by police yesterday for a “minor breach” of lockdown rules – but could not steer clear of the fury of the nation.
Boris Johnson’s top aide had said he made the 60-mile round-trip to “test his eyesight” before returning to London from Durham.
Durham Police said yesterday they would have turned him back if they had stopped him during the journey on Easter Sunday.
But the force said while he may have committed “a minor breach”, he will face no further action as it is not worth imposing a potential £60 fine retrospectively.
A No10 spokesman said in response: “The Prime Minister has said he believes Mr Cummings behaved reasonably and legally, and he regards this issue as closed.”
But the decision sparked fury with Labour leader Keir Starmer saying: “Boris Johnson should have drawn a line under the Dominic Cummings saga but was too weak.
“The public sacrificed so much for the health of our nation – which he’s undermined. And sent a message that there’s one rule for them and another for the British people.”
The police spoke six days after a joint probe by the Mirror and Guardian revealed Mr Cummings travelled 260 miles from his London home to selfisolate at his parents’ property. Police spoke to his father on March 31. Mr Cummings stressed he kept to Covid-19 guidelines due to exceptional circumstances when wife Mary Wakefield fell ill.
She suspected she had the virus and as he also felt unwell they feared having no childcare for their son. So he decided to drive to Durham, where family could help.
Around 40 Tory MPS have called