Prime Minister backs under-fire Cummings
BORIS Johnson has backed his chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, amid growing calls for him to resign or be sacked. Opponents said it was an “insult” to the sacrifices people have made.
Mr Cummings left London in March with his wife, who had coronavirus symptoms, and son, to drive more than 250 miles to Durham – with the reason given as to be near family should Mr Cummings develop symptoms and need childcare help with their son.
Mr Johnson said his adviser acted with “integrity” and said any father and parent would’ve done the same.
Labour have called for a civil service investigation and the SNP, along with some Tory MPs, have called for Cummings to resign.
Speaking at the daily coronavirus briefing yesterday, the Prime Minister said the government was not asking the country do one thing while it did another.
Johnson said: “I think [Cummings] followed the instincts of every father and every parent and I don’t mark him down for that.
“I believe that in every respect he acted responsibly, legally and with integrity.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also said Cummings should go.
She tweeted: “I know it is tough to lose a trusted adviser at the height of crisis, but when it’s a choice of that or integrity of vital public health advice, the latter must come first.
“That’s the judgment I and, to her credit, Catherine Calderwood reached. PM and Cummings should do likewise.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer said the PM has “failed”.
He said: “This was a test of the Prime Minister and he has failed it. It is an insult to sacrifices made by the British people that Boris Johnson has chosen to take no action against Dominic Cummings.
“The public will be forgiven for thinking there is one rule for the Prime Minister’s closest adviser and another for the British people.
“The Prime Minister’s actions have undermined confidence in his own public health message at this crucial time.”
After the Prime Minister spoke, the Scottish Conservative leader, who had said nothing about the affair until then, issued a statement.
Jackson Carlaw said: “I’ve heard what the Prime Minister has said and it is a situation for him to judge.
“He has reached a conclusion and we must all now focus on continuing to beat this dreadful pandemic.”
Scotland’s Health Secretary said Cummings’s actions risked confusion around the rules.
Without referring to him by name, Jeane Freeman used the daily briefing to restate the rules on self-isolation if you have symptoms, stating you shouldn’t leave home “for any reason”.
Freeman said the rules on self-isolation “may have become confused by events elsewhere in the UK” in the past 24 hours.
Asked if Cummings should resign, Freeman said: “My concern is to make sure people in Scotland understand what the message is.
“My worry is that public health message becomes confused and they think maybe it doesn’t matter anymore.
“What happens to any individual currently working for them is entirely a matter for them.”
Freeman said people self-isolating should not leave home for any purpose – and if you are worried about someone else in the home you should call the helpline.
She said: “Self-isolation is not the same as lockdown.
“You shouldn’t leave the house for any reason.”