ADVISER VISITED PARENTS WHILE SICK WITH VIRUS
DURHAM’S acting police commissioner has slammed Dominic Cummings as Downing Street backed the Prime Minister’s adviser amid calls for him to be sacked or resign.
A political storm erupedt after it was revealed that Boris Johnson’s right-hand man travelled from his home in London to his native County Durham during lockdown to stay with his parents while he and his wife were infected with Covid-19.
There is intense pressure on Mr Cummings to quit after an explosive investigation by two national newspapers, the Daily Mirror and The Guardian, revealed the breach.
But Downing Street and key cabinet figures have thrown their weight behind the former Vote Leave chief, with transport minister Grant Shapps stating at yesterday’s Downing Street press briefing that Durham-born Mr Cummings had the full support of the Prime Minister.
This comes as Durham’s acting police and crime commissioner, Steve White, said Mr Cummings had been “most unwise”.
Mr White, who replaced the late Ron Hogg when he first became ill, said: “In relation to the incident where Dominic Cummings visited Durham during lockdown Durham Constabulary acted appropriately.
“Given the whole ethos of the guidance and regulations issued from the Government was to reduce the spread, regardless of reason, by travelling to County Durham when known to be infected was most unwise.
“To beat this crisis we need to be selfless as millions have been. The response by the people of County Durham and Darlington have been exemplary, which makes this most frustrating and concerning.”
Yesterday, a spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: “On Tuesday, March 31, our officers were made aware of reports that an individual had travelled from London to Durham and was present at an address in the city.
“Officers made contact with the owners of that address who confirmed that the individual in question was present and was self-isolating in part of the house.
“In line with national policing guidance, officers explained to the family the guidelines around selfisolation and reiterated the appropriate advice around essential travel”.
However, Downing Street disputes that Mr Cummings was spoken to by police and that he broke the law. A spokesman said: “At no
stage was he or his family spoken to by the police about this matter.
“His actions were in line with coronavirus guidelines.”
Several North East MPS have voiced their opinion after the story about Cummings’ lockdown movements came to light.
Labour North Durham MP Kevan Jones told the Sunday Sun: “If he was self-isolating with symptoms, having worked with the Prime Minister who had the virus, it would appear pretty reckless to travel 270 miles to stay with relatives.”
Chi Onwurah, Labour Newcastle Central MP, said: “I think most people in the North East will be shocked and upset to learn that a Government adviser and his wife drove hundreds of miles to bring the virus to the North East, a region where poverty and health inequalities, some a result of Government policies, mean the coronavirus has a disproportionately deadly impact.”
Mary Foy, Labour MP for Durham City, said: “It seems to me that Dominic Cummings has a worrying hold over Boris Johnson and the Government. He’s seemingly been given special dispensation to join coronavirus advisory committees, while clearly advocating a herd immunity theory that delayed action from the Prime Minister’s office – and now we see him clearly flouting coronavirus rules to travel across the country while suffering from Covid-19 symptoms.”
Ian Mearns, Labour MP for Gateshead, added: “I find it quite galling that his wife tried to paint a smoke screen by writing in the Spectator how wonderful he was looking after her and then go on Radio Four saying the same thing but failed to say they travelled to Durham to deposit a child. They have that ‘do as I say, not as I do’ attitude.”
A Number 10 spokesman said: “Owing to his wife being infected with suspected coronavirus and the high likelihood that he would himself become unwell, it was essential for Dominic Cummings to ensure his young child could be properly cared for.”
Mr Cummings, speaking to reporters outside his London home on yesterday, said he had acted “reasonably and legally”.
When a reporter suggested that the trip to Durham did not look good, he replied: “Who cares about good looks?”