Jenrick ‘within rules to deliver medicine’

THE Housing Secretary seemed to act “within the guidelines” by visiting his elderly parents, a health chief has said.

Paul Cosford, emeritus director of Public Health England (PHE), said it sounded like Robert Jenrick had remained within the four “clear” guidelines by travelling 40 miles to deliver medicine and other essential items.

Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-symonds said it was “very important for public confidence” that Mr Jenrick explained himself, but that if the Housing Secretary had delivered medicine to his parents, “clearly ... it fits within the four exceptions”.

While the Government’s guidelines state you should not visit anyone who lives outside your own home, including elderly relatives, you are allowed to “leave your house to help them, for example by dropping shopping or medication at their door”.

Mr Jenrick previously defended his decision to visit his parents, saying in a tweet: “For clarity – my parents asked me to deliver some essentials – including medicines.

“They are both self-isolating due to age and my father’s medical condition and I respected social distancing rules.”

The Daily Mail reported Mr Jenrick had travelled from his residence in London to a “second home” in Herefordshire during the lockdown, which he told the paper was what he considered to be his “family home”.

He is said to have travelled to his parents’ house in Shropshire from the Herefordshire address.

Speaking to Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Cosford said: “Our guidelines are quite clear. I’m not going to comment on any individual whoever they are, but our guidelines are quite clear.

“We need to stay at home except in one of four different circumstances.”