Time to move on, says Mercer
PLYMOUTH Tory MP Johnny Mercer says he shares the “anguish” of people who have complained to him about the lockdown trip of the prime minister’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings.
But he said in a statement he supported the prime minister who had decided to keep Mr Cummings in his job and it was time to move on.
Around 40 Conservative MPs, according to the BBC, have joined calls for the adviser to go after his 260-mile trip from London to County Durham with his family to self-isolate after his wife developed Covid-19 symptoms.
Mr Mercer, Conservative MP for Moor View, issued a statement on Wednesday night saying he understood the “indignation” shown in Plymouth and across the country about the episode.
He indicated he was unhappy with how it had been handled at a time when people had been making “immense personal sacrifices”.
But he said the decision on Mr Cummings’ future was a matter for the prime minister and it was time to move on.
Mr Mercer said: “The PM has made his position clear, and I cannot work out what is to be gained by joining the thrall when we have so much other work to do. I support the PM. He has done more for Plymouth and the causes I fight for than any of his predecessors – fact.”
Mr Mercer, the Minister for Defence People and Veterans, said he could not see how “wading in” to the discussion would advance his aims of bringing improvements for the people of Plymouth and his objectives in Government on behalf of armed forces veterans.
He said: “My views are clear – I have read all of your emails, messages, social media comments and answerphone messages, some of which have been wildly abusive and clearly co-ordinated.
“I share your anguish. I have had very forthright conversations with people in Government; I have indeed spoken to the Prime Minister. But for me it has always been about change – what can I do to change people’s lives – not sound-off, or virtue-signal, but how can I actually effect change in people’s lives, and I cannot honestly see how not moving on from this now can advance any of my objectives for the people I am trying to serve.”
The prime minister said he understood “the confusion, anger and pain” felt by people over the episode, but added that Mr Cummings had acted “reasonably” and with “integrity and care for others”.
Conservative MP for South
West Devon Sir Gary Streeter said he changed his mind about calling for Dominic Cummings to be sacked after hearing him explain his actions.
CORNISH model Lucie Donlan has broken new ground – shooting her latest assignment on her phone.
Former Love Island contestant Lucie shot the Knickerbox Planet collection for Ann Summers on her iPhone, from her home on Fistral Beach in Cornwall.
The collection has been designed with a sustainability journey at the forefront. Lace used in the collection has been created with 100% recycled fibres and biodegradable packaging.
Lucie said: “I’d never heard of anything like it before! There’s a quote that I love, which is ‘sustainability is here to stay, or we may not be’, and it’s so true. We need to be doing this kind of thing now for future generations.”
On the actions Lucie takes to live a more sustainable lifestyle, she says: “Being a surfer, I know how much plastic affects the ocean.
“I walk across the beach every day and there are so many micro-plastics washing up, which fish and seals eat accidentally. Anything I can to be more sustainable, even the smallest things, I’ll do.”