Calls are intensifying from across the political spectrum for the Prime Minister’s aide Dominic Cummings to resign or be sacked.
Boris Johnson has defended his employee’s decision to drive from London to Durham at the start of the coronvirus lockdown despite his wife having symptoms of the virus.
The Prime Minister is set to face questions from MPs on the liaison committee this afternoon, and the Dominic Cummings issue will be among the topics for discussion.
A growing number of Conservative MPs have stood up in protest against Mr Cummings’ actions, and the subsequent failure of the Prime Minister to oust his aide.
But those at the top of the Conservative Party have so far made statements in support of the Prime Minster’s adviser, with Michael Gove even stating that he had himself once driven in order to check his eyesight.
The Labour Party in South East Cornwall has writen to MP Sheryll Murray asking her to publicly condemn the behaviour of Mr Cummings, which it describes as ’an insult to every person who died alone; to every person fighting to save lives; to every person who couldn’t attend a funeral; and to every person calling their elderly parents to check in every day, because they dare not visit them directly.’
Meanwhile the Liberal Democrat group on Cornwall Council says it feels all six of Cornwall’s MPs should be calling for Dominic Cummings to be sacked.
In a letter to her constituency MP George Eustice, Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle Florence MacDonald said: ’’We have all seen a great deal in the news about the movements of Dominic Cummings which contradicts government advice. To be honest, this has taken up far too much of the government’s time, which should be focused on saving lives. The unnecessary theatrics could have been avoided if his actions had been responded to swiftly and appropriately in the first instance.’
Readers of The Cornish Times have got in touch to say that they have asked their MP Sheryll Murray to state her views on the matter.
One of these was Peter Sharp of Harrowbarrow, whose letter to Mrs Murray said: ’ Imagine if two million people had ’followed their instincts’ and travalled 260 miles knowing the virus was in the car.
’I am very disappointed that you have not come out in support of your colleagues calling for him (Mr Cummings) to go.
’I believe the cabinet secretary should conduct an inquiry whether he goes or not. Durham police are now investigating but I want to know your position on this.’
The Cornish Times has requested a comment from MP for South East Cornwall Sheryll Murray but has not yet received a reply.