By Ben Kerrigan
Boris Johnson is facing a revolt within his own party, as ministers call for the sacking of his chief adviser Dominic Cummings.
Since the revelation that Mr. Cummings broke Lockdon rules, 15 Conservative MPs have called for his resignation, following Mr Johnson’s defence on Sunday (May 24).
A joint investigation from the Mirror and The Guardian revealed that Mr Cummings travelled to County Durham in March to self-isolate with his family despite government guidelines that warned against long-distance journeys.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister said Mr.Cummings trip in response to concern about his wife and child were a father’s instinct, and that his response was legal and reasonable, saying that he acted responsibly, legally, and with integrity”.
Mr. Cummings had said he feared that he and his wife would be left unable to care for their son. Further reports also suggested he took a second trip to the North East in April.
However, the prime minister’s defence of his most senior adviser has not fended off criticism over the actions which was considered an ill judgement.
Many from the Conservative party have shared their discomfort with the handling of the Mr Cummings situation including former minister Paul Maynard and Senior Tory MP Simon Hoare.
Mr Hoare told the Daily Mail: “The PM’s performance posed more questions than it answered. Any residual hope that this might die away in the next 24 hours is lost.”
Somerton and Frome MP David Warburton criticised Cummings on BBC Breakfast. He said Mr Cummings was “damaging the Government and the country that he’s supposed to be serving”
He said: “People have made sacrifices, this is a difficult time, this is a time of national crisis.
“In those sacrifices there really hasn’t been the choice to use instinct.
“Instinct hasn’t really been part of it.
“We’ve been tasked with following regulations laid down by the Government.”
Meanwhile Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Prime Ministser had failed a test of leadership, describing his decision to take no action against Mr Cummings was “an insult to sacrifices made by the British people”.
Sir Starmer said he would have sacked Cummings, had he been in the shoes of the Prime Minister
Durnham Police Force has been asked to intervene and provide a formal assessment of the situation.
In a statement, the force’s acting police, crime and victims’ commissioner Steve White said: “I am confident that thus far, Durham police has responded proportionately and appropriately to the issues raised concerning Mr Cummings and his visit to the County at the end of March.”
“It is clear however that there is a plethora of additional information circulating in the public domain which deserves appropriate examination.”
He added: “I have today written to the Chief Constable, asking her to establish the facts concerning any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter at any juncture.”
“It is vital that the force can show it has the interests of the people of County Durham and Darlington at its heart, so that the model of policing by consent, independent of government but answerable to the law, is maintained.”
MP Paul Maynard added to the call for Cummings resignation. He said:
“It is a classic case of ‘do as I say, not as I do’ – and it is not as if he was unfamiliar with guidance he himself helped draw up,” he said.
“It seems to me to be utterly indefensible and his position wholly untenable.”
It is the second time the UK prime minister’s adviser has landed in trouble for action considered improper.
In February, 2020, one of the prime minister’s advisers, Andrew Sabisky, was forced to resign after it was revealed he once said black Americans have a lower average IQ than white Americans and had discussed the benefits of forced contraception.
However, the condemnation of Cummings is far less serious than the offensive words stated by Sabisky at the time.