Boris Johnson defends Dominic Cummings after 'lockdown breach' as he claims top aide acted with 'integrity'

Katy Clifton24 May 2020

Boris Johnson has defended Dominic Cummings after he faced allegations of breaking the lockdown.

The Prime Minister said he believed the top aide "followed the instincts of every parent", adding: "I believe that in every respect he has acted responsibly and legally and with integrity."

Conservative MPs had been baying for Mr Johnson to dispense with Mr Cummings after it emerged he had travelled 260 miles to County Durham in March to self-isolate with his family while official guidelines warned against long-distance journeys.

Further reports also suggested he took a second trip to the North East in April, having already returned to London.

Speaking at the Downing Street press briefing, Mr Johnson said he has had "extensive face-to-face conversations with Dominic Cummings" after the reports emerged.

He added: "I have concluded that in travelling to find the right kind of childcare, at the moment when both he and his wife were about to be incapacitated by coronavirus – and when he had no alternative – I think he followed the instincts of every father and every parent. And I do not mark him down for that.”

Mr Johnson said that “some” of the allegations about his top aide’s behaviour during self-isolation were “palpably false”.

“Though there have been many other allegations about what happened when he was in self-isolation and thereafter, some of them palpably false, I believe that in every respect he has acted responsibly and legally and with integrity and with the overwhelming aim of stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives," he said.

When asked why Mr Cummings needed to travel to Durham when he has now said that his family did not care for his son, Mr Johnson said: “The guidance makes it very clear that where you have particular childcare needs that has got to be taken into account.”

Boris Johnson in Downing Street
PA

He added: “I have seen a lot of stuff in the last few days about this episode of self-isolation by Mr Cummings that does not seem to correspond remotely with reality.

“As far as I can see he stuck to the rules and he acted legally and responsibly with the sole objective of avoiding such contact as would spread the virus.

“His object was to stop the spread of the virus and he behaved in such a way as to do that.”

A number of MPs criticised the Prime Minister's decision to defend Mr Cummings, with the SNP's Ian Blackford saying the decision "displays a failure of leadership and undermines his own public health messages".

Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley accused Mr Johnson of being “dismissive and arrogant”.

He tweeted: “Dismissive and arrogant from the Prime Minister. Cummings did have an alternative.

“No acknowledgement whatsoever that this is undermining confidence in the Government’s Covid-19 response and will cost lives. Cummings must go.”

While former Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron tweeted: “Politically, BJ has just caused colossal, possibly fatal, damage to his Conservative administration…. but he has also undone any attempt to save lives by effective public health messaging.”

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