CUMMINGS AND GOINGS
Dominic Cummings accused of breaking lockdown THREE TIMES to see family 260 miles from his home
DOMINIC Cummings has been accused of breaking the lockdown THREE TIMES to see his family 260 miles from his London home.
Boris Johnson's chief adviser is today facing calls to be investigated after driving his wife and child to his parents' home in Durham at the end of March before allegedly being spotted at a beauty spot twice over April.
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The latest bombshell claims call into question Downing Street's statements backing Cummings after it emerged he travelled 260 miles to the property owned by his parents in late-March.
Another witness claimed he saw Cummings at a beauty spot 30 miles away when he says he was self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms on April 12, according to .
And he was again claimed to have been seen walking with his family in Durham a week later.
Today Transport Secretary Grant Shapps insisted the claims Mr Cummings broke the rules twice were "not true".
He told Sky News: "I certainly know that the first one you mention, of travelling back up (to Durham), I know that is not true.
"I'm afraid I don't know (about Barnard Castle) but if that date was true that would have been outside the 14-day period. But I'm afraid I don't have the information on that.
"But I do know it is not the case that he has travelled backwards and forwards, which seemed to be a major part of the stories I saw in the paper today."
Under pressure to sack his most senior lieutenant, Boris Johnson vowed he would not "throw him to the dogs", the report adds.
And says PM Johnson told allies: "It's not like he was visiting a lover" - a reference to scientific adviser Neil Ferguson who had to quit .
Boris told friends: “Dominic acted within the guidance and was simply caring for his family. I now consider the matter to be closed.”
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'ONE RULE FOR HIM'
But Cummings was hit by another blow as police insisted they did speak to his family - contradicting Downing Street's denial.
Cummings, the architect of the victorious Vote Leave campaign, was photographed in Downing Street on April 14 after returning to work following his recovery from suspected coronavirus.
But it is now alleged he travelled back to the North East days later.
Walkers said they were shocked when they saw him with his wife in Houghall Woods on April 19, the reports.
One resident who was not named claimed the political strategist said as he walked past: “Aren’t the bluebells lovely?”
The witness told the Mirror: "We thought ‘What double standards, one rule for him as a senior adviser to the Prime Minister and another for the rest of us’.”
A second eyewitness told the he also saw Cummings a week earlier on Easter Sunday at Barnard Castle, a popular tourist location 30 miles away from Durham.
Robin Lees, 70, a retired chemistry teacher from the town, said: “I was a bit gobsmacked to see him, because I know what he looks like.
"And the rest of the family seemed to match - a wife and child. I was pretty convinced it was him and it didn’t seem right because I assumed he would be in London.”
Cummings last night told 10 Downing Street reports he made a second trip north were “totally false”.
He left Durham for London on Easter Monday, April 13, .
Downing Street hit back at the “inaccurate” reports in the left-wing papers.
A spokesman said: “Yesterday the Mirror and Guardian wrote inaccurate stories about Mr Cummings.
“Today they are writing more inaccurate stories including claims that Mr Cummings returned to Durham after returning to work in Downing Street on 14 April.
“We will not waste our time answering a stream of false allegations about Mr Cummings from campaigning newspapers.”
It came as Durham Constabulary last night confirmed they did speak to Cummings' father about his alleged lockdown breach.
The force said: “On Tuesday, March 31, our officers were made aware that Dominic Cummings had travelled from London to Durham and was present at an address in the city.
“At the request of Mr Cummings’ father, an officer made contact the following morning by telephone.
“During that conversation, Mr Cummings’ father confirmed that his son had travelled with his family from London to the North-East and was self-isolating in part of the property.
“Durham Constabulary deemed that no further action was required. However, the officer did provide advice in relation to security issues.”
Earlier No10 denied that police had spoken to anyone in Cummings' family.
A statement on Saturday morning said: "At no stage was he or his family spoken to by the police about this matter, as is being reported.
"His actions were in line with coronavirus guidelines."
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also said the denial was "black and white" when asked about it at the Downing St briefing on Saturday afternoon.
Shapps led a rearguard defence of Cummings after a series of ministers had tweeted support.
He said Cummings had not broken the rules because he had "stayed put for 14 days", having preempted his own illness once his wife showed symptoms.
But opposition politicians have called for the 48-year-old to resign or be sacked.
After being backed by No10, Mr Cummings told reporters outside his home in London: "I behaved reasonably and legally."
Asked if his trip to Durham during lockdown "looked good", he added: “Who cares about good looks? It’s a question of doing the right thing. It’s not about what you guys think.”
An official statement from Downing Street said Cummings didn't break government guidance because he and his wife, journalist Mary Wakefield, stayed in a different building.
After the latest claims, acting Lib Dem leader Ed Davey heaped pressure on Boris Johnson to sack his top adviser, tweeting: "If Cummings hasn't gone by the morning, it will be @BorisJohnson in the firing line."
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said: "These fresh claims are extraordinary.
“If true, they raise serious questions for Dominic Cummings - and over Boris Johnson's judgment.
"The Prime Minister must come out of hiding, sack Mr Cummings, and then answer for his own role in this mess and the Downing Street cover-up.
Mr Cummings reportedly travelled to Durham so his parents could help with child care while he and his wife had Covid-19 symptoms.
Yet, it has been claimed that he continued to look after his son while he was staying in the North East of England.
He contracted coronavirus at the end of March. At the time Downing Street claimed he was holed up in his London home.
A week later, on April 5, a neighbour spotted Mr Cummings in his garden in Durham with his son running around to Abba’s Dancing Queen.
DOWNING STREET STATEMENT
No 10:"Owing to his wife being infected with suspected coronavirus and the high likelihood that he would himself become unwell, it was essential for Dominic Cummings to ensure his young child could be properly cared for.
"His sister and nieces had volunteered to help so he went to a house near to but separate from his extended family in case their help was needed.
"His sister shopped for the family and left everything outside.
"At no stage was he or his family spoken to by the police about this matter, as is being reported.
"His actions were in line with coronavirus guidelines. Mr Cummings believes he behaved reasonably and legally."
POLICE CONTRADICTION
Durham Police spokesman: “On Tuesday, March 31, our officers were made aware that Dominic Cummings had travelled from London to Durham and was present at an address in the city.
“At the request of Mr Cummings’ father, an officer made contact the following morning by telephone.
“During that conversation, Mr Cummings’ father confirmed that his son had travelled with his family from London to the North-East and was self-isolating in part of the property."
Acting Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner, Steve White, called Mr Cummings' decision "most unwise".
It came after No10 insisted police had not been contacted.
A statement on Saturday morning said: "At no stage was he or his family spoken to by the police about this matter, as is being reported.
"His actions were in line with coronavirus guidelines."
His actions go against government advice, which became law on March 26, which stated: “You should not be visiting family members who do not live in your home.”
Only in exceptional circumstances were people allowed to attend relatives' addresses; for example, to drop off food or medicine to their door.
A YouGov poll found that 68 per cent of voters think Mr Cummings broke lockdown rules, while just 18 per cent disagreed.
And a majority of those questioned, 52 per cent, they think the PM's top aide should resign because of the scandal.
Durham Constabulary said they had spoken to Mr Cummings’ parents about his visit in late-March.
But senior Tory officials have come out in support of Mr Cummings.
Minister Michael Gove tweeted: "Caring for your wife and child is not a crime."
Chancellor Rishi Sunak also wrote on social media: "Taking care of your wife and young child is justifiable and reasonable, trying to score political points over it isn’t."
Dominic Raab posted: "It’s reasonable and fair to ask for an explanation on this.
"And it has been provided: two parents with coronavirus, were anxiously taking care of their young child.
"Those now seeking to politicise it should take a long hard look in the mirror."
MOST READ IN NEWS
Labour has, along with the SNP and the Liberal Democrats, written to Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill demanding an inquiry into what happened.
The Labour source said: "If these latest revelations are true, why on earth were Cabinet ministers sent out this afternoon to defend Dominic Cummings?
"We need an urgent investigation by the Cabinet Secretary to get to the bottom of this matter.
"It cannot be right that there is one rule for the Prime Minister's adviser and another for the British people."
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