Advertisement

Boris Johnson facing an open revolt as more than 30 Tory MPs call for Dominic Cummings to go

PA
PA

Boris Johnson was today hit by an open revolt over his decision not to sack Dominic Cummings over his trip to Durham at the height of the Covid-19 lockdown.

A growing number of Tory backbenchers were calling for the Prime Minister’s top aide to be axed as:

  • A poll showed support for the Government in a nosedive.

  • A second survey found more people now believed Mr Cummings should go than did before his lengthy press conference in the garden of No10 yesterday.

  • A junior minister quit in dismay over the refusal to sack the top aide.

  • A former Chief Whip and several ex-ministers joined the rebellion.

  • The coronavirus death toll in the UK rose above 47,000.

Cabinet ministers led by Michael Gove had rallied around Mr Cummings to try to shore up his position.

Under fire: Dominic Cummings (Photo: Peter Summers/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Under fire: Dominic Cummings (Photo: Peter Summers/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

But this operation was torpedoed this morning by the resignation of Scottish Office minister Douglas Ross who said he could not “in good faith” defend the controversial top aide’s behaviour.

Mr Cummings is accused of flouting the Government’s own guidelines by driving 260 miles from his home in London, which was at the centre of the coronavirus epidemic, to a cottage on his parents farm estate in County Durham after his wife contracted Covid-19 symptoms.

Under the Government guidelines, families are supposed to stay at home for 14 days if they have the disease unless there were extreme circumstances.

After recovering, he then drove around 30 miles on Easter Sunday, his wife’s birthday, to and back from the beauty spot of Barnard Castle , a trip he said was to test his eyesight so he was sure he could safely drive back to London to return to work.

Mr Cummings insists he did not break the rules and that he acted responsibly in doing what was best for his four-year-old son as family would be able to support them if necessary when they were staying in a building close to his parents home.

But by mid-afternoon, at least 33 Tory MPs in recent days had urged Mr Cummings to stand down, with many repeating their call since he did his press conference, and disquiet in the party going far wider.

Former Culture Secretary and Attorney General Jeremy Wright wrote on his website: "I know how difficult it is to serve in Government but I also know that, fairly or unfairly, your actions are subject to greater scrutiny and have greater consequences.

"What is most important at this point is that Government can give clear messages about how to defeat the virus and that everyone feels motivated to do their best to help. This is more important than the position of any individual in Downing Street and therefore, fairly or unfairly, I have concluded that it would be better for Mr Cummings to leave his position at Downing Street."

Sir Bob Neill tweeted: "I am in the process of responding to everyone who has emailed me concerning Dominic Cummings. I have also posted a statement on my website setting out my views on why he should now step down from his post, a message I have passed on to colleagues in Govt."

Jackie Doyle-Price, a former health minister, wrote: "Frankly this has been a very embarrassing episode for the Government. To bring this sorry chapter to an end I am afraid Mr Cummings has to go."

Elliot Colburn, Conservative MP for Carshalton and Wallington, said he had written to the Prime Minister calling for Mr Cummings to resign, saying: "I feel it necessary to stress the importance of continued public trust and engagement with the measures being taken to overcome this crisis."

Douglas Ross (PA)
Douglas Ross (PA)

Former Chief Whip Mark Harper said he would “expect an adviser who had damaged the credibility of the Government’s central message so badly and had become the story to consider their position”.

Former Treasury minister Harriett Baldwin also called on Mr Cummings to quit, saying: “The Government relies on moral authority to receive the consent of the people to such draconian reductions in their freedoms.”

Ex-transport minister Robert Goodwill, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said he had been contacted by over 400 constituents who, with one or two exceptions, have been critical of Mr Cummings.

“The best way for the Prime Minister, who I’m a massive fan of, to show he’s in charge of the situation is to relieve himself of Mr Cummings’s services,” he added.

Veteran MP Sir Roger Gale who said that the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee should make it clear to the Prime Minister that Mr Cummings should go.

“There are people on the 1922 executive who are courageous, and that’s their job,” said the North Thanet MP.

In withering criticism of the Cabinet, William Wragg, chairman of the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee, said that it was “humiliating and degrading” to see ministers put out agreed lines in defence of Mr Cummings.

He stressed: “We cannot throw away valuable public and political good will any longer...”

Former health minister Stephen Hammond said: “Public adherence to the rules is achieved by consent in this country and that is made much harder if people feel it is one rule for them and another for senior Government advisers.”

Brexiteer Philip Davies, MP for Shipley, stressed: “However, rightly or wrongly, it is clear that as far as the overwhelming majority of the public are concerned they feel that there is now one rule for them and one rule for those in authority. That cannot be allowed to stand.”

Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker tweeted: “You can’t advise the PM who advises the nation and then find a loophole for yourself.”

Tory MP Caroline Nokes, chairwoman of the Commons women and equalities committee, messaged: “There cannot be one rule for most of us and wriggle room for others.”

Conservative MP for Rugby Mark Pawsey said Mr Cummings had “acted very much against the spirit of the lockdown rules” and should be sacked.

Tory veteran MP Sir David Amess, who represents Southend West, has raised his concerns over Mr Cummings’s conduct with party whips.

Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw also said that Mr Cummings should now be considering his position.

North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker said Mr Cummings had broken “the spirit if not the letter” of the official advice.

East Devon MP Simon Jupp said he had felt “anger, disappointment and frustration” during the “deeply unhelpful distraction”.

Conservative MP for Eastleigh Paul Holmes said: “Mr Cummings has made errors of judgement”.

However, Mr Gove sought to mount a strong defence of the senior aide, arguing he had given an account of his actions which was “exhaustive, detailed and verifiable”.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said it was time for the Government to “move on” and continue to focus on fighting the virus, with a number of 2019 intake MPs also being supportive.

Dominic Cummings in Downing Street (AP)
Dominic Cummings in Downing Street (AP)

Ben Everitt, the new MP for Milton Keynes North, wrote on his website: “Do I think that Mr Cummings should resign? On balance, probably no.”

James Wild the new MP for North West Norfolk described Mr Cummings’ actions as “understandable and reasonable”.

Claire Coutinho, who was elected to represent East Surrey in 2019, added: “I’m not saying his actions were perfect but I do think the rules allowed for this.”

However, a YouGov poll found that 71 per cent of adults say Mr Cummings did break lockdown, compared to 68 per cent when this question was asked on Saturday, while 59 per cent believe he should resign, up from 52 per cent.

A separate @SavantaGroup/@SavantaComRes Covid-19 daily tracker found overall Government approval was now minus two per cent, dropping 16 points in a day, with Mr Johnson’s approval rating at minus one, having been +19% four days.

Read more

Police: Public using Cummings' actions as excuse to breach lockdown

PM's approval ratings drop as he reiterates support for Cummings-LIVE

Downing Street backs Cummings despite Boris’ popularity plummeting

Snap poll suggests two-thirds of Brits think PM's top aide broke rules

Dominic Cummings is testing the loyalty of valuable new Tory voters

Johnson's popularity takes a hit amid public backing of Cummings