Rosie Duffield: Labour MP steps down as whip after admitting lockdown breach

A Labour MP is no longer in a frontbench role after breaking lockdown rules, Sky News understands.

Rosie Duffield, MP for Canterbury, has apologised and stood down as Labour whip after she met her partner while they were living separately.

According to the Mail on Sunday, she met her married partner for a long walk in April. She also did not deny he had visited her constituency house.

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This happened before the lockdown was eased to allow meetings between people from different households.

In a statement, Ms Duffield said: "My partner and I have been attempting to navigate a difficult personal situation as responsibly as possible. I apologise that during that process, we breached the guidelines."

She continued: "A relationship breakdown is difficult at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic.

"I hope people can understand why I took the steps I did and know that I take responsibility for the breaches that occurred and for which I apologise."

Ms Duffield, 48, told the Mail the pair had stayed two metres apart during their meeting.

They are now thought to be living in the same property after her partner separated from his wife.

It follows calls for top Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings to resign after he faced allegations he breached lockdown rules.

Police said he may have committed a "minor breach" of the restrictions after he drove from London to Durham, and then to nearby Barnard Castle, in April.

Mr Cummings faced questions from journalists during a lengthy news conference earlier this week, and said he did not regret what he did.

He said he had "not considered" resigning despite calls from at least 40 Tory MPs to step down.

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