Rugby MP says Dominic Cummings 'acted against the spirit of lockdown rules' and calls for him to resign

Rugby MP Mark Pawsey has called on Government adviser Dominic Cummings to resign after controversy over his conduct during the lockdown.

Mr Cummings has been the subject of criticism after it was revealed that he made several trips, including a 260-mile journey to Durham and a 60-mile round-trip to a tourist attraction.

Yesterday, Monday May 25, Mr Cummings held a press conference at Downing Street, where he attempted to justify the journeys and stated he had no intention of resigning.

Responding in an open letter posted this morning, Mr Pawsey said a substantial number of Rugby residents had contacted him to ask his views on Mr Cummings' conduct.

In the letter, Mr Pawsey states: "I wanted to wait until all the facts were available and to hear Mr Cummings’ account of events before drawing my own conclusions.

"Having listened to him on Monday, I have much sympathy with him and for the decisions he made which he believed were best for his family.

"However, he took those actions in the context of being in the public eye, and of being a senior advisor to the Government during a crisis which has affected all of us.

"On the basis of what I heard, it is clear that while he believed he was acting within the letter of the law, he did the wrong thing and acted very much against the spirit of the lockdown rules.

"These are rules which so many ordinary people across the country have abided by.

"Furthermore, he has not expressed any regret for the damage his actions have caused to the Government, or to the sense of collective effort in staying at home, protecting the NHS and saving lives.

"Many constituents have pointed out that if everyone had behaved as Mr Cummings did, the success of our lockdown policy would have been undermined.

"Almost every one of them has set out, sometimes in heart breaking detail, the personal sacrifices that they have made during the immensely challenging months since the coronavirus outbreak.

"As such, I believe that it is wrong that Mr Cummings remains in an important post in Government.

"I had hoped that he would tender his resignation of his own accord.

"As he has failed to do so, I now believe it is right for the Prime Minister to ask for his resignation.

"This is a position that I have communicated to my colleagues within the Conservative Party and the Government.

"It is vital that public confidence must not be undermined by this episode."

Visit markpawsey.org.uk to read Mr Pawsey's letter in full.