More than a dozen Tory MPs, bishops and NHS staff are among those demanding Dominic Cummings is sacked – but the Isle of Wight’s MP says he is not commenting, despite calls for him to do so.
So far, 15 Conservative MPs have called for the resignation of the Prime Minister’s aide, after it was revealed he had travelled 260 miles to his parents’ home during lockdown.
They include former ministers Steve Baker, Caroline Nokes and Tim Loughton.
When asked for his thoughts on the matter, the Island’s MP Bob Seely told Isle of Wight Radio that “he is 100% focused on the Island”.
He says he is not following his Conservative colleagues in commenting, despite calls for him to do so.
My MP @IoWBobSeely has tweeted nothing about the biggest story in the country in the last 36 hours.
— Vix Lowthion 💚 (@VixL) May 24, 2020
Is he hedging his bets?
We need leadership right now - not cowards.
Island Labour has also called on Mr Seely to push for his sacking. Chair, Julian Critchley, said:
“If we accept a situation where there is one law for the little people, but another for the powerful elite, then it is an end to our rules-based society. The implications are enormous.
“Bob Seely has rightly been consistent in calling for islanders to observe social distancing and follow the lockdown rules. We have supported him in that. Now we ask him to support all islanders who have made the sacrifices which Cummings felt didn’t apply to him, and demand Cummings’s immediate sacking.”
Church of England bishops have accused the PM of treating people “as mugs” and with “no respect” after he stuck by his chief adviser.
In an address to the nation yesterday (Sunday), Boris Johnson said Mr Cummings acted “responsibly, legally and with integrity”.
That was echoed by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who this morning (Monday) said he “absolutely” believes he did not break lockdown rules.
Mr Cummings has, to date, been accused of travelling on two trips to Durham.
The Government has defended him by saying the first trip – which he has admitted to – was necessary because both he and his wife had symptoms of coronavirus.
Downing Street says he needed family to help with childcare for their four-year-old son.
*UPDATED 3.26PM
*Bob Seely has issued a statement to Isle of Wight Radio regarding the row which has unravelled over the weekend, over whether or not Cummings broke lockdown rules in March:
Mr Seely said:
“I appreciate some constituents feel strongly on this issue, and a small number have contacted me. I have passed these views onto the Government in Westminster. I will be responding to these emails received over the coming days.
“We need to collectively respect the rules and the reasons for them. Individuals and families up and down the country are exercising their own judgment on a daily basis. As part of this, people may occasionally err, and sometimes act in a way which others consider inappropriate.
“If there was persistent ignoring of rules, that is one thing, but in a one-off incident or a simple error of judgement, I would prefer to use a little understanding and a sense of forgiveness. I would do so regardless whether someone was a political opponent or ally.
“Dominic Cummings explanation seemed entirely reasonable, so I hope we can now move on. There are significant and important things that we need to focus on. Dominic Cummings’ understandable attempts to look after his family is not one of them.
“My focus will remain on the Island: liaising with a wide range of organisations (including the leadership of the Isle of Wight Council) about our ongoing response to coronavirus, and how best to support residents and businesses; securing Government support for the Island (such as funding for a rail feasibility study); and continuing to handle casework received from constituents.”
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