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| Dominic Cummings: What did he do during lockdown? | Dominic Cummings: What did he do during lockdown? |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's most senior adviser, Dominic Cummings, has given an account of his movements during the lockdown period. | UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's most senior adviser, Dominic Cummings, has given an account of his movements during the lockdown period. |
| He's been accused of breaking the rules on travel, but Mr Johnson has given his full backing, saying his adviser acted "responsibly, legally and with integrity" and that he acted "with the overwhelming aim of stopping the spread of this virus". | He's been accused of breaking the rules on travel, but Mr Johnson has given his full backing, saying his adviser acted "responsibly, legally and with integrity" and that he acted "with the overwhelming aim of stopping the spread of this virus". |
| What are the claims? | What are the claims? |
| We know the PM's chief aide drove 260 miles from his London home to his parents' estate in County Durham at the height of restrictions in March. | We know the PM's chief aide drove 260 miles from his London home to his parents' estate in County Durham at the height of restrictions in March. |
| But allegations in the Observer and Sunday Mirror said the former Vote Leave boss did not stay indoors while unwell in Durham, and also, that he made another trip there after returning to London in April. | But allegations in the Observer and Sunday Mirror said the former Vote Leave boss did not stay indoors while unwell in Durham, and also, that he made another trip there after returning to London in April. |
| In a press conference in the garden of 10 Downing Street, Mr Cummings confirmed the first of these claims, saying there were justifiable reasons for not staying indoors, but he categorically denied he returned to Durham for a second time. | |
| What do we now know? | What do we now know? |
| What else did Mr Cummings say? | What else did Mr Cummings say? |
| Mr Cummings insisted he did not break the law, saying: "I believe that in all the circumstances I behaved reasonably and legally, balancing the safety of my family and the extreme situation in Number 10." | Mr Cummings insisted he did not break the law, saying: "I believe that in all the circumstances I behaved reasonably and legally, balancing the safety of my family and the extreme situation in Number 10." |
| He said "I don't regret what I did" and added that "the rules make clear that if you are dealing with small children that can be exceptional circumstances and the situation I was in was exceptional circumstances". | He said "I don't regret what I did" and added that "the rules make clear that if you are dealing with small children that can be exceptional circumstances and the situation I was in was exceptional circumstances". |
| What has Boris Johnson said? | What has Boris Johnson said? |
| At the Downing Street briefing following Mr Cummings' press conference, Boris Johnson reiterated his support for his aide's actions, saying he'd acted "legally and reasonably". | At the Downing Street briefing following Mr Cummings' press conference, Boris Johnson reiterated his support for his aide's actions, saying he'd acted "legally and reasonably". |
| "People will have to make their minds up," Mr Johnson said. "To me he comes across as someone who cares a great deal for his family. I don't think reasonable people can disagree with his motivations." | "People will have to make their minds up," Mr Johnson said. "To me he comes across as someone who cares a great deal for his family. I don't think reasonable people can disagree with his motivations." |
| Asked whether Mr Cummings had his unconditional support, the prime minister said "I can't give any unconditional backing to anybody, but I do not believe that anybody in No 10 has done anything to undermine our messaging." | Asked whether Mr Cummings had his unconditional support, the prime minister said "I can't give any unconditional backing to anybody, but I do not believe that anybody in No 10 has done anything to undermine our messaging." |
| What are others saying? | What are others saying? |
| Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for a Cabinet Office inquiry, saying Mr Johnson had "failed a huge test" in not sacking Mr Cummings and was "treating the British public with contempt". | Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for a Cabinet Office inquiry, saying Mr Johnson had "failed a huge test" in not sacking Mr Cummings and was "treating the British public with contempt". |
| Both the SNP and Liberal Democrats have said Mr Cummings should go, and have also written to the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill, calling for an investigation. | Both the SNP and Liberal Democrats have said Mr Cummings should go, and have also written to the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill, calling for an investigation. |
| Scotland's First Minister and leader of the SNP Nicola Sturgeon said she believed Mr Cummings should step down in a similar way to Scottish chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood, who resigned after visiting her second home. | Scotland's First Minister and leader of the SNP Nicola Sturgeon said she believed Mr Cummings should step down in a similar way to Scottish chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood, who resigned after visiting her second home. |
| Around 20 Conservative MPs have said publicly that Mr Cummings should resign or be sacked, according to BBC Research. | Around 20 Conservative MPs have said publicly that Mr Cummings should resign or be sacked, according to BBC Research. |
| Many members of the cabinet, including Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak have tweeted their support for Mr Cummings. | Many members of the cabinet, including Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak have tweeted their support for Mr Cummings. |
| Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said on Monday morning that Mr Cummings had "set out absolutely clearly and absolutely categorically he didn't break the rules and didn't break the law". | Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said on Monday morning that Mr Cummings had "set out absolutely clearly and absolutely categorically he didn't break the rules and didn't break the law". |