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| UK coronavirus live: Tory MPs call for Dominic Cummings to go | UK coronavirus live: Tory MPs call for Dominic Cummings to go |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Seven Conservative MPs call for advisor to resign amid revelations of further breaches of lockdown rules | Seven Conservative MPs call for advisor to resign amid revelations of further breaches of lockdown rules |
| This from my colleague Claire Phipps: | |
| ITV’s Robert Peston says ministers have told him Cummings’ resignation or sacking is only “only a matter of time”. | |
| Dominic Cummings has entered Downing Street No 10 a short while ago, reportedly without answering questions about his alleged second trip up north and his attitude towards resigning. | |
| This from the BBC’s Rob Powell. | |
| One particular statement made by transport secretary Grant Shapps this morning is attracting quite a bit of attention. | |
| Shapps told Marr: “We’ve never told people specifically where to locate themselves.” The government’s key message in the weeks between the beginning of the lockdown and 10 May was, as you may recall, “Stay home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.” | |
| This from my colleague John Harris: | |
| This from HuffPost UK’s Paul Waugh: | |
| This from political writer and campaigner Femi Oluwole: | |
| It’s worth noting that although at least seven Tory MPs have called for Cummings’ resignation, at least 51 have either defended him so far or at least retweeted defences from other MPs, which has been nicely documented in one place by the political writer Edwin Hayward. | |
| Dominic Cummings left his home in north London with his wife and son shortly after 11am this morning, PA Media reports. | |
| After one journalist asked if he had returned to Durham in April, Cummings said: “No, I did not.” | |
| Cummings, who was wearing a lanyard with an ID card, was carrying a notepad and what appeared to be a black bin bag. The family then got in the car and drove away. | |
| A petition campaigning for Dominic Cummings’ resignation is gaining momentum and has reached over 33,000 signatures. | |
| While the pressure on Cummings and Boris Johnson keeps building, the government’s daily press conference is expected to start at 4pm, and to be fronted by the housing secretary, Robert Jenrick. | |
| Labour has called on the prime minister to make an appearance himself and answer questions about Cummings’ behaviour. | |
| It’s interesting timing from the Telegraph, whose chief political correspondent, Christopher Hope, has written a piece in today’s paper about calls from the Countryside Alliance to allow visits to second homes, as well as the reopening of self-catering cottages, camp sites and other tourism businesses, so rural businesses can benefit financially from the influx of visitors. | It’s interesting timing from the Telegraph, whose chief political correspondent, Christopher Hope, has written a piece in today’s paper about calls from the Countryside Alliance to allow visits to second homes, as well as the reopening of self-catering cottages, camp sites and other tourism businesses, so rural businesses can benefit financially from the influx of visitors. |
| Cummings’ alleged trip to Barnard Castle is what looks likely to be the most problematic issue for him. | Cummings’ alleged trip to Barnard Castle is what looks likely to be the most problematic issue for him. |
| This from HuffPost UK’s Paul Waugh: | This from HuffPost UK’s Paul Waugh: |
| This from the journalist Neil Macfarlane: | This from the journalist Neil Macfarlane: |
| This from my colleague David Conn: | This from my colleague David Conn: |
| This from the BBC’s James Clayton: | This from the BBC’s James Clayton: |
| And this from the Manchester Evening News’ Jennifer Williams: | And this from the Manchester Evening News’ Jennifer Williams: |
| A “big debate” is needed about the future of funding the BBC after the coronavirus crisis proved it can bring the nation together, its outgoing director general said. | A “big debate” is needed about the future of funding the BBC after the coronavirus crisis proved it can bring the nation together, its outgoing director general said. |
| Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, Lord Tony Hall said the broadcaster had been able to bring the country together and cited the work of its local radio stations as an example. | Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, Lord Tony Hall said the broadcaster had been able to bring the country together and cited the work of its local radio stations as an example. |
| He said: | He said: |
| Hall said 92% of the organisation was working from home during the pandemic and the broadcaster had launched its biggest ever educational programme, as well as working with arts organisations on programmes. | Hall said 92% of the organisation was working from home during the pandemic and the broadcaster had launched its biggest ever educational programme, as well as working with arts organisations on programmes. |
| He added that plans to stop free TV licences for over-75s had been delayed until August and would be reviewed by the BBC’s board nearer the time. | He added that plans to stop free TV licences for over-75s had been delayed until August and would be reviewed by the BBC’s board nearer the time. |
| Tens of thousands of low income households are being denied extra support designed to ease the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, after being hit by the government’s benefit cap, my colleague Michael Savage writes in the Observer today. | Tens of thousands of low income households are being denied extra support designed to ease the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, after being hit by the government’s benefit cap, my colleague Michael Savage writes in the Observer today. |
| Particularly hard-hit are private renters with children, he reports. | Particularly hard-hit are private renters with children, he reports. |
| This from the Conservative MP Craig Whittaker: | This from the Conservative MP Craig Whittaker: |
| Sky News’ Joe Pike has counted seven Tory MPs who want Cummings to step down. | Sky News’ Joe Pike has counted seven Tory MPs who want Cummings to step down. |
| This from the Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, Caroline Nokes, who seems to be saying that she was pressing for Cummings’ resignation yesterday. | This from the Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, Caroline Nokes, who seems to be saying that she was pressing for Cummings’ resignation yesterday. |
| Anyone in public spaces “should wear a mask”, according to Venki Ramakrishnan, the president of the Royal Society who also sits on the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage). | Anyone in public spaces “should wear a mask”, according to Venki Ramakrishnan, the president of the Royal Society who also sits on the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage). |
| Ramakrishnan told the Andrew Marr Show that face coverings help to reduce transmission. | Ramakrishnan told the Andrew Marr Show that face coverings help to reduce transmission. |
| “I think anyone in public spaces should wear a mask because it’s simply another tool to reduce the possibility of infections,” he said. “I don’t think masks are the be all end all, you have to think of it as one leg in a multi-legged stool that holds up prevention of transmission.” | “I think anyone in public spaces should wear a mask because it’s simply another tool to reduce the possibility of infections,” he said. “I don’t think masks are the be all end all, you have to think of it as one leg in a multi-legged stool that holds up prevention of transmission.” |
| Asked if teachers should wear masks, Ramakrishnan said: “If they are socially distanced and there are all these other measures in place, where their use is not necessary. That is a policy decision, that’s not for a scientist like me to say. | Asked if teachers should wear masks, Ramakrishnan said: “If they are socially distanced and there are all these other measures in place, where their use is not necessary. That is a policy decision, that’s not for a scientist like me to say. |
| “My view is that wherever social distancing is not possible, we must regularly wash our hands and I think it would be a good idea to wear masks.” | “My view is that wherever social distancing is not possible, we must regularly wash our hands and I think it would be a good idea to wear masks.” |
| Peter Bone, the Conservative MP for Wellingborough, has become the fifth Tory MP saying Cummings should go. | Peter Bone, the Conservative MP for Wellingborough, has become the fifth Tory MP saying Cummings should go. |
| In an interview with Nigel Farage on LBC he said Cummings “has to go” because he broke the rules and has not apologised. | In an interview with Nigel Farage on LBC he said Cummings “has to go” because he broke the rules and has not apologised. |
| “When an adviser becomes the story, the adviser has to go,” he said. “Boris Johnson can carry on without Dominic Cummings if he goes but it will be hard if he stays.” | “When an adviser becomes the story, the adviser has to go,” he said. “Boris Johnson can carry on without Dominic Cummings if he goes but it will be hard if he stays.” |
| My colleague Rajeev Syal has written up a story about Steve Baker’s efforts this morning: | My colleague Rajeev Syal has written up a story about Steve Baker’s efforts this morning: |