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Dominic Cummings 'might have broken lockdown rules' - police Dominic Cummings 'might have broken lockdown rules' - police
(about 1 hour later)
The PM's top aide Dominic Cummings might have broken lockdown rules, but it would have been a "minor breach", say Durham Police.The PM's top aide Dominic Cummings might have broken lockdown rules, but it would have been a "minor breach", say Durham Police.
Boris Johnson said he intended to "draw a line under the matter" following the police statement.Boris Johnson said he intended to "draw a line under the matter" following the police statement.
And he told reporters at the daily Downing Street briefing he did not want his scientific advisers to be dragged into a political row.And he told reporters at the daily Downing Street briefing he did not want his scientific advisers to be dragged into a political row.
Opposition parties are continuing to call for Mr Cummings to be sacked.Opposition parties are continuing to call for Mr Cummings to be sacked.
Mr Johnson told the Downing Street press conference: "I've said quite a lot on this matter already and what I also note is that what Durham police said was that they were going to take no action and that the matter was closed.Mr Johnson told the Downing Street press conference: "I've said quite a lot on this matter already and what I also note is that what Durham police said was that they were going to take no action and that the matter was closed.
"And I intend to draw a line under the matter.""And I intend to draw a line under the matter."
The prime minister stepped in to prevent his chief medical adviser, Chris Whitty, and his chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, from answering questions from journalists about Mr Cummings' actions.The prime minister stepped in to prevent his chief medical adviser, Chris Whitty, and his chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, from answering questions from journalists about Mr Cummings' actions.
'Political questions''Political questions'
He told the BBC's Political Editor, Laura Kuenssberg, who asked the advisers whether Mr Cummings was setting a good example, that he would intervene.He told the BBC's Political Editor, Laura Kuenssberg, who asked the advisers whether Mr Cummings was setting a good example, that he would intervene.
He said he wanted to "protect them from what I think would be an unfair and unnecessary attempt to ask any political questions".He said he wanted to "protect them from what I think would be an unfair and unnecessary attempt to ask any political questions".
"It's very, very important that our medical officers and scientific advisers do not get dragged into what I think most people would recognise is fundamentally a political argument," he added."It's very, very important that our medical officers and scientific advisers do not get dragged into what I think most people would recognise is fundamentally a political argument," he added.
Later in the briefing, Prof Whitty told another reporter he had no desire to "get pulled into politics," a sentiment immediately echoed by Sir Patrick.Later in the briefing, Prof Whitty told another reporter he had no desire to "get pulled into politics," a sentiment immediately echoed by Sir Patrick.
This was the first appearance of the two chief advisers at a Downing Street briefing since the Dominic Cummings story broke last Friday evening.This was the first appearance of the two chief advisers at a Downing Street briefing since the Dominic Cummings story broke last Friday evening.
'Too weak'
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Johnson should have allowed his advisers to answer journalists' questions, adding: "We want transparency."Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Johnson should have allowed his advisers to answer journalists' questions, adding: "We want transparency."
"Nobody should be stopped from answering questions from journalists… but it's the prime minister here that's in issue, he's been too weak throughout.," said the Labour leader. "Nobody should be stopped from answering questions from journalists… but it's the prime minister here that's in issue, he's been too weak throughout," said the Labour leader.
He said he would have sacked Mr Cummings if he had been prime minster, and there had been a week of needless "distraction" from the safe easing of lockdown measures because Mr Johnson "has been frankly too weak to draw line under this and take the necessary action.". He said he would have sacked Mr Cummings if he had been prime minster, and there had been a week of needless "distraction" from the safe easing of lockdown measures because Mr Johnson "has been frankly too weak to a draw line under this and take the necessary action."
Mr Cummings had been accused of undermining the government's lockdown message over his 260-mile journey from London to Durham to isolate with his wife, as well as making a 50-mile round-trip to Barnard Castle 15 days later. Analysis
He insisted he acted "reasonably" and within the law. By Helen Catt, BBC News political correspondent
In a statement, Durham Police said that his journey from London to Durham had been within the law. This is a moment of maximum risk for the government and it comes at the end of a rocky week.
Boris Johnson clearly wanted to allay concerns over the timing of his lockdown easing announcement so we got a methodical briefing with graphs and stats to show how those "five tests" are being met.
But he also wanted to reinforce the message that the virus is still a threat. The government will have to hope that it has pitched that balance correctly.
The backdrop to all of this was, of course, the row over the PM's adviser, Dominic Cummings, and if his trip to Barnard Castle might make that harder.
And this is where the briefing took a sharper turn.
For the first time in these press conferences, the PM took the extraordinary step of stopping the advisors flanking him from answering the questions posed by journalists.
He said it was to protect them (and they said they didn't want to be drawn into it). Critics are likely to take a different view.
Mr Johnson clearly wants to draw a line under the events of the past week; the next few days will decide if that happens.
Mr Cummings' decision in March to drive from his London home to his parents' farm in County Durham with his wife - who had coronavirus symptoms - and his son, has dominated the headlines since the story broke on Friday night.
The PM's chief adviser gave a news conference on Monday, explaining that he decided to make the trip because he felt it would be better to self-isolate in a place where he had options for childcare if required, and insisted he had acted "reasonably" and within the law.
He said he had made the 50-mile round-trip to Barnard Castle, with his wife and child, 15 days later to test his eyesight before embarking on the longer journey back to London.
Police stop
In a statement earlier on Thursday, Durham Police said it did "not consider an offence was committed" when Mr Cummings drove himself and his family from London to Durham to isolate on his family's farm.
His later trip to Barnard Castle "might have warranted a police intervention," the force added, but it would not be taking any action against him now.His later trip to Barnard Castle "might have warranted a police intervention," the force added, but it would not be taking any action against him now.
Mr Cummings said he had made the trip to Barnard Castle on Easter Sunday, also with his wife and child, to test his eyesight before embarking on the longer journey back to London.
Durham Police said it regarded the likely breach of lockdown rules at Barnard Castle as minor because there was "no apparent breach of social distancing".Durham Police said it regarded the likely breach of lockdown rules at Barnard Castle as minor because there was "no apparent breach of social distancing".
"Had a Durham Constabulary police officer stopped Mr Cummings driving to or from Barnard Castle, the officer would have spoken to him, and, having established the facts, likely advised Mr Cummings to return to the address in Durham, providing advice on the dangers of travelling during the pandemic crisis."Had a Durham Constabulary police officer stopped Mr Cummings driving to or from Barnard Castle, the officer would have spoken to him, and, having established the facts, likely advised Mr Cummings to return to the address in Durham, providing advice on the dangers of travelling during the pandemic crisis.
"Had this advice been accepted by Mr Cummings, no enforcement action would have been taken.""Had this advice been accepted by Mr Cummings, no enforcement action would have been taken."
The force said it would not be taking retrospective action against Mr Cummings since this would amount to "treating Mr Cummings differently from other members of the public."The force said it would not be taking retrospective action against Mr Cummings since this would amount to "treating Mr Cummings differently from other members of the public."
On the issue of whether it was an offence for Mr Cummings to drive himself and his family from London to Durham to isolate on his family's farm, Durham Police said it did "not consider an offence was committed".
Reports that Mr Cummings was seen in Durham on 19 April, suggesting a second trip from London, could not be support by evidence, the police statement added.Reports that Mr Cummings was seen in Durham on 19 April, suggesting a second trip from London, could not be support by evidence, the police statement added.
Mr Cummings has denied he was in Durham on that date.Mr Cummings has denied he was in Durham on that date.
Analysis 'No choice'
By Jonathan Blake, BBC News political correspondent BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw said it was understood that Durham Police examined other aspects of Mr Cummings' stay in the area, including a possible breach of road safety laws and his trip to and from a hospital, where his son had received treatment.
The statement from Durham police isn't quite the gotcha moment critics of Dominic Cummings may have been hoping for. "Its findings are not included in the statement - raising the prospect that the force has not quite managed to draw a line under the affair," added our correspondent.
Having qualified their judgement that he "might" have broken the rules, the adviser's allies can claim it is inconclusive.
Political opponents have seized on the statement as another reason for Mr Cummings to go - but Conservatives have been quieter.
Given Number 10's view that the prime minister considers this the end of the matter, Tory MPs who'd called for the advisor to resign might well be resigned to the fact he's staying put.
But with important announcements looming about the easing of lockdown restrictions in England, this latest twist in the tale has led to another day of headlines Downing Street doesn't want.
About 40 Tory MPs called for Mr Cummings to resign or be fired for undermining the government's lockdown message and the prime minister's authority.About 40 Tory MPs called for Mr Cummings to resign or be fired for undermining the government's lockdown message and the prime minister's authority.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said Mr Johnson "has no choice but to remove him from post".SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said Mr Johnson "has no choice but to remove him from post".
"This is now a matter of the prime minister's own integrity - and his overriding responsibility to protect public health and trust in his government," Mr Blackford said.
And acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, said the "only way" the prime minister can move on from the controversy "would be for him to ask for Dominic Cumming's resignation".And acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, said the "only way" the prime minister can move on from the controversy "would be for him to ask for Dominic Cumming's resignation".
He added: "The longer Dominic Cumming stays in post, the more people will feel that there is one rule for him and one for everyone else, seriously threatening public health. Unless he resigns, the sacrifices everyone has made are at risk of being entirely undermined."
Mr Cummings' decision in March to drive from his London home to his parents' farm in County Durham with his wife - who had coronavirus symptoms - and his son has dominated the headlines since the story broke on Friday night.
The PM's chief adviser gave a news conference on Monday, explaining that he decided to make the trip because he felt it would be better to self-isolate in a place where he had options for childcare if required.