Minister resigns over Dominic Cummings’ lockdown trips

Aubrey Allegretti, political reporter
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© Other Douglas Ross was seen as a rising star. Pic: Colin Fisher/Alamy Live News
A government minister has resigned over Dominic Cummings’ lockdown trips, piling on more pressure for the top Downing Street aide to be sacked.
Douglas Ross said the embattled adviser’s claim he had a valid excuse to travel during the coronavirus outbreak was “not shared by the vast majority of people who have done as the government asked”.
Cummings: What does the public think?
In a letter to Boris Johnson published on Tuesday morning, the outgoing Scotland Office junior minister wrote: “I have never met Dominic Cummings so my judgement on this matter has always been open and I accept his statement on Monday afternoon clarified the actions he took in what he felt were the best interests of his family.
“However, these were decisions many others felt were not available to them.
“As a father myself, my instinct is to always do what is best for my son and wife. We have been fortunate not to have caught this awful virus but if we did, we are prepared to follow the government advice and stay at home to contain this virus.
“While the intentions may have been well meaning, the reaction to this news shows that Mr Cummings interpretation of the government advice was not shared by the vast majority of people who have done as the government asked.
“I have constituents who didn’t get to say goodbye to loved ones; families who could not mourn together; people who didn’t visit sick relatives because they followed the guidance of the government.
‘I behaved reasonably’, says Cummings
“I cannot in good faith tell them they were all wrong and one senior adviser to the government was right.”
His letter was followed minutes later by praise by the former Scottish Tories leader Ruth Davidson, who said she was “sorry” to see a “talented” minister go.
A Number 10 spokesman said Mr Johnson had thanked Mr Ross for his service and “regrets” his decision to quit.
The resignation from government of an MP considered a rising star marks a severe blow for the prime minister, who hoped the fury from within his own party would die down.
Mr Johnson has stood by Mr Cummings for moving to his parents’ farm in Durham from London at the start of March while Britons were told to “stay at home” at the start of lockdown.
Johnson tells nation he’s standing by Cummings
He has been defended for the journey, where he was spotted by a witness walking by a river, by senior colleagues.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove told Sky News’ Kay Burley@Breakfast on Tuesday the decision to have a “test drive” was “wise”.
Cummings ‘could have’ gone straight to London
So far at least 20 Tory MPs, as well as bishops and NHS staff, have demanded he be sacked.
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