A junior British government minister quit on Tuesday over Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s failure to fire his top aide for breaching coronavirus lockdown rules.
Johnson has stood by Dominic Cummings over his decision to drive 250 miles (400 kilometers) to his parents’ house at the end of March, despite a national order for people to remain at home. Cummings says he traveled so that extended family could care for his 4-year-old son if he and his wife, who both had suspected coronavirus infections, fell ill.
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A junior British government minister quit on Tuesday over Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s failure to fire his top aide for breaching coronavirus lockdown rules.
Scotland Minister Douglas Ross said in a resignation letter that “the vast majority of people” didn't agree with Cummings.
On Tuesday, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove insisted that Cummings "didn’t break the law. He didn’t break the rules. He sought to protect his family.”
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Dominic Cummings, senior aide to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, makes a statement inside 10 Downing Street, London, Monday May 25, 2020, over allegations he breached coronavirus lockdown restrictions. In an exceptionally rare televised statement, Cummings gave a detailed account of his movements in late March and early April, which have caused an intense political storm. (Jonathan BradyPool via AP)
But many Britons say Cummings made a mockery of the sacrifices of people who followed the rules to stop the spread of the disease, even when it meant staying away from loved ones.
Dominic Cummings, the top aide to Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, arrives at Downing Street the day after he gave a press conference over allegations he breached coronavirus lockdown restrictions in London, Tuesday, May 26, 2020. (AP PhotoFrank Augstein)
Scotland Minister Douglas Ross said in a resignation letter that “the vast majority of people” didn't agree with Cummings.
“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," he wrote. "I cannot in good faith tell them they were all wrong and one senior adviser to the government was right.”
Johnson has stood staunchly by his adviser, saying Cummings “followed the instincts of every father and every parent.”
Dominic Cummings, the top aide to Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, arrives at Downing Street the day after he gave a press conference over allegations he breached coronavirus lockdown restrictions in London, Tuesday, May 26, 2020. (AP PhotoFrank Augstein)
On Tuesday, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove insisted that Cummings "didn’t break the law. He didn’t break the rules. He sought to protect his family.”
But Cummings’ road trip has drawn criticism from scientists, doctors, bishops and Britons across the country. Ominously for Johnson, it also troubles a growing number of Conservative lawmakers.
“We cannot throw away valuable public & political good will any longer,” tweeted Conservative lawmaker William Wragg. “It’s humiliating & degrading to their office to see ministers put out agreed lines in defence of an advisor. This is a time of national emergency and our focus must be unrelenting. We owe it to the nation.”
Protesters hang out a sign in the same street of where Prime Minister Boris Johnson's senior aide Dominic Cummings has his north London home after he gave a press conference over allegations he breached coronavirus lockdown restrictions, Monday May 25, 2020. (Aaron ChownPA via AP)
Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Dominic Cummings, senior aide to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, makes a statement inside 10 Downing Street, London, Monday May 25, 2020, over allegations he breached coronavirus lockdown restrictions. (Jonathan BradyPool via AP)
Dominic Cummings, senior aide to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, makes a statement inside 10 Downing Street, London, Monday May 25, 2020, over allegations he breached coronavirus lockdown restrictions. In an exceptionally rare televised statement, Cummings gave a detailed account of his movements in late March and early April, which have caused an intense political storm. (Jonathan BradyPool via AP)