UK Prime Minister has refused to sack Dominic Cummings who is under pressure over his movement during lockdown which is in disregard of the government’s lockdown regulations.
The issue has generated scandals in the country as Cummings has been reported to have broken the lockdown restrictions multiple times.
The case particularly became intense on Sunday as new reports emerged claiming that in April Cummings had indeed broken down lockdown regulations.
Defending Cummings’ action, Johnson said that Cummings had acted “responsibly, legally and with integrity” because he had no option other than to stay with his parents while his wife was sick with Covid-19 symptoms.
He had to drive across England for about 260 miles to get to their place.
“I think he followed the instincts of every father and every parent, and I do not mark him down for that,” Johnson said.
Cummings’ movement which has become a point of discussion in the country has managed to spark reactions from different political spectrums on the ground that the action undermines the UK’s response to coronavirus pandemic which takes virtually eight weeks to be enforced.
Johnson also evaded another accusation that on multiple occasions Cummings has frequently traveled to the north of England.
The minister said he had looked carefully into it and that he is satisfied because Cummings has acted responsibly exercising measures to stop spread off the virus.
A question regarding his knowledge of Cummings leaving London and whether he has visited a town about 30 miles away from his parents’ home as claimed by a witness did not receive an answer from the Prime minister.
It should be remembered that since the first report of Cummings’ first journey emerged several ministers have been rallying around him. This may explain Cummings’ political relevance as he is normally regarded as a mastermind behind Johnson’s premiership.
As it stands, Johnson is not showing any readiness to relieve Cummings of his official position and this might come with a big price which would mean undermining the country’s efforts in battling the pandemic.
