Dominic Cummings investigated by police after allegedly breaking lockdown rules

Boris Johnson’s chief of staff was spotted at his parents’ home, 250 miles away from London.

The Prime Minister’s top aide, Dominic Cummings, was questioned by police after allegedly breaking lockdown restrictions.

According to a report in the Daily Mirror, Mr Cummings was seen at his parents’ house in County Durham, despite living more than 250 miles away in London.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The rules imposed on Brits since late March explicitly prohibits people to visit family members “who do not live in your home”, stating that the only exception is if they need help, “such as having shopping or medication dropped off.”

It comes after the Downing Street adviser supposedly self-isolated for two weeks with his wife at their home in London after developing symptoms of coronavirus in late March.
(Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)It comes after the Downing Street adviser supposedly self-isolated for two weeks with his wife at their home in London after developing symptoms of coronavirus in late March.
(Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)
It comes after the Downing Street adviser supposedly self-isolated for two weeks with his wife at their home in London after developing symptoms of coronavirus in late March. (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

It comes after the Downing Street adviser supposedly self-isolated for two weeks with his wife at their home in London after developing symptoms of coronavirus in late March.

But Mr Cummings actually spent the time in County Durham, according to his parents’ neighbours, who said they spotted him with his young son in the garden.

Police confirmed that they had spoken to an individual in Durham on March 31 after they learned that they had travelled to the northeastern city during the lockdown to self-isolate.

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: “On Tuesday, March 31, our officers were made aware of reports that an individual had travelled from London to Durham and was present at an address in the city.

“Officers made contact with the owners of that address who confirmed that the individual in question was present and was self-isolating in part of the house.

“In line with national policing guidance, officers explained to the family the guidelines around self-isolation and reiterated the appropriate advice around essential travel,” they added.

Mr Cummings is not the first government official to be caught out; earlier this month, Professor Neil Ferguson resigned as an adviser after he broke lockdown rules to meet his lover.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And last month, Catherine Calderwood, Scotland’s former Chief Medical Officer was forced to give up the post after being photographed ignoring her own advice by travelling from Edinburgh to her second home in Fife.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.