Conservative leader says Dominic Cummings should have resigned or been sacked ‘for the overwhelming good of the country’

The leader of Rochdale Council’s Conservative group says Dominic Cummings should have resigned – or been sacked – for the ‘overwhelming good of the country’.

With outrage growing over the PM’s top adviser’s 270-mile journey to Durham during lockdown, the aide told a Downing Street press conference this was so his family could care for his young son should he and his wife both fall ill with coronavirus.

However, he said he ‘never considered’ resigning and has received the full backing of Prime Minister Boris Johnson who insists he acted ‘responsibly, legally and with integrity’.

Rochdale’s Conservative group leader Ashley Dearnley believes the senior adviser should have either jumped or been pushed by the Prime Minister.

“My view is that he might have done what he believed to be right, that’s for him to decide,” he said.

“But my overriding concern is that, what the vast majority in the country are doing and what we asked them to do, was to stay in one place and we should stay there regardless.

“It clearly sends out very mixed messages to people. I understand people’s anger about it and I think for the overwhelming good of the country – which should always be the top priority – I would personally have taken it on the chin and resigned.

“It’s for others to say what they believe, but that would be my personal view. That’s what I hope I would do if I got myself into a similar situation.”

He added that while he admired Mr Cummings’ contribution to the party, relocating to a second home during lockdown – while others kept to the letter and spirit of the rules – had left his position untenable.

He said: “I admire what he has done and his work around getting Brexit done, that was absolutely brilliant and in tune with the people of this country, that’s why we won the election.

“Sadly, we have misjudged this. What he has done is not in tune with the vast majority of people, unfortunately sometimes for the greater good you have to take that action.”

Last December’s general election saw the Conservatives winning northern seats they have never taken before – including Heywood & Middleton in the Rochdale local authority area.

The party's’ pledge to ‘Get Brexit Done’ is thought to have played a big part in their victory, as many voters turned their backs on what they saw as undemocratic attempts to overturn the referendum result.

Councillor Dearnley fears that the trust between the party and voters could be broken by the perception that it is one rule for them and another for those in power.

While the next council elections are 12 months off, he fears Mr Cummings’ continued presence at the heart of government could damage Conservative hopes in the much longer term.

He added: “I have had numerous people contacting me, that are Conservative supporters, who are very unhappy with what has happened. 

“I think we are, as a party, there for everybody. We were elected on a straight-forward agenda of honesty, openness and integrity and we must make sure we maintain that relationship with the British people.”

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter