Chris Clarkson MP: ‘Dominic Cummings was acting in best interests of his family but stretched rules to the very limit’

The Conservative Member of Parliament for Heywood & Middleton, Chris Clarkson says he believes that Dominic Cummings was ‘acting in the best interests of his family, but stretched the limits of lockdown exemptions.’

Mr Cummings, top advisor to the Prime Minister, took a 270-mile journey to Durham during lockdown, telling a Downing Street press conference this was so his family could care for his young son, if he and his wife both fell 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’.

Mr Clarkson says whilst he believes Mr Cummings acted in his family’s best interests, he would “not hesitate to call for Mr Cummings to be sacked with immediate effect”, should evidence emerge that he did not maintain the quarantine period, or breach other guidelines.

In a statement, Mr Clarkson said: “During this unprecedented global health pandemic, my primary focus has been on supporting my constituents through this crisis, ensuring that they are aware of the guidance and that they are able to access all forms of support to keep their families and business safe during this difficult time and for this I make no apology. 

“Despite receiving some criticism for not doing so, I have not responded immediately to this particular issue because it was important to me to have possession of all the facts and to allow Mr Cummings to account for his actions fully. Over the past few days, I have the raised the strong views of my constituents with the Government on this matter and I shall continue to do so.

“It is vital during these unprecedent times that everybody abides by the rules of lockdown, which have been put in place for all our safety. It is extremely frustrating when most people have made huge personal sacrifices to see the rules being ignored by others. I firmly believe that nobody, no matter what position they hold, should be exempt from following them. 

“I listened very carefully to the statement on Monday and I believe that Mr Cummings believes he was acting in the best interests of his family and for their protection – not just from the risks of Covid-19 but from serious threats of violence that have been made against him and I think this, in part, explains why he decided to travel to Durham.  I cannot judge him for wanting to protect his wife and young child.

“However, I do not agree with all actions that Mr Cummings took, and I am disappointed that this situation has been allowed to become an unwelcome distraction from important public health messaging.

“At the beginning of the lockdown restrictions Dr Jenny Harries, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, made it clear that ‘if you have adults who are unable to look after a small child, that is an exceptional circumstance and if the individuals do not have access to care support – formal care support – or to family, they will be able to work through local authority hubs.’

“As I understand it, as he and his wife were beginning to become unwell, Mr Cummings drove to Durham so his young child was able to be cared for by other family members and he was able to isolate for 14 days in a separate building; because of the clear written exemptions in case of a child’s welfare, this is permissible under the rules - although I believe it stretches them to the very limit. 

“I appreciate how this looks and I do not disagree with the frustration and anger it has generated – Mr Cummings should have made a full accounting of his actions and the reasons for them as soon as this matter came to light, which he has subsequently acknowledged.  

“This is a developing situation and I can assure you that if evidence emerges that he did not maintain the quarantine period or breached other guidelines, which would have risked exposing the virus to others, then I will not hesitate to call for Mr Cummings to be sacked with immediate effect and I have made it clear to the government that, at present, this is my view.”

Rochdale’s Conservative group leader Ashley Dearnley however believes the senior adviser should have either jumped or been pushed by the Prime Minister, telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service that Mr Cummings’ actions “sends out very mixed messages” to the country.

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

“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.”