POLITICIANS from across the political spectrum have criticised Boris Johnson for supporting Dominic Cummings in breaking lockdown rules.
The PM told the daily Downing Street briefing that his top aide "acted responsibly, legally and with integrity" when he travelled more than 250 miles to his parents' home in Durham during lockdown.
Johnson also said that “some” of the allegations about Dominic Cummings’ behaviour during self-isolation were “palpably false”.
Former LibDem leader Tim Farron said the PM had caused "colossal, possibly fatal" damage.
He tweeted: “Politically, BJ has just caused colossal, possibly fatal, damage to his Conservative administration…. but he has also undone any attempt to save lives by effective public health messaging.”
Politically, BJ has just caused colossal, possibly fatal, damage to his Conservative administration.... but he has also undone any attempt to save lives by effective public health messaging.
— Tim Farron (@timfarron) May 24, 2020
Green MP Caroline Lucas also criticised the PM, saying: “Unbelievable – PM says Cummings has acted ‘responsibly, legally and with integrity’.
“In fact he’s acted arrogantly, illegally and with gross irresponsibility.
“Even by PM’s own abysmal standards, this must surely be the lowest point.”
Unbelievable - PM says Cummings has acted “responsibly, legally and with integrity”
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) May 24, 2020
In fact he’s acted arrogantly, illegally and with gross irresponsibility
Even by PM’s own abysmal standards, this must surely be the lowest point #CummingsMustGo
Westminster group leader for the SNP, Ian Blackford, tweeted: “Boris Johnson told us to stay at home and to isolate if we had Covid-19. There was no caveat that this does not apply to Dominic Cummings.
“By supporting Cummings at his press conference Boris Johnson displays a failure of leadership and undermines his own public health messages.”
@BorisJohnson told us to stay at home and to isolate if we had covid-19. There was no caveat that this does not apply to Dominic Cummings. By supporting Cummings at his press conference @BorisJohnson displays a failure of leadership and undermines his own public health messages.
— Ian Blackford (@Ianblackford_MP) May 24, 2020
READ MORE: 'Breathtaking arrogance': Ian Blackford hits out at PM for supporting Cummings
Shadow foreign secretary, Lisa Nandy, tweeted: “(Boris Johnson) said Cummings was following his instincts, the rest of the country was following the rules.
“Where does that leave us if everyone now is to follow their instincts?”
Spot on from @GaryGibbonBlog - you said Cummings was following his instincts, the rest of the country was following the rules. Where does that leave us if everyone now is to follow their instincts?
— Lisa Nandy (@lisanandy) May 24, 2020
Tory MP Caroline Nokes said: “There cannot be one rule for most of us and wriggle room for others."
I made my views clear to my whip yesterday. There cannot be one rule for most of us and wriggle room for others. My inbox is rammed with very angry constituents and I do not blame them. They have made difficult sacrifices over the course of the last 9 weeks.
— Caroline Nokes MP (@carolinenokes) May 24, 2020
David Warburton, the Tory MP for Somerton and Frome, said he was “unconvinced” by Boris Johnson’s defence of Dominic Cummings.
“As much as I despise any baying pitchfork-led trials by social media, I’m unconvinced by the PM’s defence of #Cummings,” he tweeted.
As much as I despise any baying pitchfork-led trials by social media, I'm unconvinced by the PM's defence of #Cummings.
— David Warburton MP (@DJWarburton) May 24, 2020
We've all been tasked with tempering our parental, and other, instincts by strictly adhering to Govt guidance.
Shadow policing minister Sarah Jones said: "Dominic Cummings did not do the right thing and it's not acceptable for the PM to make a political decision."
"Dominic Cummings did not do the right thing and it's not acceptable for the PM to make a political decision."@LabourSJ says by defending his top aide Boris Johnson has insulted "everybody who has worked so hard to bring infection rates down."
— SkyNews (@SkyNews) May 24, 2020
More: https://t.co/Ax3Gudehl7 pic.twitter.com/Kgc2vaYFlH
SNP MP Pete Wishart said Boris Johnson's position is "utterly disgraceful".
Is that it.....? Utterly disgraceful and contemptible.
— Pete Wishart (@PeteWishart) May 24, 2020
SNP MP Stewart McDonald described the daily Downing Street briefing as "a car crash".
This is a car crash
— Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) May 24, 2020
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