Prime minister Boris Johnson defends special adviser Dominic Cummings
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Prime minister Boris Johnson says Dominic Cummings “followed the instincts of every father” in taking his family from London to the north of England when his wife displayed coronavirus symptoms.
Mr Cummings said he needed his children to be closer to other family in the event they needed to be looked after, but there have been further allegations today that he made additional trips across the country.
There have been calls for him to resign.
At today’s Downing Street briefing, however, Prime Minister Boris Johnson signalled he was standing by Mr Cummings.
“I think he followed the instincts of every father and every parent and I do not mark him down for that,” he said.
He called some of the allegations made against Mr Cummings “palpably false”.
He continued to defend Mr Cummings in response to a barrage of media questions, insisting he had acted “correctly and responsibly” and with the "overwhelming aim of stopping the spread of the virus".
He also said it was in line with guidance about what to do where there are particular childcare requirements.
Also during the briefing Mr Johnson said the government was pressing ahead with plans for schools in England to begin reopening from June 1.
Acknowledging opening on that date – a week tomorrow – will not be possible for all schools he added: “We will continue to work with the sector to support them to prepare for wider opening and ensure all children and young people receive the best care, education and training possible.”
The coronavirus death toll across the UK now stands at 36,793 – an increase of 118 since yesterday.
The number of people in hospital in the UK with Covid-19 now stands at 8951, down from 10,085 this time last week.
