“My initial view was to be sympathetic to Dominic Cummings due to his expressed desire to protect his young son. I have now revised this opinion. I have received many e-mails from constituents highlighting the sacrifices that families have made during the Pandemic and expressing upset and anger that there appears to be one rule for those in positions of authority and another for everyone else. Moreover, questions remain unanswered as to whether Mr Cummings completely self-isolated whilst he was in County Durham.

“At a time when the Country must move on to the next stage of defeating Covid-19, of getting back to work whilst ensuring that there is not a second peak, there must be no distraction from this challenge and the Government should recognise what families have gone through and what people are thinking and saying. It is thus important that Dominic Cummings should now stand down.”