Dominic Cummings, the controversial top advisor to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, will remain on. Johnson announced this on Sunday. Cummings was discredited because he, his coronavirus-infected wife, and their infant son travelled to another city during the lockdown.
The prime minister announced his decision during his government’s daily corona briefing after speaking to Cummings at his official residence at 10 Downing Street in London.
Johnson said that he concluded that Cummings had acted “responsibly, in accordance with the law, and with integrity.” He had “no alternative” and “followed the instincts of every father and parent, and I don’t blame him for that,” said the prime minister.
The genius of the Brexit campaign came under fire on Saturday, because of a trip he and his family took while his wife was diagnosed with the corona virus.
Several British politicians, including Johnson’s party members, urged Cummings to leave.
At the end of March, the top adviser, his wife and their four-year-old son left London for Durham, some 400 kilometers away, from London. At that time, the coronavirus lockdown was already in place in the UK.
According to Johnson’s office, Cummings wanted to be near family. His wife was infected with the coronavirus and he was very likely to get it himself. If that happened, family could take care of their son. Cummings himself said he hadn’t done anything wrong and was keeping the distance measures.
British tabloid Daily Mirror reported on Sunday that Cummings had made a second trip north from London and was spotted near Durham on April 19. Two witnesses, one of whom is anonymous, also said that he and his family would not have isolated themselves in Durham. They are said to have been spotted visiting a nearby castle.
The hero himself denied having made a second trip and dismissed the allegations as utter nonsense.
Prime Minister Johnson said on Sunday to believe his adviser. “Some” of the additional allegations are “clearly false,” said the prime minister.
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