The prime minister has ruled out an inquiry into the conduct of Dominic Cummings, instead claiming that it was time to “move on” from the debate.
Cummings, who has faced accusations of breaching the lockdown rules which he helped to write, remains unremorseful as calls for his resignation continue. It became clear at the end of last week that Cummings travelled from his home in London to his family farm in County Durham.
Boris Johnson has refused claims that his response to Cummings’ behaviour has weakened his own authority, stating his belief that the public has had their fill of the "political ding-dong".
At present, some 40 Tory MPs have called for the resignation or firing of Cummings, due to his 260-mile journey at the height of lockdown. Penny Mourdant, the cabinet office minister, has said that there are “inconsistencies” in Cummings’ account of his lockdown gander, and that she has “no doubt” he took risks.
Douglas Ross, a junior minister, resigned from his post on Tuesday in protest of Cummings’ actions. He stated that he felt the policy adviser’s interpretation of the government guidance was "not shared by the vast majority of people".
In a meeting with the Commons Liaison Committee, Johnson was asked whether Sir Mark Sedwill, the top civil servant in the UK, ought to investigate Cummings’ actions. He replied: "Quite frankly, I am not certain that right now an inquiry into that matter is a very good use of official time.
"We are working flat out on coronavirus."
Johnson concluded that the public would prefer the government to "focus on them and their needs, rather than on a political ding-dong about what one adviser may or may not have done".
