Yorkshire headteacher pens poignant letter to his MP amid Dominic Cummings row

A Yorkshire headteacher has said he is 'appalled' by the actions of Boris Johnson's top advisor Dominic Cummings - after he allegedly flouted lockdown rules.

John Tomsett has written a poignant letter to his MP Julian Sturdy, revealing how he was unable to see his ill mother before she died because he was abiding by the same lockdown rules Mr Cummings broke.

Police have confirmed they attended a property in County Durham after it emerged that Dominic Cummings travelled more than 260 miles from his London home in March during the lockdown Boris Johnson had just announced. Mr Cummings said he "behaved reasonably and legally" when making the trip, apparently so his parents could help look after his children.

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Join our new coronavirus Facebook group for the latest confirmed news and advice as soon as we get itReports suggested he made the same trip again two weeks later, however Grant Shapps told the Sophy Ridge programme that those reports were untrue.

Dominic Cummings appeared to have breached government lockdown rules by travelling to Durham when he was supposed to be self isolating in London in late March.Dominic Cummings appeared to have breached government lockdown rules by travelling to Durham when he was supposed to be self isolating in London in late March.
Dominic Cummings appeared to have breached government lockdown rules by travelling to Durham when he was supposed to be self isolating in London in late March.

Mr Tomsett, who is headteacher at Huntington School in York, said he didn't make the 520-mile round trip to see his mother in a care home in Sussex because of the lockdown rules. By the time he did make the trip - which he did in one day so as not to break any rules - it was to attend her funeral.

He tweeted a picture of the letter sent to Mr Sturdy, which has since had more than 6,000 likes and almost 2,000 retweets on the social media site. A number of people have contacted Mr Tomsett to express their condolences or reveal similar situations they found themselves in.

Indeed, Mr Tomsett ends the letter by asking his MP to ensure his story is made known to Boris Johnson, while adding there are thousands of similar stories across the country.

The letter in full:

Dear Julian,

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My mother died of Covid 10, alone in a care home in Sussex on April 18, 2020.

I was unable to visit her during the last few weeks and days of her life because of the lock-down measures imposed by your government, advised by Dominic Cummings.

It now appears that Cummings not only broke the lock-down rules himself, he did so flagrantly. His response today has been arrogance personified.

When I did, finally, make a 520 mile round trip from York to Sussex and back to see my mother, it was to bury her body.

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I completed the 520 mile round trip in a single day because I thought staying at my sister's house in Sussex contravened the lock-down rules.

I know you to be a man of integrity and intelligence. I am sure you can appreciate why I am appalled at Cummings' disregard for the lock-down rules he had a hand in making.

Please make my story known to Number 10; there are thousands of similar stories across the land.

Sincerely,

John

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Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

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James Mitchinson

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