Boris Johnson risks reputation over Dominic Cummings – The Yorkshire Post says

Dominic Cummings leaves his North London home for 10 Downing Street.Dominic Cummings leaves his North London home for 10 Downing Street.
Dominic Cummings leaves his North London home for 10 Downing Street.
BORIS Johnson’s reluctance to dispense with the services of Dominic Cummings over breaches of Covid-19 lockdown protocols helps to explain his debt to his chief aide.

It is, in many respects, due to Mr Cummings, the foremost political tactician of these times, that Britain voted to leave the EU and that Mr Johnson was able to force Brexit through before winning last December’s general election.

And while Mr Cummings is unperturbed by the abrasiveness of his public persona, it’s clearly too much for loyal MPs, like Calder Valley’s Craig Whittaker, who are demanding his resignation.

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The very fact that Mr Johnson fronted last night’s press conference, and went on to praise his close colleague’s integrity, showed how much Mr Cummings matters to the PM.

Boris Johnson defended Dominic Cummings at a 10 Downing Street press conference.Boris Johnson defended Dominic Cummings at a 10 Downing Street press conference.
Boris Johnson defended Dominic Cummings at a 10 Downing Street press conference.

Yet, given the Tory leader did sidestep questions about any breach of rules by Mr Cummings after he, and his family, travelled 260-miles to Durham when being struck down by Covid-19, only an inquiry by the Cabinet Secretary will suffice if this scandal is to be resolved before it becomes even more destabilising at this time of national crisis.

And that’s because the public response – rather than the political reaction – continues to be so damaging to the Government. Families want to know, with reason, why it was acceptable for Mr Cummings to follow his “instincts” – the word used by the PM – while they abided by the rules and stayed away from loved ones, even at times of great anguish and heartache.

Frankly Mr Johnson did not provide satisfactory answers – he did not even permit follow-up questions from most members of the media – and he will find his judgement increasingly called into question until the full facts are both established and published.

Furthermore, he will also struggle to command the necessary authority when he next requests public compliance over the lockdown’s enforcement.

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