Durham Miners Association slams 'shameful' actions of Dominic Cummings after trip to North East during lockdown

Mr Cummings, the Prime Minister’s senior Government aide, travelled to his parents’ home in County Durham in March, while official guidelines warned against long-distance journeys.

He is said to have feared that he and his wife would be left unable to care for their son, after displaying symptoms of coronavirus.

At the Downing Street briefing on Sunday, May 24, Boris Johnson defended the actions of his top aide, saying that Mr Cummings had followed “instinct” to seek childcare for his son.

However, further reports also suggest he took a second trip to the North East in April, having already returned to London following his recovery from Covid-19.

Several Conservative backbenchers have joined calls from opposition parties for Mr Cummings to quit or be sacked, amid warnings from experts that his actions have "undermined" efforts to fight coronavirus.

Acting Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner, Steve White has written to the force asking officers to “establish the facts” around whether any breach of the law has taken place.

And now Durham Miners Association has released a damning statement, labelling Mr Cummings’ actions as “shameful” and accusing the Prime Minister of showing “sickening contempt” for the British people in defending him.

In a statement shared on Twitter on Monday, May 25 a spokesperson for the DMA said: “Dominic Cummings may be from Durham, but he is not of Durham.

“His shameful actions are an insult to our communities and the values that bind us together. We look after each other. We do not put people in danger through acts of selfishness.”

“In defending Cummings, the Prime Minister has shown a sickening contempt, not only for the people of Durham who were put at risk, but for all of the British people.”

“We urge everyone to continue to demonstrate that they are better than their Government and better than their Prime Minister.

“Please continue to stay home as much as possible, continue to observe social distancing, and continue to look after each other.”

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