You CAN see your grandparents, Boris Johnson tells Britons as he announces lockdown relaxation rules - Daily Mail

You CAN see your grandparents and throw BBQ parties for friends - but careful if you pop inside for the toilet, Boris Johnson tells Britons as he announces lockdown relaxation rules

• Boris Johnson unveiled a lockdown loosening in England at a press conference in Downing Street yesterday
• Up to six people from different households will be able to mix outside including in gardens from next week
• Barbecues are allowed as long as people obey hygiene rules and maintain social distancing while doing so
• However, despite the easing you will still not be able to hug people from another household or stay overnight
• Shops and schools will start to be reopened from next month as part of changes unveiled yesterday evening
• Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

By Danyal Hussain and James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline

Published: 02:06 BST, 29 May 2020 | Updated: 02:31 BST, 29 May 2020

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Britons will finally be able to see family and friends in groups of six from Monday, after Boris Johnson unlocked lockdown last nigh - though he warned social distancing measures would still have to be followed.

After two months of stringent restrictions, the long-awaited change will mean many grandparents can see their children and grandchildren – while groups of friends or family members can gather for a summer barbecue.

But members of different households will be told to stay two metres apart, they will not be allowed to hug and they won't be allowed to stay over.

The Prime Minister said the measures would provide a 'long-awaited and joyful moment' for many as they were reunited with their loved ones.

Mr Johnson said all five tests required to move to the next phase of the lockdown had been met, adding: 'That is not my achievement or the Government's achievement – it is your achievement, only possible thanks to your resolve and dedication to our national purpose to overcome this virus.'

How is the lockdown being eased in England from Monday? 

What's changing?

From Monday, people can meet outside in groups of up to six as long as those from different households continue to socially distance. 

Great, can we hug?

Sadly no. You still cannot risk infection by being too close. The same goes for handshakes or kissing.

If young children from different households are part of the group, they must not share paddling pools, climbing frames, slides or anything that would encourage them to be closer than two metres to each other. 

Can we barbecue?

Yes, but you must wash your hands, be careful about passing food or plates and keep 6ft apart.

How about entering their house?

Only if there is no other way of getting to the back of the property. 

What about using the toilet?

You can, but you must thoroughly clean any surfaces you touch.

To be extra safe, you could even use a paper towel to open and close bathroom doors and perhaps consider using a kitchen roll to dry hands rather than a towel.

So what if it rains?

You will have to stand under an umbrella or leave. You cannot shelter in someone else's home.

Can we camp in the garden?

No, Boris Johnson said he did not want you to stay overnight.

Do I only have to see the same group?

No, you can meet different people at different times, but try not to see too many in quick succession.

Can those shielding take part?

No, they must continue to shield if they're in the clinically extremely vulnerable group and have had a letter from their GP.

What about the over-70s?

If they are not in the shielding group.

We are a family of six – can we meet anyone else?

No. The guidelines say you can meet only up to six people at any one time.

Can we visit a relative in a care home garden?

It would depend on circumstances and the care home's management.

 

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An upbeat PM revealed yesterday that the draconian restrictions are being eased slightly from next week, as he formally reduced the country's Covid 'alert' status from four to three.

Despite warnings from chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance that 8,000 new infections are still happening every day and admitting making the rules more nuanced will create 'anomalies and inconsistencies', Mr Johnson unveiled a series of changes to take effect in England from Monday.  

Up to six people from different households will be allowed to mix. They will also be permitted to use gardens and private outdoor spaces, which was previously banned.

Non-essential shops and primary schools will start to reopen from next month, as had been suggested earlier in the week.  

Mr Johnson told the daily Downing Street briefing: 'I cannot and I will not throw away all the gains we have made together. So the changes that we have made are limited and cautious.'   

The premier said there was no question of people being given permission to stay overnight, or spend time in other homes. However, he added: 'We want people to be able to see their friends and family. We want people to be able to see both parents at once.

'You could even have a barbecue provided you did it in a socially distanced way.' 

Chief medical officer Chris Whitty confirmed that people can go to the toilet in other people's houses if they come to visit, but it was 'absolutely critical' that they wiped everything down afterwards and washed their hands rigorously. 

The bigger than expected move comes despite concerns having been raised in Cabinet that a 'barbecue clause' could lead to a fresh flare-up in infections.

In other coronavirus news: 

• The UK's blanket 14-day quarantine for travellers is set to cost UK economy a staggering £650million a week;
• Chief scientist warns that R-rate is still near one as UK announces 377 more COVID-19 deaths; 
• Civil liberty campaigners hit out at 'draconian intrusion of privacy' after Matt Hancock's threat to issue fines for people not obeying 14-day test and trace isolation orders; 
• Half of Brits have gained weight and 14% of us haven't left home in a week amid Covid-19 crisis; 
• Britons took to the streets in 10th weekly salute to NHS key workers - as the event's founder says last night's should be the final one 
• ONS data reveals that nearly 20 UK council areas have not yet reached their coronavirus peaks.

Nicola Sturgeon made her move first yesterday lunchtime, by announcing tweaks in Scotland that mean up to eight people can meet up in their own gardens from tomorrow - although only two households can meet at once.  

Mr Johnson said: 'I know the toll that lockdown has taken on families and friends who have been unable to see each other.

'So from Monday we will allow up to six people to meet outside - provided those from different households continue strictly to observe social distancing rules by staying two metres apart.

Groups of family and friends will be able to meet up from next Monday, after Boris Johnson announced the easing of lockdown restrictions yesterday

Six people will be able to meet - though those from different households will be required to maintain social distancing. However, it means that barbecues could be back on the menu

Chief medical officer Chris Whitty confirmed that people can go to the toilet in other people's houses if they come to visit, but it was 'absolutely critical' that they wiped everything down afterwards

'At the moment, as you know, people can meet in parks but not in private gardens. This was a cautious first step - but we know that there is no difference in the health risk. So we will now allow people to meet in gardens and other private outdoor spaces.

'These changes mean friends and family can start to meet their loved ones - perhaps seeing both parents at once, or both grandparents at once. I know that for many this will be a long-awaited and joyful moment.

'But I must stress that to control the virus, everyone needs to stay alert, act responsibly, strictly observe social distancing rules, and stay two metres apart from those who you do not live with.'

Mr Johnson stressed that 'minimising contact with others is still the best way to prevent transmission'. 

He added: 'You should also try to avoid seeing people from too many households in quick succession - so that we can avoid the risk of quick transmission from lots of different families and continue to control the virus.

'And it remains the case that people should not be inside the homes of their friends and families, unless it is to access the garden.'

Mr Johnson admitted there would be 'anomalies' and 'apparent inconsistencies' in the more complicated rules. 

'Inevitably there may be some anomalies, or apparent inconsistencies, in these rules - and clearly what we're proposing is still just a fraction of the social interaction each of us would normally enjoy,' he said.

'I know many of you will find this frustrating and I am sorry about that. But I'm afraid it is unavoidable, given the nature of the invisible enemy we are fighting.'

The official review this afternoon gave the all-clear for schools to begin reopening next week. 

The road map to easing the lockdown contained the possibility one household could form a social 'bubble' with one other in a mutual group, but it that has been quietly shelved. 

Mr Johnson said: 'We don't want people to stay overnight, we don't want people to go to other households and stay there, I'm just afraid we're not at that stage.

'What you certainly can imagine is there could be meetings of families in a garden, you could even have a barbecue provided you did it in a socially-distanced way, provided everyone washes their hands, provided everybody exercises common sense.' 

Professor Whitty said he hoped that 'relatively soon' the number of infections will be low enough to start letting shielded people leave home.

Jay, 33, from Horsham, who is shielding with her 10-year-old son, asked the Downing Street briefing how the lockdown was going to be eased for the extremely vulnerable, saying she felt that people like her had been forgotten.

An upbeat Boris Johnson revealed at the Downing Street briefing tonight that the draconian restrictions are being eased slightly from next week, as he formally reduced the country's Covid 'alert' status from four to three

Up to six people from different households will be allowed to mix, opening the prospect of reunions for family and friends, Mr Johnson said 

Up to six people from different households will be allowed to mix, although they will still be told to obey social distancing rules. They will also be permitted to use gardens and private outdoor spaces, which was previously banned (stock photo)

Sunbathers were seen enjoying the hot weather next to Tower Bridge on the River Thames on Thursday afternoon, ahead of the easing of restrictions

Prof Whitty said the number of infections must come down to reduce the risk for the shielded and vulnerable.

'And we will get to a stage, we hope relatively soon, where the absolute risk of people has gone down to a low enough level it will be possible in stages for people to leave shielding,' he said.

Sturgeon says people can meet up in their gardens from today

Nicola Sturgeon yesterday declared that lockdown is easing in Scotland - with up to eight people allowed to mix in parks and gardens.

The Scottish First minister unveiled the move in Edinburgh hours before Boris Johnson is due to make his tweaks to the draconian coronavirus curbs,

She said from tomorrow two households will be permitted to meet up, while obeying social distancing rules. Although there will be no legal limit she urged them to keep numbers to eight or lower.  

Sports such as tennis and golf will also be back on the table, but Scots are being encouraged not to travel more than five miles from home apart from for essential work. Schools will not be reopened until August 11, after scheduled holidays.

Under phase one, garden centres, drive-thru food outlets and recycling centres in Scotland will be allowed to open while non-essential shops will be asked to remain closed.

Ms Sturgeon announced that teachers would be allowed to re-enter schools to prepare for the proposed return of schools on August 11.

People will also now be allowed to sit and sunbathe in local parks.

A legal limit will not be put on how far people will be allowed to travel for recreation but the First Minister said the 'strong advice' of the Scottish Government was to stay within five miles.

She added: 'We simply don't want, in this phase, large numbers of people at tourist hotspots or beauty spots.'

But Sir Patrick struck a cautious note, pointing out that 8,000 people were still being infected every day.

He said: 'The number of new infections is estimated to be roughly one in a thousand per week, it means that 54,000 new cases are occurring every week, so somewhere around eight or so thousand per day.

'That is not a low number, so it's worth remembering that we still have a significant burden of infection, we are still seeing new infections every day at quite a significant rate and the R is close to one.

'That means there is not a lot of room to do things and things need to be done cautiously, step-by-step and monitored and the Test and Trace system needs to be effective in order to manage that.'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a round of interviews earlier: 'The good thing that we've learned from the science of this virus in the last few weeks is that the risk of transmission outdoors is much lower - it's not zero, but it is much lower than indoors.

'So, during the summer in particular, a lot of the changes that you can expect to see will be based on the principle that outdoors is safer than indoors.' 

The R reproduction rate and the government's new contact tracing regime are seen as crucial to loosen the lockdown safely.

But the back end of the tracing site crashed on launch this morning, amid complaints it has been a 'complete shambles'.

Doctors and other staff reported major teething troubles as the much-trumpeted scheme finally got up and running, with some saying they had not even received passwords to start work - although the public-facing web forms were not affected. 

Meanwhile, NHS chiefs have warned that 'key bits' of the system are not yet operational and it cannot be described as 'world class'. 

MPs say they were told by the head of NHS Test and Trace, Baroness Dido Harding, that the local tracking will not be fully in place until the end of June. 

The chaotic beginning came as Matt Hancock laughed off criticism over the delay to the NHS app that was meant to accompany the regime.

The Health Secretary insisted it was right to press ahead without the phone technology, suggesting it was important to 'get people used' to the principles.  

Under the plans, anyone with symptoms will immediately self-isolate and book a test, either at a testing centre or delivered to their home. Their household should start a 14-day isolation period too.

People sit and enjoy the sunny weather near Tower Bridge in London this week, as the lockdown is set to be eased

The slides released by the government this evening showed how it believes the tests have been met

Britain reveals 377 more COVID-19 deaths as study claims 3.7million people - in England may have ALREADY had disease 

Another 377 people have died of the coronavirus in Britain, officials announced yesterday , pushing the total number of fatalities to 37,837 as a blood-testing survey suggests seven per cent of people have had the virus. 

The Department of Health announced that 337 more people have died in England 14 more people have died in Wales, 12 in Scotland and two in Northern Ireland. 1,887 more people tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday. 

Separate data released yesterday for the first time shows that one in every 14 people in England - around 3.7million people- have already had coronavirus, according to tests on almost 900 people by the Office for National Statistics. 

The government body yesterday released the first results of its blood testing scheme, which found 60 people out of 885 (6.78 per cent) tested positive for Covid-19-specific antibodies in their immune systems.

It suggests that 4.5million people across the UK have been exposed to the virus - a similar estimate to the 15 per cent of Londoners and five per cent elsewhere announced last week by Health Secretary Matt Hancock. 

That would indicate that the death rate of the virus in UK, based on a suspected 51,095 deaths, is around 1.14 per cent, meaning one in every 88 coronavirus patients dies. 

Ongoing swab testing shows that 0.24 per cent of the population is currently infected with the disease. This a drop of 0.01 per cent from last week's update and suggests about 133,000 people are carrying the virus.

ONS officials said it was possible this number was as low as 62,000 or as high as 250,000 - the tests are based on small samples of the population so have to account for a margin of error.

If the test proves negative, everyone comes out of isolation. But if the test is positive, NHS contact tracers or local public health teams will call, email or send a text asking them to share details of the people they have been in close contact with and places they have visited.

The team then emails or texts those close contacts, telling them they must stay home for 14 days even if they have no symptoms, to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus. 

However, there were claims that the NHS trace and test website for doctors had crashed this morning. 

One contact tracer told LBC radio it had been a 'complete shambles' so far, and they had not received their logon details for the site.  

A Department of Health spokesman denied that the whole system had crashed. 

'Anyone in the country can log on and book a test if they have symptoms and we have tracers logged on to do their vital work to help stop the spread of coronavirus and save lives,' the spokesman said.

'As with all large scale operations of this kind, some staff did initially encounter issues logging on to their systems and these are rapidly being resolved.'

Ministers have been warned up to two million people could be in isolation at any given time - with doubts over whether some will be willing to stop work if they are only getting statutory sick pay.

The government's own guidance to employers suggests staff could take holiday leave to comply with the isolation orders.

'If people can't work from home, employers must ensure any self-isolating employee is receiving sick pay and give them the option to use their paid leave days if they prefer,' it says. 

In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Hancock confirmed that the isolation will not be 'legally mandated' at the moment - although he said that could happen in future.   

The Health Secretary was told it was 'not a laughing matter' as he chuckled at suggestions he had rushed the system in before it is actually ready.

Statisticians said around 0.24 per cent of the population of England and Wales are currently thought to have the coronavirus - around 133,000 people (left). Young adults between 20 and 49 appear to be more likely to test positive for Covid-19 than people in other age groups, although this is only a significant difference when compared to 50 to 69-year-olds (right)

Wales set to follow Scottish example on lockdown easing 

Coronavirus restrictions in Wales are expected to be relaxed on Monday. 

First Minister Mark Drakeford is set to announce on Friday that people from two different households will be able to meet up outdoors, as long as they do not travel more than five miles. 

Under new 'stay local' guidelines, people will still need to observe social distancing when meeting in public or private outdoor spaces. 

Exceptions will allow for travelling to work, to seek care, and shopping for essentials if they are not available locally. 

The easing of lockdown rules will be formally set out by Mr Drakeford at the Welsh Government's daily press briefing on Friday. 

Further plans to relax restrictions in the coming weeks are also expected to be discussed. 

Sky News presenter Kay Burley pointed out that Mr Hancock had previously branded the app 'absolutely essential'. 

'You said the app was absolutely essential to track and trace. The app is still not ready,' she said.

But as Mr Hancock dissolved into giggles, she added: 'Many of my viewers will think it is not a laughing matter.'   

Mr Hancock argued that the target of getting contact tracing up and running by June 1 had still been met, despite the missing app. 

'It's priceless, Kay. I'm normally accused of delaying these things and bringing them in too slowly... you can't accuse me both of rushing it and it being delayed,' he said.

'I can't quite tell if you're saying I've gone too slow or too fast.' 

Mr Hancock insisted the Government is moving at 'just at the right speed' with the test and trace plan. 

'One of the things we learnt in the pilot on the Isle of Wight was that getting people used to that idea is important to do before we then also add the technological capability, the app, on top,' he said.  

But NHS providers chief executive Chris Hopson said 'very key bits' were still not operational. 

'We're in the process of building test and trace,' Mr Hopson told BBC Newsnight.

'There will be a group of contact tracers who will be ready... but there are still very key bits of test and trace that still need to be built.'

Scottish First minister Nicola Sturgeon unveiled the move in Edinburgh (pictured) hours before Boris Johnson made his tweaks to the draconian coronavirus curbs

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2020-05-29 01:38:05Z
52780817215928

UK weather forecast: Scorching 28C heatwave HALTED as rain storms hit - latest charts - Express.co.uk

The mercury is forecast to reach highs of 28C on Sunday, which is expected to be the hottest day of the year so far. But as the first day of summer comes on Monday, June 1, rain and strong winds look set to move in - sparking an end to the warm temperatures and glorious sunshine.

The Met Office warn there is an increased chance of rain and strong winds at the start of next week, especially across northern and western parts of the UK.

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said we can expect to see subtle changes from the beginning of next week, before a "more significant change" later in the week.

He said: "For the start of next week subtle changes taking place as an area of low pressure approaches northern Scotland.

"This will bring cooler and more unsettled weather to the north."

But he said southern parts of England and south Wales could see warm air move in from the continent on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Mr McGivern said: "There's the potential during Tuesday and Wednesday for southern parts of England and south Wales to be even hotter.

"They could even approach 30C.

"But further north it seems likely that we will see increased cloud, an increased chance of rain or showers by Wednesday and cooler air arriving."

JUST IN: UK heatwave: Scorching 28C highs as UK to see HOTTEST day of the year

WXCharts forecast a marked drop in temperature by the end of the week, with the mercury expected to reach just 14C in the south.

The north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland can expect even chiller temperatures, as the mercury struggles to break into the teens.

The cooler temperatures look set to continue into the weekend with temperatures peaking in the mid-teens in the south of England.

BBC forecasters expect the week commencing June 8 to remain fairly chilly.

They said: "This period may begin on a cooler, breezier note, with low pressure over Iceland and a northwesterly flow across the UK."

But they expect the high temperatures to return by the end of the week, as a period of high pressure moves back across the UK.

The BBC said: "High pressure out to the west should re-build eastwards across the UK.

"This should give plenty of dry, warm and sunny weather once again, and this is set to be the general theme through the middle of the month. It may be rather warm at times."

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2020-05-29 00:04:00Z
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Dominic Cummings 'is set to quit in six months' after drawing a line under Brexit, sources say - Daily Mail

Dominic Cummings 'is set to quit in six months': Boris Johnson's under-fire chief adviser 'will leave after drawing a line under Brexit'

• EXCLUSIVE: Dominic Cummings is 'considering quitting' Downing Street role
• Could leave post as senior aide for Boris Johnson at Christmas, sources say
• He would think himself 'largely redundant' following his Whitehall shake-up
• Prime Minister has received calls to sack his adviser over lockdown controversy
• Mr Johnson today slapped down criticism saying it is time to 'move on'

By Simon Walters for the Daily Mail

Published: 21:58 BST, 28 May 2020 | Updated: 22:31 BST, 28 May 2020

Dominic Cummings is considering quitting as Boris Johnson’s senior adviser later this year, well-placed sources said yesterday.

According to an insider who knows him well, he intends to step back from the political front line now that the UK is finally cutting ties with the EU.

The suggestion that he could be out in six months was reinforced by a separate claim that he will consider himself ‘largely redundant’ by Christmas if he completes his shake-up of Whitehall mandarins by then.

The report appeared in the Spectator magazine, where Mr Cummings used to work, and where his wife Mary Wakefield is a commissioning editor.

A senior source said: ‘Dominic has not decided what to do. He had to delay medical treatment unrelated to Covid because of the virus. He will deal with that when the pandemic is over and then discuss things with Mary. He will stay in his job if it seems worthwhile and [he] can improve things – otherwise he probably won’t.’

The question marks over his future follow the furore over Mr Cummings’s decision to drive his wife and young son 260 miles to his parents’ farm in Durham at the start of the lockdown. While they were there, the couple visited a nearby beauty spot.

The Prime Minister has refused to back widespread calls – including from 40 Tory MPs – for Mr Cummings to resign, arguing it is time to ‘move on’ after a week-long controversy over his conduct.

In other developments:

• The Premier League season is set to resume on June 17, precisely 100 days after the season was abruptly halted;
• Dentists were told they can reopen from June 8;
• Those ‘shielding’ from coronavirus because they have serious health conditions were given hope that they may be granted freedom ‘relatively soon’ despite having to remain indoors for the time being;
• Just 24 hours after touching down in Britain, the latest Mail Force charity airlift was reaching the NHS front line, with the first of a million high-quality surgical masks arriving at a hospital;
• In Scotland, people from two households can meet outdoors at a distance from Friday, and in Wales people from two households will be able to meet outside from Monday;
• The NHS test and trace programme went live but was branded a ‘shambles’ after staff said they weren’t prepared;
• Fewer than 1,000 deaths have been reported in English hospitals over the past week, the lowest number since lockdown began; 
• A major study suggested that seven out of ten people infected with coronavirus have never shown symptoms;
• Hairdressers could soon be allowed to open their doors if they wear gloves and masks;
• Rishi Sunak is today expected to throw another lifeline to self-employed workers;
• The BBC was embroiled in a bitter internal row after bosses said a monologue by Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis about Mr Cummings had broken impartiality rules.

Dominic Cummings is considering quitting as Boris Johnson ’s senior adviser later this year, sources have claimed

The report appeared in the Spectator magazine, where Mr Cummings used to work, and where his wife Mary Wakefield (pictured, together in December 2019) is a commissioning editor

The claim that Mr Cummings, 48, could be gone in six months will lead some to believe it is a face-saving measure to resolve a bitter clash between Mr Johnson and rebel MPs.

A defiant Mr Cummings could say he has resisted the latest in a long line of attempts by his foes to sack him; Mr Johnson could say he has shown he is loyal to his inner circle and strong enough to withstand pressure from public opinion and the media.

Meanwhile, Mr Cummings’s Tory MP detractors could say that despite the six-month wait, they have achieved their objective of removing him from No 10 and defused fury among the party faithful.

Mr Cummings’s allies insist his potential exit is not connected to the lockdown rumpus and that he ‘never intended’ to stay in Downing Street after achieving his two main aims: cutting the UK’s last ties with Brussels and reforming the Civil Service.

Mr Cummings joined Mr Johnson's Downing Street team in July last year following his Conservative leadership bid, and was pivotal in the success of the December General Election campaign

The former is due to take place on December 31 when Britain’s Brexit ‘transition period’ is scheduled to end.

Officials say one of the reasons Mr Johnson is digging his heels in over Mr Cummings is that he sees his hard-line anti-EU adviser as essential to maintaining the Government’s resolve to stick to the New Year deadline.

Political campaigner Mr Cummings masterminded the Brexit victory in the 2016 EU referendum and played a vital role in helping Mr Johnson win an election landslide in December.

The Spectator report said that by Christmas, Mr Cummings expects to have completed his campaign to recruit a new tier of talented and high-powered individuals from the private sector or academia to take charge of Whitehall departments.

Mr Cummings declined to comment last night.

Durham police say that Dominic Cummings DIDN'T break lockdown rules with 260-mile trip to parents' - but MIGHT have with drive to Barnard Castle to test his eyesight

ByJames Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline 

Boris Johnson's desperate battle to cling on to maverick chief aide Dominic Cummings was boosted today as police said his 260-mile trip to Durham did not break lockdown rules - and a 60-mile jaunt to a beauty spot only 'might have'. 

The PM will be breathing a sigh of relief after Durham Police stopped short of condemning the top adviser outright, and said he will face no further action.

Durham Police said today that Mr Cummings' trip to Barnard Castle 'might have' been in 'minor breach' of the regulations.

The force added that if an officer had stopped Mr Cummings on his journey they would have provided 'advice on the dangers of travelling during the pandemic crisis'. 

Had this advice been accepted by Mr Cummings, 'no enforcement action would have been taken'. 

Durham Police said today that Mr Cummings' trip to Barnard Castle near his parents' home in Durham 'might have' been in 'minor breach' of the regulations, but that he will face no further action

Downing Street immediately doubled down in its defence of Mr Cummings, with a spokesman saying the matter is now 'closed'.

Mr Johnson again attempted to shift the focus from the damaging row this evening when he announces an easing of the draconian lockdown at the daily press briefing - and said he wanted to 'draw a line' on the Cummings fiasco. 

But he is certain to face more questions on the issue, as Tory infighting continues over whether Mr Cummings should have been sacked.

One of Mr Johnson's own ministers, Penny Mordaunt, is among dozens of MPs who have criticised the aide's 'inconsistent' account of his journeys at the height of the lockdown and accused him of undermining the crucial public health message.

Mr Cummings emerged from the shadows on Monday to front an extraordinary press conference of his own in the Downing Street rose garden. He insisted he acted 'lawfully' in March when he travelled to Durham with wife Mary Wakefield, who was displaying coronavirus symptoms, and their four-year-old son to seek childcare help from family. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the back of Downing Street in London today

The trio later made a day trip to Barnard Castle, which Mr Cummings - who by then says he had also been through coronavirus - claims was to test out his eye-sight to see if he was fit to drive. 

 Durham Police said they did not consider Mr Cummings self-isolating at his family's farm a breach of the guidelines, and while his trip to Barnard Castle 'might have' been in 'minor breach' of the regulations, no further action would be taken. 

In a statement the force said: 'In line with Durham Constabulary's general approach throughout the pandemic, there is no intention to take retrospective action in respect of the Barnard Castle incident since this would amount to treating 

The £157,000-a-year police chief whose force found itself at the centre of the Dominic Cummings row

Jo Farrell was appointed chief constable of Durham Constabulary last June, becoming the first woman ever to hold the key position in the force's 180-year history.

During her time at Northumbria Police she was involved with the manhunt for killer Raoul Moat in 2010, and was in command on the night he called the force to say he was hunting for police.

Her appointment as Durham chief capped an impressive rise up the ranks during a career with the police which began nearly 30 years ago when she joined Cambridgeshire Police in 1991 aged 22 as a constable.

Mrs Farrell, whose hobbies include cooking and keeping fit, is married to a retired police officer and has two stepsons and a daughter.

The £156,958-a-year chief was born on the Wirral in Merseyside before moving to Cambridgeshire aged 15 when her father relocated with his job, and then she completing a degree in business at Sheffield Polytechnic.

Mrs Farrell had wanted to join the police since childhood and her first role was a five-year stint on the beat in Cambridge city centre.

Then in 2002 she joined Northumbria Police as a chief inspector before being promoted to assistant chief constable.

In 2016 Mrs Farrell joined Durham Constabulary and took charge of the policing for various high-profile events before her appointment as chief constable, taking over from Mike Barton after his seven-year stint.

Speaking last year, she said: 'I was 22 when I joined the police and I absolutely loved it. Although I don't have any family connection with the police, I had always wanted to join and I was so proud when I first became an officer.

'As I tell all our new recruits, when we get it right, we can have such a positive impact on people's lives – the difference that we can make is phenomenal'.

She also works on behalf of the National Police Chiefs’ Council in information management and criminal justice file quality.

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'Mr Cummings differently from other members of the public. Durham Constabulary has not taken retrospective action against any other person.' 

A No10 spokesman said the Prime Minister now considers this matter closed after Durham Police decided not to pursue legal action.

They added: 'The police have made clear they are taking no action against Mr Cummings over his self-isolation and that going to Durham did not breach the regulations. 

'The Prime Minister has said he believes Mr Cummings behaved reasonably and legally given all the circumstances and he regards this issue as closed.' 

The force found itself at the centre of the explosive political row  after saying in a statement that it gave advice on lockdown guidelines and self-isolation when officers visited Mr Cummings' father on March 31.  

On Sunday the force backtracked, saying that officers only gave security advice after learning that Mr Cummings was coming from London with his four-year-old son and wife. 

The top aide claims he used the journey on his wife's birthday to check his vision had recovered enough to drive back to London after suffering suspected Covid-19.

He had already travelled 260 miles from the capital to the North East two weeks before to stay at his parents' farm.

Road police officers warned it was a bad idea to take to road with impaired vision in the wake of the Cummings case.

Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales John Apter wrote on Twitter: 'Folks, I say this in all sincerity and as an important road safety issue.

'If you're feeling unwell and your eyesight may be impaired do not drive your vehicle to test your ability to drive. It's not a wise move.

'As a former road death investigator with Hampshire police I have investigated many serious collisions, including fatalities.

'Some of these were caused by drivers with impaired vision, this is a serious issue. Do not drive if your eyesight is impaired or you feel unwell.'

Boris Johnson ruled out an inquiry into his top advisor yesterday and urged people to 'move on' from the incident.

But that has done little to quell anger in the Tory ranks over Mr Cummings behaviour.

Penny Mordaunt, who currently serves as Paymaster General, said there are 'inconsistencies' in Mr Cummings' account and that the row had 'undermined key public health messages'. 

Meanwhile, former chancellor Mr Javid said in a letter to constituents that he did not believe Mr Cummings' trip to Durham to self-isolate with his family was 'necessary or justified'.  

Though stopping short of calling for the aide's resignation as many of his Tory colleagues have done, Mr Javid did call on him to apologise for the controversial journey.

It came as the Tory MP for Darlington, Peter Gibson, admitted he had travelled back to the North East from London by train in March after developing coronavirus symptoms while in Westminster. 

Mr Gibson said he had first got a cough on March 11, before lockdown was imposed, and had been advised to return to his Darlington home to self-isolate because he did not have anywhere he could stay safely in the capital.  

The PM has seen his party's ratings tumble by four points in a week amid the Dominic Cummings row, while support for Labour has gone up five points, according to a YouGov survey for the Times

The PM's personal ratings have also been plummeting amid the row over his chief adviser's lockdown activities

Tory MP Peter Gibson has admitted travelling from London to the North East by train after developing coronavirus symptoms 

Mr Johnson flatly dismissed calls for an official inquiry into Mr Cummings yesterday as he told the Liaison Committee he believed it was just a 'political ding dong'. 

The PM said he 'totally understood public indignation' about the situation, but insisted some of the allegations about his chief aide were 'not correct' and that the matter should now be left in the past. 

Many senior ministers have publicly backed Mr Cummings either with comments to the media or through messages on social media.  

But it has emerged that Ms Mordaunt was critical of the aide in an email sent to a constituent. 

Tory MPs who have called for Dominic Cummings to be sacked

The number of Tory MPs who have now called for Mr Cummings to be sacked after his press conference stands at at least 30. 

They are believed to be: 

Douglas Ross - Scotland minister who has quit

Harriett Baldwin - former Treasury minister

Sir Roger Gale - Tory veteran, MP since 1983 

Martin Vickers - Eurosceptic MP for Cleethorpes

Peter Bone - leading Brexit campaigner in 2016

Craig Whittaker - former Tory whip 

Robert Goodwill - former environment minister

Paul Maynard - ex-transport minister

Mark Pawsey - MP for Rugby for 10 years

Sir Robert Syms -  MP for Poole since 1997 

Tim Loughton - former children's minister

Jason McCartney - former RAF officer

Peter Aldous - MP for Waveney since 2010

John Stevenson - solicitor and MP for Carlisle

Caroline Nokes - ex-immigration minister

Damian Collins - chair of DCMS select committee

Philip Davies - outspoken backbench MP

Julian Sturdy - farmer and MP for York Outer

Alec Shelbrooke - backed Jeremy Hunt for leadership

Mark Harper - former chief whip

Stephen Hammond - arch Remainer MP for Wimbledon

Simon Hoare - Only an MP since 2015

Andrew Percy - ex-Northern Powerhouse minister

David Warburton - MP for Froome since 2015

Steve Baker - Former ERG chairman and Brexiteer

Andrew Jones - North Yorkshire MP since 2010

Jeremy Wright - Former Attorney General and DCMS Secretary

Bob Neill - Justice Select Committee chair

James Gray - MP for North Wiltshire for 23 years

George Freeman - Former transport minister

Mark Garnier - Wyre Forest MP since 2010 

Jackie Doyle-Price - Thurrock MP and former civil servant 

Stephen Metcalfe - Father-of-two with wife Angela 

Elliot Colburn - Carshalton and Wallington MP since December 

Bob Stewart - Former British Army officer

However, she also did not go so far as calling for Mr Cummings to be sacked, insisting it is a 'matter for the Prime Minister who he has as his adviser'.

'Despite Mr Cummings' statement yesterday (on Monday) I am personally still not clear of the facts,' the minister wrote.

'There are some inconsistencies in his account of events and the reasons behind it.

'I am not clear about when he would have been symptomatic and on what dates he should have been in isolation. Or whether it was appropriate he drove home at the time he did.

'There is no doubt he took risks - refuelling at a petrol station is a risk to oneself and to others, which presumably he did. 

'What is clear is that the scenes of the last few days will have undermined key public health messages. I deeply regret this and am very sorry for it.' 

Mr Javid quit as chancellor in February this year during a Cabinet reshuffle following an escalation in tensions with Mr Cummings, who had fired one of his aides without telling him.

He was told by Mr Johnson that to stay in post he would have to accept losing all of his special advisers with Number 10 then hand-picking their replacements. 

Mr Javid said he therefore had no choice but to resign, saying in the immediate aftermath: 'I don't believe any self-respecting minister would accept those conditions.'   

The former Chancellor has now resurfaced to take aim at Mr Cummings over his alleged lockdown breach.  

Mr Javid wrote in the letter to constituents: 'Mr Cummings has argued he acted within the letter of the law.

'As a father myself, I also appreciate the fear and uncertainty one can feel when the safety of your child is potentially at stake.

'That being said I do not believe Mr Cummings' journey to County Durham to isolate on his family's estate was necessary or justified. I remain unconvinced his visit to Barnard Castle could be considered reasonable.

'I was also deeply concerned by his decision to return to Downing Street directly after coming into contact with a family member who was ill, potentially with coronavirus.' 

The ongoing row over Mr Cummings' trip came as Mr Gibson revealed he had travelled approximately 250 miles by train to get home after developing Covid-19 symptoms. 

Mr Gibson, who was elected for the first time in 2019, told the Northern Echo that he had contacted the MPs' coronavirus hotline after developing a cough and was told to self-isolate for seven days. 

But he said he did not have accommodation in London because he was 'staying in the spare room of a friend's flat'. 

'I was advised if my normal mode of transport was the train I should use that but should isolate and keep myself to myself, which is what I did,' he told the newspaper. 

He added: 'Some people will say I should have stayed in London but where was I supposed to stay?' 

More than 40 Conservative MPs have called on Mr Cummings to quit his role because of the lockdown journey row. 

However, the Prime Minister has so far resisted all requests to punish his aide. 

Pushed on whether the Cabinet Secretary should carry out a formal investigation, Mr Johnson said there had been plenty of 'autobiography' from Mr Cummings and it would not be a 'good use of official time' as everyone was working 'flat out' on the coronavirus response. 

In one particularly bruising exchange at the Liaison Committee yesterday afternoon, Labour's Home Affairs Select Committee chairman Yvette Cooper jibed: 'Forty-thousand people are dead. We need you to get this right now.'  

The clashes came with the row over Mr Cummings' 260-mile trip to Durham during lockdown still threatening to tear the Conservative Party apart.   

Penny Mordaunt, the Paymaster General, said in an email to a constituent that the row over Dominic Cummings' trip to Durham had 'undermined key public health messages'.

Former Chancellor Sajid Javid has called on Mr Cummings to apologise for allegedly breaching lockdown regulations

Tory voters agree that Mr Cummings broke lockdown rules, according to separate YouGov polling from yesterday

There is broad support for Mr Cummings quitting across Leave and Tory voters, according to a poll yesterday

The party's poll lead has been slashed by nine points in a week - thought to be the biggest drop in a decade. And despite the desperate plea for the focus to shift on to other subjects, nearly two-thirds of people say the story remains important.     

Conservative MP Danny Kruger complained that 'one wing' of the party was 'going bonkers' by comparing the alleged lockdown breach to 'the invasion of Suez'. 

But in a sign of the depth of anger within the party, former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has insisted Mr Cummings 'clearly' did break the rules. 

A private conference call with government whips and the new intake of Conservative MPs yesterday appeared to have smoothed over matters somewhat. But last night even one of the whips came out with criticism of Mr Cummings. 

55% of Tory voters say Dominic Cummings should resign over his 'lockdown breach' journeys 

A majority of Conservative supporters believe that Dominic Cummings should be fired for breaking coronavirus rules, according to a new poll.  

Research by JL Partners for the Daily Mail found 66 per cent of people think Mr Cummings should leave his post amid the row, including 55 per cent of all Conservative voters. 

A further 63 per cent believe Boris Johnson should sack his right hand man, including 53 per cent of Tory supporters. 

Perhaps even more damning is the statistic that 80 per cent of people and almost three quarters of Conservative supporters agree that Mr Cummings broke the rules he played a key role in drawing up. 

In further bleak news for the Prime Minister, the research suggests that former Labour voters in the 'Red Wall' in the North and Midlands have reacted particularly badly to the row.    

At 72 per cent, working class 'C1/C2' voters are more likely to think the government is behaving as though 'it is one rule for them and another rule for everyone else'.

Also, 69 per cent are more likely to say Mr Cummings is not telling the truth than voters overall. 

Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green in North London, told the Evening Standard it was 'entirely reasonable for people to vehemently disagree with his (Mr Cummings) view of events'.

He added: 'I do not believe it is the conclusion many of my constituents, or myself, would have reached.' 

Three more Tories, George Freeman, Giles Watling and Pauline Latham, have called on Mr Cummings to resign. 

Former transport minister Mr Freeman tweeted: 'After 48hrs & c1000 emails from constituents expressing outage at the PM's Chief of Staff breaking the lockdown & not apologising, it's clear that public anger at the betrayal of their trust & compliance now risks a collapse of respect for HMG public health advice. DC has to go.'    

Amid fierce questioning from MPs at the committee hearing yesterday, Mr Johnson was asked whether the Government's 'moral authority' had been compromised by the row. 

'This has really been going on for several days now - in the media at least,' he said.

'I, of course, am deeply sorry for all the hurt and pain and anxiety that people have been going through throughout this period - this country has been going through a frankly most difficult time.

'We are asking people to do quite exceptionally tough things, separating them from their families.'

Mr Johnson said he would not be adding to his previous comments on Mr Cummings and said the public wanted politicians to focus on 'uniting our message' and 'focusing on their needs'.

Northern Ireland committee chair Simon Hoare - one of around 40 Tory MPs baying for Mr Cummings' resignation - warned the PM the nation will be 'far less energetic' about obeying future restrictions as 'a direct result of the activities of your senior adviser'.

Mr Hoare asked what MPs should tell constituents who ask 'if other people don't abide by it why on earth should we' because 'we know what your views are, frankly Prime Minister, I don't think anybody understands why you hold those views'.

Mr Johnson replied: 'I don't think that's true about how the British people will respond to the next phases, to how to work the test and trace system, I don't think that's how they responded at all throughout the crisis.

'If, just suppose for a second that you were right, which I don't accept, all the more reason now for us to be consistent and clear in our message driving those key messages.' 

Mr Johnson said he had seen evidence to prove that some of the allegations made against Mr Cummings were false.

But asked by Labour MP Meg Hillier whether the Cabinet Secretary should also see that evidence, the PM said: 'I think actually that it would not be doing my job if I were now to shuffle this problem into the hands of officials who, believe me, Meg, are - as I think the public would want - working flat out to deal with coronavirus...

Liaison Committee chair Bernard Jenkin (left) oversaw the fiery exchanges with the PM, including Yvette Cooper (right) demanding to know what the advice to parents was about travelling for childcare

'I totally understand public indignation, I totally understand that, but I do think that as I understand things, and I've said what I've said about the whole business, I think it would be much better if we could now move on and focus on the next steps.'

Under fire from Ms Cooper, Mr Johnson said people could travel to get childcare during lockdown if there were 'exceptional' circumstances. 

Four-fifths of parents would not have travelled for childcare, survey suggests 

More than 80 per cent of parents did not and would not have travelled for emergency childcare during the lockdown, a survey suggests.

Almost a quarter of people said they had been in similar circumstances to the Prime Minister's chief adviser Dominic Cummings and had chosen to stay put, according to a survey of 965 Mumsnet users with at least one child.

A total of 81 per cent of respondents said they either did not or would not have travelled for emergency childcare, with 23 per cent saying that they had found themselves in a situation where one parent was ill and the other suspected they may become ill too, whilst both were caring for a young child and did not travel for emergency back-up.

Of those surveyed, 90 per cent said that in their view Mr Cummings and his family broke the rules of lockdown.

A third of respondents said that knowing the actions he took, they are more likely to break lockdown rules as they now stand - with three quarters those saying they would most likely do so to visit family or friends. 

But Ms Cooper demanded on the advice: 'What is it? Because it is not clear to me.'  

Mr Johnson shot back: 'The clear advice is to stay at home unless you absolutely have to go to work to do your job. 

'If you have exceptional problems with childcare then that may cause you to vary your arrangements.'

Mr Johnson went on to describe the row over Mr Cummings as a 'political ding dong', and said: 'A lot of the allegations that were made about that adviser were simply not correct.' 

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick was clearly frustrated yesterday morning as he was forced to defend the adviser during a tetchy interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 

Mr Jenrick said people were entitled to 'do as Dominic Cummings chose to do' if they could not find childcare.

'If there are no other options, if you don't have ready access to childcare, you can do as Dominic Cummings chose to do,' he said.

'The guidelines say you must do your best, but they appreciate that family life poses particular challenges and in order to protect you children you are allowed to exercise degree of personal judgement.'

Mr Jenrick also confirmed that a review into fines imposed on dpeople travelling during lockdown for childcare reasons would not be going ahead less than 24 hours after Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he would consider it.

Dozens of Mr Johnson's own MPs have now joined opposition politicians to demand that Mr Cummings is sacked, but the premier has flatly dismissed the calls. 

'Don't drag us into Cummings row': Slapdown for reporters after they accuse Boris Johnson of blocking them asking government science advisors Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance about PM's aide 

The Government's two most senior science and health advisers tonight insisted they 'don't want to get involved' in the Dominic Cummings lockdown row as Boris Johnson said he intended to 'draw a line under it'. 

Durham Police today said Mr Cummings' 260-mile trip to the city did not break lockdown rules while a 60-mile jaunt to a beauty spot only 'might have'.

The force stopped short of condemning the PM's top adviser and said he will face no further action. 

Reporters used the daily Downing Street press conference to try to ask Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance if the row could harm public compliance with lockdown rules. 

Mr Johnson initially tried to shield them from answering questions as he said they should not be required to join what he described as 'fundamentally a political argument'. 

But both Sir Patrick and Prof Whitty then spoke out as they said they had no interest in getting dragged into the row.  

Prof Whitty said: ‘I can assure you that the desire not to get pulled into politics is far stronger on the part of Sir Patrick and me than it is in the Prime Minister.’

Sir Patrick added: ‘I am a civil servant, I am politically neutral, I don’t want to get involved in politics at all.’

Reporters, including the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, had sought Prof Whitty's and Sir Patrick's opinion on the row but Mr Johnson initially tried to shield them from answering questions

ITV's Robert Peston followed up by asking Mr Johnson if the scientific advisers should be prevented from giving their opinion on flouting the lockdown rules

Mr Johnson had said it was 'unfair and unnecessary' to seek opinions on the row from the two independent advisers. 

He had been asked by the BBC 'why should anyone else' stick to lockdown rules if his aide may have breached them. 

Mr Johnson replied: 'Can I say I have said quite a lot on this matter already and what I also notice Durham Police has said was that they were going to take no action and that the matter was closed.

‘I intend to draw a line under the matter as I said I think yesterday to the parliamentary Liaison Committee. They are not taking any action and I intend to draw a line under it.' 

Boris Johnson today said he intended to 'draw a line under' the Dominic Cummings lockdown row as he was flanked by Sir Patrick Vallance (left) and Professor Chris Whitty (right)

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2020-05-28 22:01:57Z
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