Like you and thousands of others, I am incensed at the news that Dominic Cummings broke the UK Government restrictions to travel in excess of 260 miles from his home in London to Durham with his family.
Not only was he in breach of the UK Governments very clear ‘stay home’ messaging (messaging he had a hand in writing as part of his role as senior advisor to the Prime Minister) but he travelled whilst he and his wife were suffering from symptoms of Coronavirus, potentially spreading this deadly virus to others in Durham and to other communities along the way.
The news that Mr Cummings also visited Barnard Castle on a ‘day trip’ with his family allegedly to ‘test his sight’ is again, in clear breach of the UK Government guidelines and makes a mockery of their authority to direct the British people to ‘stay home’.
What angers me the most about this (and rest assured there is a lot that angers me about this) has been the Prime Minister and senior Cabinet members insistence to back Mr Cummings blindly; effectively treating all of the British people with contempt and arrogance, time and time again.
It is the “one rule for them, and another for the rest of us” attitude which galls me and thousands of others who have been following the UK Governments guidance and restrictions to keep ourselves safe, to protect the NHS and to save lives.
We have all made sacrifices, we are all missing our family and friends during this time, but are doing so for the common good. I’ve heard from many Pontypridd constituents who have missed funerals, cancelled weddings and tragically not been there to hold the hand of their loved one as they have died from this cruel and indiscriminatory virus.
All of these people deserve answers and they deserve better than a part-time Prime Minister who would try to pull the wool over their eyes at a time of national emergency.
It is because of this that my Labour party colleagues and I, led by Keir Starmer, will not be letting this go. You can read the official statement here.
Mr Cummings position at the top table of British Government is unattainable. He should have resigned and on not doing so should have been let go by the Prime Minister.
Our country deserves better.