'Dominic Cummings Must Be Sacked' Petition Gets More Than 1m Signatures
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More than a million people have signed a petition calling for Boris Johnson’s top aide Dominic Cummings to be sacked over his lockdown trip to Durham.
Police said Cummings’ trip to Barnard Castle from Durham, where he had already travelled on a 260-mile journey from London, “might” have breached lockdown rules.
HuffPost UK understands that the force’s use of the word “might” in its statement relates solely to the fact that any determination of a potential breach would be decided by the courts.
The prime minister has stood by his adviser, triggering a revolt of dozens of Tory MPs and a sharp decline in personal and party poll ratings.
Now a change.org petition – called “Dominic Cummings must be sacked” – has attracted more than a million public signatures.
Friday’s Downing Street daily press conference, headed by chancellor Rishi Sunak, was the first time in a week ministers have not been asked about the aide’s conduct.
A police and crime commissioner said on Friday that the PM’s easing of lockdown restrictions announced on Thursday appeared “rushed forward to help ministers in a difficult position”.
Northumbria’s Labour police and crime commissioner Kim McGuinness said: “One of the hallmarks of the government’s handling of this deadly pandemic has sadly been a series of mistimed and badly explained messages.
“By pre-announcing changes to lockdown ahead of a tempting weekend of sunshine, the PM must have known he was going to create a situation that is difficult to police.
“The messaging looks like it was rushed forward to help ministers in a difficult position.
“When our country eventually gets through this and the inevitable inquiry into the government’s handling takes place, the communications plan, or the lack of, will have to be part of that.
“My message to people is to follow the latest guidelines,...
