Dominic Cummings on Monday in the Rose Garden at 10 Downing Street. Image: AP
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“I have no regrets”: The bizarre appearance of Dominic Cummings
Bizarre appearance on Downing Street: British government advisor Dominic Cummings refuses to step down despite massive criticism of his trip to relatives in the Corona crisis. «I didn’t offer to resign. I didn’t consider that, »said Cummings on Monday in the rose garden of the London headquarters. “I don’t regret what I did.” He had been accused of violating exit restrictions and thus endangering other people.
Cummings is the second most powerful man after Prime Minister Boris Johnson in London. The 48-year-old is considered a highly intelligent campaign strategist, but also unpredictable. He started his performance about half an hour late, appeared with his shirt sleeves rolled up and called journalists a relaxed “Hi there!” (about: Hello) too. An appearance in the rose garden is considered to be extremely unusual. It was expected that he would resign.
Cummings: “I don’t regret what I did.”
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He only visited his parents with his family once at the end of March, said the string puller on Downing Street. British newspapers, on the other hand, had reported that Cummings had traveled to his relatives several times during the pandemic from London to Durham, some 430 kilometers away. According to the circumstances, he had acted “reasonably and appropriately,” said Cummings.
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The advisor stated that the reason for a trip to his parents in late March was that he had no other option to ensure that his four-year-old son was looked after. He wanted to take care of him because his wife had contracted Covid-19 and he himself had to expect to be infected. He spoke of a “complicated situation”. He only informed Johnson about it later. On April 13, the family was back in London.
Cummings explains why his farm in Durham is particularly safe: “It consists of a kind of concrete blocks.”
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Cummings also admitted driving from Durnham with his wife on Easter Sunday to Barnard Castle, about 50 kilometers away – but only to test his eyesight after recovering from his infection. He had not visited the sight. British media had previously reported that an eyewitness had seen Cummings at the castle and reported him. There were no more visits, said Cummings. British newspapers had reported another stay in Durham.
Cummings’ appearance was criticized by many critics as arrogant and arrogant, while government officials in particular praised the fact that he had now clarified the course of events.
Johnson stands behind Cummings
Johnson had backed up on his adviser on Sunday, but was himself heavily criticized. Around 20 MPs from his Conservative Party, the opposition, clergymen, doctors and other critics had called for Cummings’ resignation. They feared that it could have irreparably damaged confidence in the government. The critics also warned of an increase in infections because protective measures in the face of such incidents can no longer be taken seriously. Britain has the most corona deaths in Europe.
Cummings “followed every father’s instincts,” Johnson said on Sunday. He couldn’t pillor him for that. In the words of Johnson, his chief adviser acted “responsibly, legally, and with integrity”. According to government guidelines, travel was only allowed for compelling reasons. Former County Durham chief Mike Barton had told BBC broadcaster: “Let’s not talk about the mess, he broke the rules, that’s very clear.”
Boris Johnson: “Cummings followed every father’s instincts.” Picture: EPA
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Cummings’ backing had crumbled in Johnson’s own Conservative Party. Former Secretary of State Paul Maynard called the behavior of the chief adviser “completely unsustainable”. Deputy David Warburton told the BBC on Monday that Cummings “harmed the government and the country”. Church officials attacked Johnson directly: The Prime Minister treated people “like fools” and “without respect,” tweeted the Bishop of Leeds, Nicholas Baines.
It was only in early May that the renowned scientist Neil Ferguson from Imperial College had to resign as a government adviser because he received a visit from his girlfriend during the lockdown. The Scottish government’s chief medical advisor, Catherine Calderwood, had broken her own rules and had to take her hat off. (sda / dpa)
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