Government advisor warns 'people will die' after PM 'trashes' lockdown to save Cummings

A scientific advisor to the government has warned "more people will die" after Boris Johnson twisted lockdown rules to save his top advisor.

Professor Stephen Reicher hit out after the PM claimed Dominic Cummings' 260-mile drive from London to Durham in late March followed "every father's instinct".

The expert said the row had undermined the pledge that "we're all in this together" - and that will affect people's willingness to follow lockdown.

“There’s a very clear sense now that there are different rules, that we’re divided, and that government is looking after themselves in a way they’re not looking after us," he told the Mirror.

“The problem is of course that if adherence falls, the infection will rise and people will die.”

Full lockdown was in place at the time of Mr Cummings' trip to Durham - with people only able to leave home for basic shopping, one exercise a day, a medical need or for work where necessary.

On March 23 Mr Johnson said: "That’s all - these are the only reasons you should leave your home. You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home."

Anyone with coronavirus symptoms - which Mr Cummings' wife had - was told to stay at home especially firmly to keep others safe.

Yet last night the Prime Minister claimed Mr Cummings had "no alternative", because he feared his young son would not be cared for if both he and his wife fell ill.

While there are exceptions for caring for a child, deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries suggested this would apply when there is "extreme risk to life".

And by No10's own admission, Mr Cummings - who stayed in a property near his sister and nieces - did not yet have symptoms when his family drove to Durham.

He also cared for his child without family help, other than bringing shopping to the door.

No10 has tried to defend Mr Cummings by saying he isolated in the property for 14 days. But government advice at the time, and now, was clear that people should not travel to second homes even for isolation, and should not stay overnight away from their "primary residence".

A chorus of scientific advisors to the government hit out last night, with Prof Reicher claiming Boris Johnson had "trashed" his own advice to stay home.

Today Prof Reicher, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours (SPI-B), claimed the mixed messaging would cost lives.

Lockdown is still in place with only a few restrictions being lifted in England. People are still banned from visiting second or holiday homes, even for isolation.

Prof Reicher told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "The real issue here is that because of these actions, because of undermining trust in the Government, because of undermining adherence to the rules that we all need to follow, people are going to die.

"More people are going to die."

Prof Reicher also told the Mirror: “If you want people to adhere to what authorities say, if you want people to trust authorities and trust government, then one of the most important factors… is accents of ‘they are acting with us and for us’.

“It’s the sense that ‘we’re all in this together’ that leads people to make those sacrifices which are necessary for us all to survive.

“The best way to undermine that… is the sense there’s one rule for them and one rule for us.

“What you’re immediately doing is you’re dividing us into a ‘them and us’ - and that’s what is being done.

“There’s a very clear sense now that there are different rules and that we’re divided and that government is looking after themselves in a way they’re not looking after us.

“The problem is of course that if adherence falls, the infection will rise and people will die.”

He stopped short of saying what the PM or Mr Cummings should do now, saying: “I’m not a politician and I don’t want to make political judgements.”

He declined to say whether SPI-B members would be making formal representations to the government.

Prof Reicher rejected suggestions by Mr Cummings’ allies that he and other critics were part of a “left-wing plot” against the aide.

He said while he campaigned for equality and against Apartheid he was not a member of any political party, adding: “For me this has got nothing to do with politics. I am there to help this government. Whatever I think of this government they’re the only government we’ve got and therefore our role must be to help them get us out of this mess.”

But he warned: “They’ve got to be prepared to listen to us.”