Calls for Cummings to release phone's GPS data to prove where he's been

Dominic Cummings is being urged to release his phone metadata to prove how many trips he made to and around Durham during lockdown.

The Prime Minister’s most senior aide first made the 250-mile journey across the UK at the end of March, after he and his wife started experiencing coronavirus symptoms. Downing Street then say he then ‘locked down’ and self isolated in the area, but a retired school teacher claims he saw Mr Cummings at Barnard Castle, 30 miles away from where he was staying, on April 12.

Witness Robin Lees made a note of a numberplate at the time, which Sky News has since confirmed is the registration of a car Mr Cummings has got into in the past. Another witness then claimed they saw the adviser in the woods near Houghall, in County Durham, on April 19, five days after he returned to London.

On Sunday evening Boris Johnson denied or refused to comment on the allegations Mr Cummings made multiple journeys to and around Durham. His words prompted Piers Morgan to lead calls for the senior aide to share his phone metadata and prove his innocence.

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Writing on Twitter, Piers described Mr Cummings’ future as ‘toast’ and said: ‘Check the CCTV. Check his phone. Check his car GPS.’ His words were echoed by columnist James Ball, who added the government wouldn’t need any technical help to release the information.

He said: ‘If he’s on iPhone: Settings, privacy, location services, system services, significant locations. Will show everywhere he’s been for the last few months and when!’

Former editor-in-chief of The Guardian Alan Rusbridger also tweeted: ‘The metadata on Cummings phone will reveal all. #justsaying #Oneruleforthem.’

This morning Mr Cummings was photographed leaving his north London home after he was heckled in the street by the public on Sunday night. Footage from his road showed people shouting their own personal stories of things they had sacrificed during lockdown, including visits to sick or dying relatives.

However Johnson made it clear last night that he has no intention of investigating Mr Cummings’ journeys or asking him to resign. Speaking at the daily press conference, he said his aide had behaved ‘responsibly, legally and with integrity’ by travelling during lockdown.

He also added that ‘some’ of the allegations about Mr Cummings’ behaviour during self-isolation were ‘palpably false’ and said he acted with the ‘overwhelming aim of stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives’.

The PM’s words have sparked fresh anger among other politicians, including 16 Tory MPs who have called on him to sack Mr Cummings.

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