BREAKING Dominic Cummings to make public statement today over coronavirus lockdown trip

Dominic Cummings will make an unprecedented public statement today over his 260-mile drive in the midst of the coronavirus lockdown.

Downing Street confirmed the PM's top advisor will make the highly unusual move hours after his actions were defended by the Prime Minister.

He will also take questions, according to reports.

It came as Boris Johnson summoned a bank holiday meeting of his Cabinet this lunchtime in an attempt to spell out how lockdown will ease from next Monday, and move on from the row.

The Prime Minister could spell out more details later today of how non-essential shops will start to reopen.

But he faces a mutiny from his own scientific advisors, bishops including the Bishop of Durham, and at least 20 Tory MPs who called for Mr Cummings to go.

Labour leader Keir Starmer called for a Cabinet Office inquiry and said he'd have sacked Mr Cummings. SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP added: "Boris Johnson must sack Dominic Cummings."

And shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds today wrote to Home Secretary Priti Patel, asking if someone taking a child cross-country in case they need care later would be fined by police.

“The confusion and misinformation caused by the government’s response to these revelations appears to make this work even more difficult,” he said.

This breaking news story is being updated.