Dominic Cummings says rules didn't cover his circumstances

Under-pressure aide says he doesn't regret his decision

Dominic Cummings refuses to resign after saying the rules didn't cover his circumstances

Under-fire government advisor Dominic Cummings today said he would not resign in a dramatic and unprecedented Downing Street press conference.

Mr Cummings has come under immense pressure in recent days after it was revealed that he broke lockdown laws to drive to be close to family in Durham while suffering with coronavirus symptoms in March.

There are also allegations that he may have broken the rules that his own government brought in a second time on another visit to his home region from London.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson provoked national outrage as he resolutely backed his top aide, suggesting it was one rule for Mr Cummings and another for everyone else.

Scores of people who lost family members during the strict lockdown but were unable to be with them have criticised Mr Cummings for his actions.

In an unprecedented move for a government advisor, Mr Cummings today held a press conference in the rose garden of Downing Street.

Appearing more than half an hour late, he said he had been asked to give the account he had given to the Prime Minister directly to the media and public.

He said: "I'm explaining my own actions, and my own thinking."

Mr Cummings described the chain of events which he said led up to his decision to drive north.

He said his wife had become ill and he was concerned about falling ill himself.

In a surprising revelation, he also said he had not discussed the plan with the Prime Minister.

Addressing reports he was seen later at nearby Barnard Castle, Mr Cummings said this was part of a "test drive" to see if he was safe to drive back to London.

He said: “Some will argue I should have stayed in London myself, I understand these views...the legal rules do not cover all circumstances, including my own.”

Responding to BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Cummings said he did not regret his decision.

He added: "No I don’t regret what I did, people may disagree, but I think what I did was actually reasonable in these circumstances.

“The rules make clear that small children can be an exceptional circumstance, and the way I dealt with it was the least risk to everyone concerned.”