Derbyshire MPs react to Dominic Cummings' statement

'My constituents will think that it is one rule for them and another for the rest'

Derbyshire MPs have responded to Dominic Cummings' address to the media this afternoon.

Amber Valley MP Nigel Mills, a Conservative, said the Prime Minister's senior adviser gave a "clear account" of the situation while Dame Margaret Beckett, the Labour MP for Derby South, said he should resign.

This afternoon, Mr Cummings spoke to the media after controversy surrounded his visit to Durham during the UK's lockdown.

He said in a statement: "I know that millions of people in this country are angry, thousands have died, many are angry about what they have seen in the media about my actions. I want to clear up the confusions and misunderstandings that I can."

On the public's anger towards his decision to drive 260 miles to Durham, he added: "I can understand that some people will argue that I should have stayed at my home in London throughout.

"I understand these views. I know the intense hardship and sacrifice the entire country has had to go through.

"However, I respectfully disagree. The legal rules inevitably do not cover all circumstances, including those that I found myself in."

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Nigel Mills said it was "exceptional" that Mr Cummings "spoke publicly on a personal situation for over an hour".

He said: "I’m not absolutely sure I would’ve done the same thing as he did but I don’t think you can say he acted unreasonably or ignored the rules.

"He tried to do what he thought was right. Most of us have family that’s nearer than 260 miles away.

"It would be strange for him to resign if he doesn’t think he did something wrong."

He added that over the weekend he received "a lot" of emails regarding the situation, with "the vast majority of them very angry".

Dame Margaret Beckett said Mr Cummings had not convinced her that he should keep his job.

She said: "I think my constituents will think that it is one rule for them and another for the rest. I speak as a formal special adviser and I think he should resign.

"Everybody feels exactly the same about their families and relatives and so on. Many people would’ve wanted to do what he did if they had if they had the opportunity.

"But the government told us we mustn’t, so people didn’t."

She added that if one of her constituents who had coronavirus drove into the Peak District and told police "I've driven here to test my eyesight", they would "not get a good reception".