Nine killer questions Dominic Cummings still has to answer after press conference

Dominic Cummings gave a lengthy explanation of why he travelled to Durham and went on a family outing in lockdown.

But does his account stack up?

This is what he said and here are the questions that still need answering…

What he said

On March 27, he was working in Downing Street when he got a call from his wife who had felt ill while at home looking after their four-year-old son.

He dashed home, but after a couple of hours his wife felt a bit better and she urged him to return to work in the afternoon.

He said: “That evening, I returned home and discussed the situation with my wife. She was ill. She might have Covid, though she did not have a cough or a fever. I thought there was a distinct probability that I had already caught the disease.”

The questions it raises

If his wife had suspected symptoms of Covid-19 then why did Cummings return to work, when the advice clearly states: “If you or someone you live with has symptoms of coronavirus : do not leave your home for any reason.”

What he said

Media stories had wrongly claimed he had opposed lockdown and did not care about many deaths.

He said: “I was subject to threats of violence. People came to my house shouting threats. There were posts on social media, encouraging attacks.”

The questions it raises

This is part of his excuse for leaving his house in Islington, North London, but the Met said they had no reports for incidents at that address. Did he report them and if not, why not?

What he said

“I thought the best thing to do in all the circumstances was to drive to an isolated cottage on my father’s farm.”

In answer to questions from journalists, he added that what he did was “reasonable”.

The questions it raises

It is the first time Cummings has admitted that the Mirror’s story that he travelled to Durham was accurate.

The guidance says: “It is very important that individuals with symptoms that may be due to coronavirus and their household members stay at home”.

On children it says: “If you have children, keep following this advice to the best of your ability, however, we are aware that not all these measures will be possible.”

Why did he travel to Durham when the Government told people not to go to second homes?

The Cummings have family and friends in London who could have with childcare. Did he follow the advice to the best of his ability?

What he said

“The regulations make clear, I believe the risks to the health of a small child were an exceptional situation, and I had a way of dealing with this that minimised risk to others.”

The questions it raises

His case was not exceptional.

Hundreds of thousands of parents have been in a similar situation but stayed at home. Why was his situation so different to other families?

Labour MP Jess Phillips said the exceptional circumstances line was included to protect children at risk of abuse.

Has it been misinterpreted to save his own skin?

What he said

“I did not ask the Prime Minister about this decision. I thought I would speak to him when the situation clarified over coming days.

"Arguably, this was a mistake, and I understand some will say I should’ve spoken to the Prime Minister before deciding what to do.”

The questions it raises

Under questioning, Cummings said he later told the PM he had travelled to Durham, but questioned whether Mr Johnson would remember the detail of the conversation as he was ill with the coronavirus.

If Mr Johnson knew, why did Downing Street deny the story that Mr Cummings had travelled to Durham when it was first put to them by the Mirror and the Guardian in April?

What he said

“I drove the three of us up to Durham, arriving roughly at midnight. I did not stop on the way. When I woke up the next morning I was in pain and clearly had Covid symptoms.”

The questions it raises

Should he have been driving at all, especially with a child in the car, when he knew he could be seriously ill?

Although he said he did not make contact with anyone during the journey or at his parents’ house, he did, later, have to take his son to hospital.

Why did he flaunt the clear government advice which advised people to stay at home precisely to prevent any possible spread of the virus?

What he said

“On Sunday April 12, 15 days after I had first displayed symptoms, I decided to return to work. My wife was very worried, particularly given my eyesight seemed to have been affected by the disease. She didn’t want to risk a nearly 300-mile drive with our child, given how ill I had been.

“We agreed that we should go for a short drive to see if I could drive safely.

“We drove for roughly half an hour and ended up on the outskirts of Barnard Castle town. We did not visit the castle. We did not walk around the town. We parked by a river.”

The questions it raises

Isn’t this trip in clear contravention of the rules stating you only go out for essentials? If he had bad eyesight was it safe to drive with a child in the car? Is it a coincidence this visit took place on his wife’s birthday?

The AA makes Barnard Castle a 44-minute drive from his family home. Why go so far to test if he was capable of driving to London?

It is understood his wife Mary Wakefield can drive. Why did she not offer?

It is not surprising he did not visit the castle as it has been closed during lockdown.

What he said

“On the way home, our child needed the toilet. We pulled over, my wife and child jumped out into the woods by the side of the road. They played for a little bit and then I got out of the car, went outside. We were briefly in the woods.”

The questions it raises

Was this just an excuse to go for a walk in a bluebell woods?

Is it a coincidence that Cummings has only mentioned the occasions when he was spotted by eyewitnesses?

What he said

“I did not make my movements public at the time because my London home was already a target.

“I did not believe that I was obliged to make my parents’ and my sister’s home a target for harassment as well.”

The questions it raises

If he was receiving threats why has he not asked for any police security?

Is the real reason he refused to answer the Mirror’s questions because he knew it would provoke public fury?