Plymouth Tory MP Johnny Mercer remains quiet over Dominic Cummings lockdown breach saga

An email sent to people contacting Johnny Mercer says 'there may be a little delay before we can reply substantively'

Plymouth Tory MP Johnny Mercer is dealing with an “exceptionally high volume of correspondence" following reports of Dominic Cummings breaking the coronavirus lockdown.

An email sent to people contacting the Conservative MP for Moor View about the issue says “there may be a little delay before we can reply substantively.”

Some Conservatives MPs have joined calls for the prime minister’s chief adviser to resign over his 260-mile trip from London to County Durham to self-isolate four days into the coronavirus lockdown in March.

South West Devon Conservative MP Sir Gary Streeter has said he initially thought Mr Cummings should go, but changed his mind after hearing the adviser’s explanations at a press conference on Monday.

Sir Gary said he had received more than 300 emails about the issue and recognised strong emotions had been stirred up, but felt it was now time to move on and focus on economic recovery.

Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Labour MP Luke Pollard says Mr Cummings should resign or be sacked, as his behaviour broke the rules and the issue is now distracting the Government from focusing on the coronavirus pandemic.

Plymouth City Council Conservative leader Nick Kelly says Mr Cummings’ behaviour was wrong and he should have apologised, but any decision over his future was a matter for the prime minister.

Mr Mercer, a defence minister, had not made a public comment about Mr Cummings by Wednesday morning.

The email reply from Mr Mercer’s staff member Alex Mawdlsey says: “Thank you for taking the time to contact Johnny. I write to acknowledge receipt of your email regarding the recent actions of Mr Dominic Cummings.

“We are dealing with an exceptionally high volume of correspondence at the moment.

“Cases are being actioned in turn as quickly as possible, but please be advised there may be a little delay before we can reply substantively.

“Thank you for your patience.”

The prime minister is expected to be questioned about his adviser by senior MPs at 4pm on Wednesday. Boris Johnson is due to appear before the Commons Liaison Committee for 90 minutes.

More than 35 Tory MPs have called for Mr Cummings to resign or be fired, the BBC reported.

On Tuesday, a government junior minister resigned over the issue. Douglas Ross, Under Secretary of State for Scotland, said Mr Cummings’ view of the government guidance was "not shared by the vast majority of people".

Mr Johnson has defended his adviser and cabinet minister Robert Jenrick said it was "time to move on".

Mr Cummings said at his press conference he believed he had acted reasonably and within the law when he drove his family 260 miles from London to County Durham after his wife developed Covid-19 symptoms in March.

He said he and his wife had self-isolated at a property on his father’s farm to be close to relatives in case they needed help with care for their young son, and had no regrets about his decision.

Mr Cummings said he had later taken his family on a 60-mile round trip to Barnard Castle to check whether he was fit to drive back to London after the illness affected his sight.

The prime minister said he understood "the confusion, anger and pain" felt by people over the episode, but added that Mr Cummings had acted "reasonably" and with "integrity and care for others".