Greater Manchester MP says Dominic Cummings stretched lockdown rules to 'the very limit' - and will call for him to be sacked if further revelations emerge

The first Tory to represent Heywood and Middleton refuses to judge the PM's top aide for 'wanting to protect his wife and young child', but says he does not agree with all the actions he took

A Greater Manchester MP says Dominic Cummings stretched lockdown rules ‘to the very limit’ - and will call for him to be sacked if any further revelations come to light.

Heywood and Middleton's Clarkson - who became his constituency’s first Conservative MP last December - had come under fire from some quarters for not making his views on the controversy known sooner.

In a statement, he said the delay was to ensure he in ‘possession of all the facts’ and allow Boris Johnson ’s top aide to ‘account for his actions fully’.

The latter came on Bank Holiday Monday, when Mr Cummings told a Downing Street press conference his relocation to Durham was so his family could take care of his child if both he and his wife fell ill with coronavirus.

Giving his views on the senior aide’s account of events, Mr Clarkson said: “I listened very carefully to the statement on Monday and I believe that Mr Cummings believes he was acting in the best interests of his family and for their protection – not just from the risks of COVID-19 but from serious threats of violence that have been made against him and I think this, in part, explains why he decided to travel to Durham.

“I cannot judge him for wanting to protect his wife and young child. However, I do not agree with all actions that Mr Cummings took, and I am disappointed that this situation has been allowed to become an unwelcome distraction from important public health messaging.”

Mr Cummings family did not ultimately avail themselves of childcare from his family in Durham, although this was the basis on which they drove to Durham on March 27.

Mr Clarkson said he believes they were covered by guidance given by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer three days earlier. Dr Jenny Harries told the daily media briefing that if adults were unable to look after a small child it was ‘an exceptional circumstance’.

She added that if individuals did not have access to care support – formal care support – or to family, they would ‘be able to work through local authority hubs’.

The coronavirus legislation also says people can leave their homes provided they have a 'reasonable excuse' - which includes doing so to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm.

They also state that anyone with coronavirus symptoms must stay at home for at least seven days, while those they live with must isolate for 14 days - and that travelling to a second home for isolation purposes is ‘not allowed’.

These are the points the controversy has raged around for several days now - with many adamant that the PM’s closest ally is in flagrant breach of the rules.

Mr Clarkson has sympathy for those who are furious with Mr Cummings, but believes he has acted within the rules - just about.

He adds: “ As I understand it, as he and his wife were beginning to become unwell Mr Cummings drove to Durham so his young child was able to be cared for by other family members and he was able to isolate for 14 days in a separate building; because of the clear written exemptions in case of a child’s welfare, this is permissible under the rules - although I believe it stretches them to very limit.

“I appreciate how this looks and I do not disagree with the frustration and anger it has generated – Mr Cummings should have made a full accounting of his actions and the reasons for them as soon as this matter came to light, which he has subsequently acknowledged.”