Boris says 'sorry for pain and anxiety' but won't add more about Cummings

Boris Johnson has told everyone to ‘move on’ from the Dominic Cummings scandal in his first grilling by senior MPs since the allegations emerged.

The prime minister has appeared before the Commons Liaison Committee this afternoon, after around 40 MPs called for his chief adviser to resign or be fired. When urged by Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill to launch an inquiry into Mr Cummings’ actions, Mr Johnson refused to do so as it wouldn’t be a ‘very good use of official time’.

Mr Cummings drove 260 miles from London to Durham when his wife had coronavirus symptoms due to ‘extreme’ childcare issues, and subsequently took a trip to Barnard Castle to ‘test his eyesight’ before returning to the capital. A rundown of the committee’s agenda this afternoon, revealed that only 20 minutes of the 90-minute session will be allocated to scrutiny over Mr Cummings.

Mr Johnson was told by the committee that it was ‘extremely concerned’ by his top adviser’s actions but the PM has remained defiant in backing him. The prime minister admitted it has been a ‘frustrating episode’ but reiterated that Mr Cummings acted ‘legally, responsibly and with integrity’.

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The PM told the committee: ‘On that particular matter all I would say is that this has really been going on for several days now, and in the media at least.

‘I of course am deeply sorry for all the hurt and pain and anxiety that people have been going through throughout this period – this country has been going through a frankly most difficult time.’

Conservative MP Simon Hoare – who has been vocal in calling for Mr Cummings’ resignation – told the PM the nation will now be ‘far less energetic’ about obeying future restrictions as ‘a direct result of the activities of your senior adviser’.

Mr Johnson denied that the former Vote Leave co-ordinator’s actions undermined the core safety messages and ‘moral authority’ during the pandemic.

He insisted that the public ‘don’t want to keep hearing about a political ding dong’ and blamed the nation’s confusion over lockdown messaging as a result of ‘politicians squabbling’.

Mr Hoare asked what MPs should tell constituents who ask ‘if other people don’t abide by it why on earth should we’ because ‘we know what your views are, frankly prime minister, I don’t think anybody understands why you hold those views’.

The PM said: ‘Look it’s been a very frustrating episode and I understand why people have been so concerned because this country is going through a horrendously difficult time, but I really think that insofar as what we need to do, is to focus on getting the message right…

‘Then I think what we need to do really is to move on and to get on to how we’re going to sort out coronavirus which I think is really the overwhelming priority of the people of this country.’

‘But I must say that I feel that from my adviser to whom you refer – we’ve had quite a lot of autobiography recently. I’ve commented on it, I think you know my views,’ Mr Johnson added.

‘I really don’t propose to add to it and I think what the public do want us to focus on’.

Mr Johnson said he had seen evidence to prove that some of the allegations made against Dominic Cummings were false.

But asked by Labour MP Meg Hillier whether the Cabinet Secretary should also see that evidence, the PM said: ‘I think actually that it would not be doing my job if I were now to shuffle this problem into the hands of officials who, believe me, Meg, are – as I think the public would want – working flat out to deal with coronavirus…

‘I totally understand public indignation, I totally understand that, but I do think that as I understand things, and I’ve said what I’ve said about the whole business, I think it would be much better if we could now move on and focus on the next steps.’

The committee meeting are set to discuss the government’s overall handling of the pandemic, including personal protective equipment (PPE), testing, the reopening of schools and the economy.

Mr Johnson used his appearance at the committee – made up of the chairmen and women of Commons select committees – to announce that NHS England’s test and trace system would be up and running from Thursday.

The scheme will see people who have been in contact with someone who tests positive for coronavirus ordered to self-isolate for 14 days.

Meanwhile the toll of deaths linked to the virus rose to almost 48,000.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow…