Darlington MP admits to taking train 225 miles from London to the North East while showing signs of coronavirus infection

• Darlington MP Peter Gibson said he took a train 225 miles from London in March  
• Conservative MP said he developed a cough on 18 March, days before lockdown
• He said after the seven days 'I re-integrated myself into the household. I didn't go anywhere other than walking the dog, alone, while isolating'
• Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

A Conservative MP has confessed to travelling 225 miles home while showing symptoms of coronavirus infection. 

Peter Gibson, the MP for Darlington, County Durham revealed on social media over the weekend that he travelled from London to self-isolate in the North East in March.  

Mr Gibson said he first came down with a cough on 18 March, before lockdown had started, while working in parliament.

He told the  Northern Echo: 'I was coughing for a period of about an hour. 

'I became concerned that I might have the virus so I contacted the MPs coronavirus helpline. 

'I explained my symptoms and the advice given was I should isolate for a period of seven days.'

He said he told the helpline he had nowhere to stay in the capital. He said that he was advised to take the train somewhere he could self-isolate. 

'I was advised if my normal mode of transport was the train I should use that but should isolate and keep myself to myself, which is what I did,' he said. 

'I came home and self-isolated in my house, away from other members of the household, eating alone, using a separate bathroom. I did that for seven days.

'After that I re-integrated myself into the household. I didn't go anywhere other than walking the dog, alone, while isolating.' 

The MP, who is currently staying in Thirsk, North Yorkshire while his home in Darlington is renovated, said that he only had a 'couple of changes of clothes' and questioned whether it was right to potentially infect the friend he was staying with in London. 

'Some people will say I should have stayed in London but where was I supposed to stay? 

'Was I meant to move into a hotel? Was I supposed to go back to the flat of another MP when I had nothing apart from a couple of changes of clothes? 

'Did I run the risk of potentially infecting the friend whose flat it was?' 

Mr Gibson initially called for an inquiry into Dominic Cummings' 260-mile trip to find childcare for his son in Durham, but said he believed the chief advisor had explained himself adequately in his statement on Monday.

Mr Gibson beat shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman in last year's general election and won the Darlington seat for the Tories for the first time in 27 years.