'Leave Dominic Cummings to get on with his job' - Telegraph readers on what should happen next
It emerged on Tuesday evening that an investigation has been started by Durham police as questions persist about Dominic Cummings’ alleged breach of lockdown. Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick, has been quick to urge the public and the media to “move on” from an issue that has now dominated the headlines for almost a week.
Is it time to forget about the controversy that has not only threatened the popularity of Boris Johnson’s premiership, but also risked the public’s adherence to the lockdown? Or are there still unanswered questions that need to be addressed?
While some are calling for the Government to stick by the Prime Minister's special adviser and now focus on the bigger issues at hand, others are demanding clarity on events that took place almost six weeks ago. Telegraph readers have shared their view on what should happen next.
Read on to see what your fellow readers have to say and then share your own opinions in the comments section below.
'The witch hunt is personal, political and shocking'
Pat Beveridge:
"Dominic Cummings was right not to resign. He took reasonable action under stress, to do what seemed right for his son. He endangered no one else. There are many other parents, and grandparents to my knowledge, who have done the same – quiet, reasonable, responsible people. Maybe not the same distance travelled but the principle is the same.
"The witch hunt is personal, political and quite shocking to many of us. Boris must not believe the baying hounds of the media. He must stand firm, because once the media sense victory his authority will be diminished. He must trust the faith of his majority – and we ask him, please, in due course, to restore some order to our shocking, bitter press."
'Give it a rest'
James Frost:
"What on earth is going on? Why the fuss over Cummings? He did not break the rules. Give it a rest.
"The government decided not to scrap HS2 and continue with Huawei's involvement with our 5G network. Those decisions generated a tiny fraction of the hot air in comparison to the Cummings matter. Yet those two decisions were wrong and of much more importance."
'The Prime Minister alone should decide, not the baying mob'
Peter Smith:
"It would be a tragedy if the baying mob, egged on by the media, were allowed to dictate who advises the Prime Minister.
"Cummings is not elected, he does not represent electors and is not answerable to them. He is a government employee hired to advise the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister alone should decide who advises him."
'This isn't going away'
Simon Olley:
"Why always resign or be fired? Why not a slap on the wrist, demotion, or a pay cut?
"Personally, given the horrendous way Dominic Cummings has been hounded – he's had his day in the stocks. But, this isn't going away.
"His jaunt to Barnard Castle is a slap in the face to many who've observed lockdown to the letter and they're not going to forget it."
'The incident is being used to attack the Government'
P Cole:
"This episode casts doubt on Cummings' judgement and has damaged his position with Tory MPs and the broader party. A loose alliance of EU nationalists and the media is using the incident to attack the Government. Many who criticise Cummings are supporters of Boris and Brexit who understand the public's suspicion of those in power and how the Durham incident is seen as another case of 'one law for us, another for them'.
"Although Cummings may hang on for a while I believe that this escapade has fatally wounded him."
'We have got to find standards in public life that all should be held to'
Richard Lindsay:
"We have got to find a way to get to a point where there are standards in public life that all can and should be held to.
"Yes, that goes for Stephen Kinnock as much as Dominic Cummings, though at least Kinnock had the grace to apologise.
"The longer we adopt this 'my side can do no wrong' attitude, the further this nation will fall."
'We cannot lose such a talent over a media row'
Matthew Gibbs:
"Brexit is just the beginning. Dominic Cummings has much to do, and nobody else is capable of doing it. He is an exceptional operator. We cannot afford to lose such talent over a silly and politically-motivated media row.
"It is more than four years until an election, and in a few weeks nobody will be socially isolating as the hypocrisy of this lockdown becomes clear.
"Tory MPs need to grow up and get over their petty jealousy."
'A storm in a teacup'
Timothy Cassel:
"Most of us just find the whole story a rather boring storm in a teacup. We just want the government to admit that the lockdown was a huge mistake and to raise it immediately. That is vastly more important than the issue surrounding Mr Cummings."
'He should leave'
Andrew Park:
"I've been ambivalent about whether he stays or goes after his road trip. It's a cruel thing to wish anyone out of their job. However, it's becoming increasingly obvious that so much of the Government's bungled response to this whole crisis, so much of the economic destruction and so much of the collateral damage is Cummings' responsibility and the responsibility of the people who put so much blind faith in him.
"Cummings' talents lie as a campaigner. He is not fit to run a national government at a time of crisis. For that reason he should leave his current role."
'Leave him alone to get back to his job'
Heather Willmore Stevens:
"The witch-hunt on Dominic Cummings is appalling. He did a sensible thing in taking his family out of London in the circumstance of his house being constantly surrounded by the press at that time. The sooner they leave him alone to get back to his job, the better!"
