Coronavirus: Dominic Cummings' actions were ill-judged - Swann

Robin SwannPacemaker

Robin Swann urged people to continue adhering to guidance from the Stormont executive

By Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI Political Reporter

Boris Johnson's chief aide's decision to travel 260 miles from London during the coronavirus lockdown was "ill-judged", NI's health minister has said.

Dominic Cummings is facing calls to quit after he said he did not regret taking his family to Durham after his wife developed Covid-19 symptoms.

Mr Cummings said he believed he had acted reasonably and legally.

But NI Health Minister Robin Swann said: "No-one is above the guidance and regulations no matter who they are."

On Monday, the prime minister's chief adviser gave a press conference where he defended his decision to take his family to Durham on 27 March.

Mr Cummings said he realised the family would have been left without childcare in London if, like his wife, he had fallen ill, so they decided to drive to County Durham that evening.

On the subject of why he then drove his family to the town of Barnard Castle - 15 days after he had displayed symptoms - Mr Cummings said he was testing his eyesight to see if he could make the trip back down to London.

He explained that he had experienced some eyesight problems during his illness.

Mr Johnson has supported his aide, insisting Mr Cummings had given an extensive explanation of his actions.

'Stick with NI guidance'

However, speaking at the NI Executive's daily press conference on Tuesday, Mr Swann said his actions would have "implications" for the government trying to persuade people to follow public health advice.

"As ill-judged as many of his actions were, I would urge everyone not to lose sight as we are very much still in the midst of this crisis," said the minister.

"It is far too early to allow distractions to take away from the key public messages."

Asked about any damage that Mr Cummings' actions had done to the government's efforts, Mr Swann added: "In regards to damage - there will be implications but I ask people in Northern Ireland to stick with guidance coming from the Northern Ireland Executive."

'Lost authority'

Six opposition leaders - including representatives from the SDLP and Alliance Party - have said in a letter to Mr Johnson that removing Mr Cummings from his post is the only way to restore trust in public health advice.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he felt the British government had "lost any authority it had".

"It has stretched credibility in the extreme," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme.

"It isn't about politics; it's about the fact you have a government trying to get people to abide by certain regulations, but its chief adviser is able to do whatever he wants.

"That totally and utterly undermines the public health message."

Dominic Cummings: "I don't regret what I did... people may well disagree"

The Democratic Unionist Party did not sign the letter, which said it was "now a matter of record" that Mr Cummings "broke multiple lockdown rules".

A spokesperson for the party said its focus was on "steering Northern Ireland through the pandemic rather than the actions of the prime minister's chief of staff".

"We do not know all the details of Mr Cummings' arrangements. Therefore, it is impossible to make a balanced judgement," they added.

"His actions, circumstances and his future are a matter for the prime minister. Due process should be followed."

More on this story