Earlier today, I replied to constituents who have emailed me about Dominic Cummings. Below I copy what I have sent to them:
Thank you for your email about Dominic Cummings. I have received a high volume of emails regarding this and I regret therefore that I am unable to give each person a personalised reply.
I completely understand the anger people feel about this issue and the sense that he has not obeyed the rules. I am lucky to have not lost anyone as a result of the virus; a number of you have shared very moving stories of family members you have lost during recent months and I was very sorry to hear these stories. You have my heartfelt condolences. Many more of you have explained the various other ways that lockdown has been difficult for you, particularly in not being able to see family members, and I too have struggled with this.
On Monday, Dominic Cummings set out his side of the story and I think it was right that he did so. Some of the stories written about him were clearly false. He feels his interpretation of the rules was not incorrect and that there were exceptional circumstances given the need to see his wife and 4-year old looked after, whilst helping to shape the country’s response to the virus and given the threats and abuse he and his family receive at their London home. I noted he did not attend the funeral of the member of his family who died during this period.
I have a better understanding of his position as a result of his press conference. I also know, however, that his explanation has failed to satisfy many of the people who were angry before hearing it; some of you have written to me a second time to make this clear. I have communicated to the Government my personal view and I have also let them know the views of the constituents who have written to me – how many emails I have received and the balance between those of you that are very critical of him (the vast majority) and those who are supportive. I understand the police are also investigating whether he broke the lockdown regulations.
A few of the emails I have received have asked me to make a public statement saying whether or not I think he should resign. I will not be doing this; indeed, you are unlikely to ever see me commenting on whether or not someone should resign.
I did not make any statement about the alleged lockdown breaches of Catherine Calderwood, Neil Ferguson, Labour MPs who were alleged to have visited birthday parties or funerals, Kyle Walker or any other figure in the public domain who is said to have not obeyed the rules. Each of them will I’m sure have gone through a very unpleasant period when the allegations were first made and I don’t think it is my job to add to this. I understand this will disappoint some of you.
It is absolutely right that public figures are held to account. However, when I was a charity Chief Executive, the desire of people to ‘pile on’ in public when a known figure is said to have transgressed always seemed to me to be one of the things that puts people off public life. Even before the facts are known, people have the media hounding them at their homes, high levels of social media abuse and people who’ve never met them giving their opinions in media interviews.
I have never met or even spoken to Dominic Cummings. I will continue to give my views in private and to pass on the views of my constituents, but having written the above, I will now be returning to helping constituents with the issues they are facing.
Best wishes,
David
