Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt ‘knows people are aggrieved’ over Dominic Cummings trip

Boris Johnson’s primary aide is under pressure to resign after he travelled 260 miles from London to Durham over childcare concerns after his wife developed coronavirus symptoms.

During yesterday’s daily coronavirus press briefing, the prime minister backed Mr Cummings and said he had ‘no alternative’ as he and his wife where about to be ‘incapacitated by coronavirus’.

His reaction has drawn criticism from the public and other MPs, including some Tory backbenchers.

Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt, who stressed she did not have all the facts, told The News today: ‘I do know people are feeling aggrieved at the suggestion he broke lockdown.

‘So many people have made massive sacrifices. Businesses are being destroyed, loved ones are isolated, health and care workers are separated from their families while at the same time taking great risks.

‘Thanks to their discipline, lives have been saved. We cannot say that enough.’

Earlier this week, fellow Conservative MP, Suella Braverman, backed Mr Cummings’s actions. The Fareham MP tweeted: ‘Protecting one’s family is what any good parent does.’

Stephen Morgan, Labour MP for Portsmouth South, criticised Boris Johnson for his ‘lack of leadership’ over the matter.

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