Atherstone ex-MP Mike O'Brien on Dominic Cummings: Government authority is draining away every second adviser stays on

FORMER SOLICITOR-GENERAL SUMS UP POLITICAL PARALYSIS GRIPPING BORIS JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION MOVING FORWARD ON COVID-19 LOCKDOWN EASING IN THREE WORDS: HE SHOULD GO

TODAY SEES FIRST RESIGNATION OF TORY JUNIOR MINISTER DOUGLAS ROSS AFTER HEARING DOWNING STREET SVENGALI DEFEND 260-MILE TRIP TO DURHAM

SENIOR adviser Dominic Cummings "should go" immediately as Government authority over the Covid-19 crisis is already draining away, Atherstone's most experienced MP in parliamentary history has signalled.

Former Labour Solicitor-General Mike O'Brien warned more ministers should follow the example of Under-secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Ross who quit his post today in protest at the behaviour of the Prime Minister's right-hand man in Downing Street.

Mr Ross, who remains Tory MP for Moray, said on Tuesday that he was resigning after hearing Mr Cummings' efforts to defend his 260-mile trip from London to Durham.

The first resignation over the allegations rocking the Government came as Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove sought to defend his longstanding ally as having acted in an "entirely reasonable" way, and within the law.

But Mr Ross, the MP for Moray, said that he had not commented publicly on the situation with Mr Cummings as he had waited to hear the full details.

He added: "I welcome the statement to clarify matters, but there remains aspects of the explanation which I have trouble with."

He said "while the intentions may have been well-meaning", Mr Cummings' interpretation of the rules was "not shared by the vast majority of people".

"I have constituents who didn't get to say goodbye to loved ones; families who could not mourn together; people who didn't visit sick relatives because they followed the guidance of the Government," the Tory MP wrote.

"I cannot in good faith tell them they were all wrong and one senior adviser to the Government was right. As a result I have resigned as a government minister."

Mr O'Brien, who held five senior and two junior ministerial positions in an 18-year-career at Westminster representing North Warwickshire, tweeted: "The first Tory minister to resign over the Dominic Cummings debacle.

"Government authority is draining away.

"No one wants that during the biggest crisis since 1945.

The 65-year-old political heavyweight, a strong supporter of a full coronavirus lockdown which he accepted would "cause job losses, companies going bust and real pain, but it will also saves lives", added: "Cummings should go.

"If he doesn't, other ministers should follow the example of Douglas Ross in the coming days."

North Warwickshire Councillor Jack Deakin, as a keyworker, called on current constituency MP Craig Tracey to show leadership and "stand up to the bully boys in your party protecting a man who essentially spat in the face of everyone who has made sacrifices in these difficult times".

The resignation pf Mr Ross came amid continued concerns over how the Prime Minister's defence of Mr Cummings will affect the public, police and health workers during the pandemic.

In an extraordinary press conference for an adviser, Mr Cummings argued that his journey to Durham in March was justified as he sought to protect his family's health.

But many questions remained unanswered, including over his subsequent drive to Barnard Castle which he said was to test his eyesight after it was affected by Covid-19.

Mr Gove said the journey, some 25 miles from where the aide was isolating, was "completely appropriate" because he was "preparing to return to work" by checking he was safe to drive the long trip back to London.

The political storm surrounding Mr Cummings' press conference in Downing Street's garden overshadowed Mr Johnson's announcement that all shops in England will be able to open next month if they can protect shoppers and workers.

Mr Cummings said he and his wife, journalist Mary Wakefield, drove to Durham to stay in a cottage on his father's farm because of concerns about childcare for their four-year-old son if they were incapacitated by coronavirus and also over fears about the safety of their London home.

He declined to apologise and said he did not regret his actions when he outlined how he drove from his home in London to County Durham during the lockdown.

Tory MP Simon Jupp suggested that Mr Cummings should consider his position, saying he has felt "anger, disappointment and frustration" during the "deeply unhelpful distraction".

William Wragg, Tory chairman of the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, said it was "humiliating" to see ministers defending Mr Cummings.

"We cannot throw away valuable public and political goodwill any longer," he said.

Veteran Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale said the backbench 1922 Committee should tell Mr Johnson that Mr Cummings has to go.