JK Rowling slams Dominic Cummings’ ‘indefensible hypocrisy’ for driving across country during coronavirus lockdown despite government advice to ‘stay at home’
- The Harry Potter author took to social media to criticise the PM’s chief advisor
- Mr Cummings drove 260 miles in March despite clear Government restrictions
- No10 insisted the journey was ‘essential’ as ministers defended the strategist
- Others have told heartbreaking stories of sacrifice made during the lockdown
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
JK Rowling has described Dominic Cummings‘ 260-mile journey across the country during lockdown as ‘indefensible hypocrisy’.
Boris Johnson is facing calls to sack his chief aide after it emerged last night he’d travelled all the way from London to Durham, despite clear restrictions ordering people to stay at home.
Ministers have today defended Mr Cummings and denied he broke the rules by taking his wife and young son to stay with relatives in March, with a No10 spokesman insisting the journey was ‘essential’ to ensure his young child could be properly cared for.
However, there has been a strong public backlash over the last 24 hours, and the Harry Potter author also took to social media to slam the 48-year-old strategist.
JK Rowling, pictured, has described Dominic Cummings’ 260-mile journey across the country during lockdown as ‘indefensible hypocrisy’
As Chancellor Rishi Sunak jumped to Mr Cummings’ defence, the Harry Potter author bemoaned the chief aide’s ‘selfishness’ in a tweet
She tweeted: ‘People have missed funerals of loved ones because of lockdown.
‘Many have had to look after their own young children while ill.
‘One of the architects of the rules keeping those people housebound drove across the UK, knowing he had the virus.
‘Indefensible hypocrisy and selfishness.’
Other social media users have revealed the sacrifices they’ve made over the last two months, including stories of a father who hasn’t held his new baby for nine weeks, countless families unable to visit their elderly parents, and a mourner who couldn’t hug his father at his mother’s funeral.
Meanwhile, more than two-thirds of Brits think Dominic Cummings broke lockdown rules by driving to Durham while in self-isolation, with more than half believing he should resign, a snap poll has found tonight.
The survey of 3,707 adults, carried out by YouGov today, found just 28 per cent think he should stay on, and another 20 per cent were on the fence.
Earlier today, a defiant Mr Cummings responded ‘who cares’ when he was asked by reporters whether his actions looked bad.
‘It’s a question of doing the right thing. It’s not about what you guys think,’ he said.
He also berated photographers for not following social distancing rules by staying two metres apart.
Earlier today, a defiant Mr Cummings, pictured, responded ‘who cares’ when he was asked by reporters whether his actions looked bad
His mother also let rip on a reporter. Speaking from the family home via intercom, she said: ‘I have got one thing to say, Dominic’s uncle died on Palm Sunday and you should be ashamed of yourself.’
Meanwhile, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner said Mr Cummings had made policing the lockdown ‘much harder’.
In a statement, former Labour MP David Jamieson said: ‘The police’s job of enforcing the lockdown has been made much harder after both the actions of Dominic Cummings travelling over 260 miles and the flexibility with which the Government now seem to interpret the guidance.
‘People will now say there is one rule for them and one rule for the Prime Minister’s political advisers.
‘Across the country, millions of people are making sacrifices, including scores of police officers and staff who have separated from their families to protect their health and the health of the nation.
‘It seems beyond belief that to justify the breach of guidance they appear to now be questioning the honesty and credibility of Durham Police.
‘The Prime Minster, Boris Johnson, should sack Dominic Cummings forthwith, to restore public confidence and some credibility to his handling of this dreadful Covid-19 crisis.’