East Sussex’s Tory councillors share views on Dominic Cummings’ lockdown trip

Tory councillors across East Sussex have shared their views on Dominic Cummings’ lockdown trip.
Chief Advisor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings makes a statement inside 10 Downing Street (Photo by Jonathan Brady-WPA Pool/Getty Images) SUS-200526-094003001Chief Advisor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings makes a statement inside 10 Downing Street (Photo by Jonathan Brady-WPA Pool/Getty Images) SUS-200526-094003001
Chief Advisor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings makes a statement inside 10 Downing Street (Photo by Jonathan Brady-WPA Pool/Getty Images) SUS-200526-094003001

Boris Johnson’s chief advisor said he acted reasonably and legally by driving  his family 260 miles from his home in London to County Durham in late March.

He said he was worried both he and his wife would not be able to look after their four-year-old son if they both came down with coronavirus and wanted to be near his parents.

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During that stay, Mr Cummings made a journey to nearby Barnard Castle and  he explained how this was to test his eyesight was fine before making the long trip back to London.

Politicians across the spectrum have called on Mr Cummings to resign or be sacked, including several dozen Conservative MPs.

But when Conservative district and borough councillors across East Sussex were surveyed, those who responded signalled strong support for Mr Cummings and his actions.

Although it appears the issue has been crowding MPs’ inboxes, the same can not be said for the county’s Tory councillors.

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They were also asked what they thought about Mr Cummings’ actions, the decision to keep him in post and if they had any concerns about the episode affecting the public’s adherence to social distancing and lockdown guidelines.

Bob Standley, leader of Wealden District Council, said the decision on Mr Cummings’ position was the Prime Minister’s alone, and felt residents in Wealden had in general followed the social distancing guidance and he was sure this  would continue as the lockdown is reviewed.

Wealden portfolio holder Roy Galley, a former Tory MP, felt it was ‘absolutely right to keep him in post’ and felt it was another attempt by ‘our contemptible press led by the BBC to bring somebody down’. He suggested Mr Cummings was ‘quite right to do the best for his child’.

Brian Redman, a Wealden councillor for Mayfield and Five Ashes, felt Mr Cummings’ actions were correct for the benefit of his child and also agreed with the decision to keep him in post. He thought the public would keep social distancing if they understand it is for the benefit of their families and themselves. The only correspondence he has had is from residents concerned about the press ‘trying to write their own news’.  He added: “The public questioning of Cummings is generally believed to be disgusting.  The press involved should be ashamed of themselves.”

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Tony Ganly, a Rother district councillor for Northern Rother, said he would have done the same as Mr Cummings in those circumstances except for the 30-mile drive to check his vision, He added: “On another subject, I believe ‘stay at home’ was the wrong message. Going out is not dangerous if you keep your distance. The message should have been ‘keep your distance’. This would also have made people less fearful of coming out of lockdown.”

Fellow ward member for Northern Rother, Martin Mooney added:  “He did what any right thinking parent would have done to protect his family and giving serious consideration for others by isolating as he did and at the same time checking whether he was fit enough to drive home all within the spirit of the rules.”

Eleanor Kirby-Green, who represents Burwash & the Weald at Rother, called the row a ‘witch hunt by certain parts of the media and political class who are out to get the person who delivered the referendum result’.

She added: “I don’t think he did anything wrong. People need to use their intelligence with regards to the rules. My view is that I would have done what Dominic Cummings did, had I a four year old who potentially needed care.

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“As for people driving two hours to the beach and saying it’s because of Dominic Cummings, what utter drivel. The lockdown is breaking anyway. Parliament are in a parallel universe if they don’t realise that people are now seeing parents and friends. This has nothing to do with Dominic Cummings.”

John Barnes, another Rother councillor, added: “I dislike witch hunts got up by the press and fully understand most of Mr Cummings’ actions. Driving as far as Barnard Castle looks a mistake and I do not think it would have harmed his cause to admit that.

“In any case, if either the PM or Mr Cummings were now to change their mind it would be like feeding a hungry lion with a sandwich. They’d simply move on to another demand to create another headline.”

Meanwhile Mike Edwards, a Hastings borough councillor for Ashdown, fully supported the PM’s decision to keep Mr Cummings in post as he was a ‘highly qualified and skilled operator and his contribution is badly needed in the government’. He labelled the general reporting of the situation ‘hysteria largely whipped up by a liberal left bubble centred on Westminster’.

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The only communication he has received is support for the PM and Mr Cummings and felt attacks ‘stink of political opportunitism’ as nobody could truly know how they would react when placed in a similar situation.

He added: “The Conservative backbenchers who have condemned Mr Cummings should examine their consciences and ask what would they do in similar circumstances.”

Karl Beaney, a fellow Hastings councillor representing West St Leonards, felt people were more interested in talking about getting schools reopened, the economy restarted and stopping increasing numbers of illegal immigrants arriving on the coastline.

He was sure residents would continue to maintain social distancing, stay alert and use their common sense to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

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He added: “Cummings has done nothing wrong and it’s absolutely right to keep him in post – It’s an orchestrated witch hunt by the far left and anti-Brexit brigade.”

The shortest responses came from Bob Bowdler, a Wealden district councillor for Horam & Punnetts Town, who replied: “I couldn’t care less, everyone makes their own decisions.”

Roger Bird, a Rother councillor for Southern Rother, who felt it was time to ‘just move on, and get on with the larger decisions’.

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