[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Mick

I am still intrigued as to what rules and laws were broken here, anyone?

They left for their parents, to safeguarding of the child, which is in no doubt what any other common sense parent should have done, above all else that overrides everything else. But of course we are dealing with Cummings here and the haters are going to hate whatever he had done.

I think the recent letter from the Labour Party should help in this regard. Let's not forget that the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers states that advisers must “comply with the law and uphold the administration of justice.”

Claim: “Owing to his wife being infected with suspected coronavirus and the high likelihood that he would himself become unwell, it was essential for Dominic Cummings to ensure his young child could be properly cared for.”

Response: On 16 March 2020, the Prime Minister advised the British public to “stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel”. On 23 March, he then instructed the British public to stay at home except for certain “very limited purposes”.

These rules were enshrined in law on 26 March:

“During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.”

In addition to this, the government’s guidance published on 23 March advised that if you were experiencing symptoms of coronavirus you must stay at home for 7 days and if you live with someone who has symptoms, self-isolate for 14 days from the day their symptoms started:

“If you live with others and you are the first in the household to have symptoms of coronavirus, then you must stay at home for 7 days, but all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days.”

The NHS advice also states that: “If you or someone you live with has symptoms of coronavirus: do not leave your home for any reason – if you need food or medicine, order it online or by phone, or ask someone to deliver it to your home; do not have visitors in your home – including friends and family; do any exercise at home – you can use your garden, if you have one.”

The actions of Dominic Cummings would appear to be inconsistent with official advice.

Claim: “His sister and nieces had volunteered to help so he went to a house near to but separate from his extended family in case their help was needed. His sister shopped for the family and left everything outside.”

Response: I understand Number 10 sources are pointing to Dominic Cummings and his wife needing childcare. However, it does not appear to be within the government’s guidelines – or in the spirit of the guidelines – that a 260-mile trip can be justified, including the risk this could have brought to spreading the infection from London to another part of the country.

https://labourlist.org/2020/05/labou...lockdown-trip/