LEIGH MP James Grundy says he believes Dominic Cummings' actions were "reasonable" and fell within government guidance.

Boris Johnson’s chief advisor has been the subject of an intense furore relating to his lockdown trip to County Durham at the height of the pandemic after he and his wife started showing coronavirus symptoms.

Mr Cummings has said he believed he had acted “reasonably” and within the law when he drove 260 miles with family from London to Durham on March 27.

During his time in Durham, Mr Cummings said he and his wife, the journalist Mary Wakefield, and his four-year-old son stayed in an isolated cottage on his parents’ farm.

Mr Cummings has faced calls to resign over the matter though the Prime Minister has defended his chief of staff saying he believed he had acted "responsibly and legally".

Leigh Journal:

Dominic Cummings

Leigh Conservative MP James Grundy says that over the last few days he has received a number of emails about Dominic Cummings, both in support of his actions, and against them.

Mr Grundy said the issue "comes down to the original guidance provided as part of the 'Stay at Home' lockdown measures, and the exemptions to this guidance".

In a statement on Facebook, the MP said: "Although I understand that some will disagree with Mr Cummings’ actions, I believe that his decisions were reasonable and fell within the guidance provided at the time. I will not be calling for his resignation.

"As outlined in the press conference on Monday, Mr Cummings travelled to Durham with his wife and son and resided in another home, away from other family members. His decision to take this journey meant that in the event he and his wife were incapacitated through illness, family would be close by to care for their young child.

"In addition, Mr Cummings made clear in his statement that the safety of his wife and child was also a consideration in the decision to self-isolate at an alternative location. Mr Cummings’ family home had been the frequent target of protests, threats, and constant media attention, with the location of his home broadcast across media outlets, which I believe no one should be subject to due to their job or political affiliation.

"There have been claims that Mr Cummings could have sought alternative childcare near to his London home, such as leaving his child with a neighbour or alternatively handing his child to Islington Council social services in the event he or his wife were incapacitated.

"I honestly do not believe that any parent would have taken up those alternatives, or indeed, any of the other options that have been suggested."

Mr Grundy added: "Many of us are lucky that we have family close by who can look after our children in the event we are unable to do so ourselves. Mr Cummings was not. I for one am glad I was not put in a position where I would have had to have made the same choices he did."

Mr Cummings has been Boris Johnson's chief of staff since he became Prime Minister last July. He was the director of the Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 EU referendum.