Dominic Cummings has arrived at Number 10, amid mounting pressure on him to resign as Boris Johnson’s chief advisor.
The PM’s top aide left his home and travelled to Downing Street this morning as Tory MPs demanded his resignation over lockdown flouting.
Dominic Cummings left his home in north London with his wife and son shortly after 11am.
After one journalist asked if he had returned to Durham in April, Mr Cummings said: “No, I did not.”
Mr Cummings, who was wearing a lanyard with an ID card, was carrying a note pad and what appeared to be a black bin bag.
The family then got in the car and drove away.
He reportedly arrived at Number 10 around half an hour later, giving no answers to shouted questions on his alleged second trip to Durham, or on whether he would resign.
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(Image: Daily Mirror Phil Harris)
Today the Mirror published allegations that Mr Cummings had defied lockdown rules for a second time – breaking rules he helped draw up.
The PM’s top aide was spotted in Houghall Woods a fortnight after the first sighting.
He was first spotted in Durham on April 5 while self isolating with the coronavirus.
A return to London saw him back at work on April 14. But by April 19 he was back in Durham.
On the second visit, fellow walkers spotted Mr Cummings at the local beauty spot.
The adviser – facing growing calls to quit – claimed Mr Cummings commented as he passed by: “Aren’t the bluebells lovely?”
Boris Johnson offered his “full support” to his chief adviser yesterday.
The Mail on Sunday has reported that, in standing by his aide, Mr Johnson said: “It’s not like he was visiting a lover.”
He also reportedly said that he considers the matter closed, as “Dominic had acted within the guidance and was simply caring for his family”.
But the reports have prompted fury from opposition MPs, with the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford calling for him to be immediately axed.
“It is clear that Boris Johnson must sack Dominic Cummings,” he said on Twitter.
“When the PM’s top adviser ignores the Government’s instruction to the public not to engage in non-essential travel he has to leave office. Immediately.”
Labour, the SNP and the Liberal Democrats have written to Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill demanding an inquiry into what happened.
A Labour source said: “If these latest revelations are true, why on earth were Cabinet ministers sent out this afternoon to defend Dominic Cummings?
“We need an urgent investigation by the Cabinet Secretary to get to the bottom of this matter.
“It cannot be right that there is one rule for the Prime Minister’s adviser and another for the British people.”
Acting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, meanwhile, has said the PM’s judgment will be called into question if Mr Cummings is allowed to remain.
“If Dominic Cummings is now allowed to remain in place a moment longer, it will increasingly be the Prime Minister’s judgment that is in the spotlight,” said the former energy secretary.
“Surely Boris Johnson must now recognise the actions of his top adviser are an insult to the millions who have made huge personal sacrifices to stop the spread of coronavirus.”
Amid huge public backlash, a snap poll suggests that more than half of Brits also believe the controversial aide should resign.
A YouGov poll found 52% believe he should quit, while 68% said he had broken the rules.
It comes after a host of senior Cabinet ministers including Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Attorney General Suella Braverman took to social media on Saturday to voice their support for Mr Cummings.
Speaking at the daily Downing Street briefing, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps added that Mr Cummings had “stayed put for 14 days” while residing at a family property.
But the trip to Barnard Castle on April 12 would call that testimony into question.
A No 10 spokesman described the Mirror’s story on Mr Cummings travelling to self-isolate in Durham as “inaccurate”.
“Yesterday the Mirror and Guardian wrote inaccurate stories about Mr Cummings,” they said.
“Today they are writing more inaccurate stories including claims that Mr Cummings returned to Durham after returning to work in Downing Street on 14 April.
“We will not waste our time answering a stream of false allegations about Mr Cummings from campaigning newspapers.”
