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Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick has defended visiting his parents during the coronavirus lockdown, insisting he did so to deliver “essentials including medicines”.
The Housing Secretary was spotted outside his parents’ Shropshire home over the weekend, which is understood to be 40 miles away from his own residence.
A witness told the Guardian about the visit and Mr Jenrick has since responded to reports of his conduct.
“For clarity – my parents asked me to deliver some essentials – including medicines,” he said on Twitter.
“They are both self-isolating due to age and my father’s medical condition and I respected social distancing rules.”
Coronavirus hits the UK – In pictures
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Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield
PA
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An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London’s Piccadilly Circus
PA
3/45
Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown
Andrew Parsons
4/45
Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas’ hospital
Getty Images
5/45
Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in “PE with Joe” a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak
PA
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Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno
@AndrewStuart via PA
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Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed
8/45
A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus
PA
9/45
Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue
Reuters
10/45
A young man cuts another man’s hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford
Reuters
11/45
General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London
via Reuters
12/45
Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Reuters
13/45
A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace
Getty Images
14/45
A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home
PA
15/45
Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
16/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers
PA
17/45
A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of “panic buying” cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus.
Getty Images
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People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour
PA
19/45
Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus
PA
20/45
Children are painting ‘Chase the rainbows’ artwork and springing up in windows across the country
Reuters
21/45
Social distancing in Primrose Hill
Jeremy Selwyn
22/45
Westminster Bridge is deserted
PA
23/45
A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended
PA
24/45
An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station
Jeremy Selwyn
25/45
Homeless people in London
AFP via Getty Images
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A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow’s street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss
PA
27/45
The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic
PA
28/45
A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world
Reuters
29/45
Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside
PA
30/45
Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
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The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh’s Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
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Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
PA
33/45
A sign at a Sainsbury’s supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world
Reuters
34/45
Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
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A sign advertising a book titled “How Will We Survive On Earth?”
Getty Images
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A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria
Jeremy Selwyn
37/45
A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads “Diseases are in the City” in Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
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Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors
PA
39/45
A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh
PA
40/45
A quieter than usual British Museum
Getty Images
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A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask
SplashNews.com
42/45
A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station
Jeremy Selwyn
43/45
A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre
Getty Images
44/45
A deserted Trafalgar Square in London
PA
45/45
Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport
Getty Images
1/45
Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield
PA
2/45
An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London’s Piccadilly Circus
PA
3/45
Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown
Andrew Parsons
4/45
Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas’ hospital
Getty Images
5/45
Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in “PE with Joe” a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak
PA
6/45
Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno
@AndrewStuart via PA
7/45
Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed
8/45
A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus
PA
9/45
Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue
Reuters
10/45
A young man cuts another man’s hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford
Reuters
11/45
General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London
via Reuters
12/45
Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Reuters
13/45
A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace
Getty Images
14/45
A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home
PA
15/45
Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
16/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers
PA
17/45
A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of “panic buying” cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus.
Getty Images
18/45
People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour
PA
19/45
Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus
PA
20/45
Children are painting ‘Chase the rainbows’ artwork and springing up in windows across the country
Reuters
21/45
Social distancing in Primrose Hill
Jeremy Selwyn
22/45
Westminster Bridge is deserted
PA
23/45
A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended
PA
24/45
An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station
Jeremy Selwyn
25/45
Homeless people in London
AFP via Getty Images
26/45
A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow’s street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss
PA
27/45
The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic
PA
28/45
A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world
Reuters
29/45
Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside
PA
30/45
Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
31/45
The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh’s Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
32/45
Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
PA
33/45
A sign at a Sainsbury’s supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world
Reuters
34/45
Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
35/45
A sign advertising a book titled “How Will We Survive On Earth?”
Getty Images
36/45
A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria
Jeremy Selwyn
37/45
A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads “Diseases are in the City” in Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
38/45
Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors
PA
39/45
A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh
PA
40/45
A quieter than usual British Museum
Getty Images
41/45
A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask
SplashNews.com
42/45
A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station
Jeremy Selwyn
43/45
A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre
Getty Images
44/45
A deserted Trafalgar Square in London
PA
45/45
Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport
Getty Images
The Government’s guidelines state you should not visit anyone who lives outside your own home, including elderly relatives, though you are allowed to “leave your house to help them, for example by dropping shopping or medication at their door”.
Mr Jenrick, who is the minister responsible for local government and MP for Newark, has spoken at the daily Downing Street press conferences.
He is a key member of the Cabinet and has represented the Government in a number of broadcast interviews, pushing the stay at home guidance.
Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said it is up to Mr Jenrick to explain why he made the journey.
Mr Thomas-Symonds told BBC Breakfast: “There are the four reasons for leaving your house. One of them is to deliver essential supplies to vulnerable people.
“Clearly if that is what Robert Jenrick has done, then it fits within the four exceptions. It is for him to answer precisely what the purpose of the journey he undertook was.”
As well as the visit to his parents, the Daily Mail reported Mr Jenrick had travelled from his residence in London to a “second home” in Herefordshire during the lockdown.
The minister told the paper: “My house in Herefordshire is the place I, my wife and my young children consider to be our family home and my family were there before any restrictions on travel were announced.
“I have been working in London on ministerial duties, putting in place the system to shield the group most vulnerable to coronavirus and organising the response at a local level.
“Once I was able to work from home it was right that I went home to do so and be with my wife and also help care for my three young children.”
He said he would be staying at the family home until Government advice changes or he is needed in Westminster.
On Sunday, Dr Catherine Calderwood resigned her position as Scotland’s chief medical officer after it emerged she visited her holiday home twice during the coronavirus lockdown.
