'Time for Cummings to go,' says South West Beds MP Andrew Selous

Mr Cummings has been widely criticised for undertaking a 260-mile trip to Durham with his wife and son in April while suffering symptoms of coronavirus.

Despite calls from some of his own MPs to sack him, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stood by his aide and said he acted "responsibly, legally and with integrity".

At a Downing Street press conference yesterday, Mr Cummings denied any wrongdoing and insisted he had acted within the rules.

Mr Selous, who says he has received over 700 emails on the subject, said: "While I have compassion for him being ill with COVID-19, having a sick wife and child, and being under huge pressure, I believe that his behaviour has damaged the Prime Minister, the government and, most critically of all, the integrity of our vital public health messages.

"I therefore think he should no longer have a role in government as his continued presence makes the vital work of the government in tackling COVID-19 more difficult.

"I have told the government this.

"Up and down this country, sick parents have looked after their children on their own at home, including single parents.

"People have endured enormous suffering as they have not been present at the death of loved ones or been able to comfort family and friends in person.

"These are not normal times and the country has come together to defeat this terrible virus.

"It is especially important that those who have imposed these necessary restrictions on our freedom take special care to obey them fully themselves."