Blackpool MP Scott Benton defends Dominic Cummings saying his actions were 'reasonable'

The political row has started due to Mr Cummings travelling more than 260 miles during the coronavirus lockdown to Durham in the north east of England, to be near his family.

During a statement read out by Boris Johnson's senior aide last night in Downing Street's Rose Garden he said his decision to drive to 270 miles was based not only on fears over a lack of childcare if he became incapacitated with Covid-19 but also concerns about his family's safety.

While not naming him, Scott Benton, who is the Conservative MP for Blackpool South, tweeted that his actions were 'reasonable'.

Mr Benton said: "A clear explanation from a father, concerned for his child, about why he did what he did. Reasonable under the circumstances, no laws broken. We have huge challenges ahead to balance people’s health with getting the economy going. Let’s move on and focus on that."

However Mr Benton's views are a complete contrast to the Blackpool North and Cleveleys MP Paul Maynard who had already tweeted at the weekend that Mr Cummings' actions are 'indefensible' and that he must go.

The Tory MP said: "I can only share the collective dismay and I understand the widespread anger. So many people in this constituency have gone out of their way to stick to both the letter and the spirit of the guidelines and laws, despite it coming at great personal emotional cost.

"It is a classic case of 'do as I say, not as I do' - and it is not as if he was unfamiliar with guidance he himself helped draw up. It seems to me to be utterly indefensible and his position wholly untenable."

Critics have claimed that such a journey was a potential breach of official guidelines, which at the time told the public they could only leave their homes for very limited reasons to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

A number of Conservative MPs have said Mr Cummings needs to resign despite some Government ministers, including health secretary Matt Hancock and chancellor Rishi Sunak, supporting the chief aide's actions.

The Fylde coast's two other Conservative MPs, Mark Menzies (Fylde) and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (Preston North and Wyre), have not publicly made any comments about the political row.