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England’s deputy chief medical officer has said the lockdown rules are “for all of us”, after Dominic Cummings triggered a huge backlash for appearing to breach the guidelines.
Jenny Harries told told the Downing Street press conference on Sunday it was a matter of “personal and professional integrity” for her that she abided by the instructions given to the public.
Yesterday her colleague Jonathan Van-Tam, the other deputy chief medical officer, said the rules must “apply to all”.
Cummings, Boris Johnson’s senior aide, travelled to Durham from London while the most stringent lockdown measures were in place
But the prime minister has ignored calls from Tory MPs for Cummings to be fired from his job at the heart of Downing Street
Asked if she agreed with Van-Tam, Harries said she she approved of “his exposure of what he felt was exactly right”.
“We usually say exactly the same things because we think in public health terms, and I think that’s right,” she said.
“And from my own perspective I can assure you that from a level of personal and professional integrity, I would always try and follow the rules as I know he does.
“The important thing is they are rules for all of us, and it’s really important as we go through into this next critical phase that we do follow them to the best of our abilities, and even minimise if you like, the freedoms that are there to ensure that we can very gently come out of the pandemic.
Van-Tam had said: “In my opinion the rules are clear and they have always been clear.
“In my opinion they are for the benefit of all. In my opinion they apply to all.”
Chief medical officer professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance have both refused to comment on Cummings’ actions.
A survey by Opinium for The Observer today found that 81% of people thought Cummings broke the rules, and 68% think he should resign.