Effigy of Cummings as Boris Johnson’s puppet-master at the People’s Vote march, in October 2019. Edited Image: ClemRutter. CC BY-SA 4.0

Cabinet Minister says allegations Dominic Cummings broke lockdown rules are false

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says claims by the Guardian/Observer and Mirror that Dominic Cummings made a second trip to Durham during the lockdown are ‘completely untrue.’

The government has continued to defend Mr Cummings and counterclaim inaccuracies in the newspapers’ reporting of the affair.

Grant Shapps has been appearing on Sunday morning political programmes.

On Sky News on Sunday he said fresh allegations that Mr Cummings made a second trip to visit his parents in Durham were false.

‘Are you going on the record to say the two new allegations against Dominic Cummings are not true?’ – @SophyRidgeSky @grantshapps says it’s “not true” that Mr Cummings travelled back up to Durham on 19th April, but adds he doesn’t know about the second claim.#Ridge pic.twitter.com/lZIFF6BFKj

— Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) May 24, 2020

Back-bench Conservative MP and a longstanding critic of Dominic Cummings has called for his resignation.

Stephen Baker says: ‘It is intolerable that Boris’ government is losing so much political capital.’

He wrote on Twitter: ‘Dominic Cummings must go.’

Cummings masterminded the 2016 campaign to leave the European Union during the Brexit referendum.

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He travelled to Durham in late March when measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus were already in place.

Boris Johnson’s office said on Saturday he made the journey to ensure his 4-year-old son could be properly cared for as his wife was ill with COVID-19 and there was a ‘high likelihood’ that Cummings would himself become unwell.

PM’s adviser Cummings must quit over lockdown drive – Conservative lawmaker https://t.co/6k2xYTK4n0 pic.twitter.com/BHujP5hWYU

— Reuters UK (@ReutersUK) May 24, 2020

ITV’s Political Editor Robert Peston has tweeted that Dominic Cummings’ departure from Number 10 Downing Street is ‘only a matter of time.’

It seems he has been taking soundings from inside government.

Dominic Cummings departure: ‘Only a matter of time’ | By @Peston https://t.co/SyJ51nVrcQ

— ITV News (@itvnews) May 24, 2020

Fear care homes ‘could go to the wall’ due to rising costs from the coronavirus pandemic

Care sector home leaders are worried that the COVID-19 crisis means many residential homes may have to close.

The BBC reports that thirty out of 102 care providers contacted said none of their staff had been tested.

Care home providers are complaining the government response has been ‘patchy and inconsistent.’

But The Department of Health and Social Care insists all care staff and residents can now be tested, regardless of symptoms.

Care homes “could go to the wall” due to rising costs from the coronavirus pandemic, bosses sayhttps://t.co/c6b8F79lwx

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) May 24, 2020

China’s proposed security laws for Hong Kong face growing global outcry

Almost 200 political figures from around the world have added to condemnation of Beijing’s proposed national security laws for Hong Kong.

The signatories include 17 members of the US Congress.

China proposes to set up government intelligence bases in the territory.

It also wants to prevent a repeat of last year when Hong Kong saw months of protests triggered by a bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China.

Protests have already started in Hong Kong over the new security legislation, with police using teargas to disperse large crowds, some holding signs which said “Free Hong Kong” https://t.co/IgqsnnxKqC

— SkyNews (@SkyNews) May 24, 2020

Calls to let grass verges grow and wild flowers to flourish after lockdown

Environmental campaigners in Wales are urging local councils to leave grass verges to spout up with wild flowers on roadsides.

During the lockdown they have become habitats for species of flowers and bees.

Some local authorities have said they are only cutting verges that affect footpaths or visibility of motorists.

With many council services on hold, the coronavirus lockdown has enabled rare orchids, buttercups, clover and cowslips to bloom where as in the past they would have been cut down.

Is lockdown giving us a glimpse of a world where flowers blossom all around us?https://t.co/IXaXYs00As

— BBC Wales News (@BBCWalesNews) May 24, 2020