Millions are justifiably furious over actions of Prime Minister's senior adviser, says Gail Ross
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Caithness, Sutherland and Ross SNP MSP Gail Ross has added her voice to the growing calls for Boris Johnson to sack his senior adviser Dominic Cummings for alleged breaches of the UK government's lockdown rules.
She accused the Prime Minister of a "failure of leadership" that would damage the public health message about coronavirus and put lives at risk.
Over the weekend it emerged that Mr Cummings drove his family 264 miles from London to his parents’ property in Durham while his wife was suffering from coronavirus symptoms. In a press conference in the Downing Street garden on Monday, Mr Cummings refused to quit, apologise or admit any wrongdoing, insisting that he "behaved reasonably".
Mrs Ross said today: “People in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross have made huge sacrifices over the months to obey the rules, while Boris Johnson's most senior adviser was breaking them on multiple occasions.
"He should have resigned but instead he showed no contrition and refused to say sorry for his behaviour, which has left millions of people – who have been sticking to the rules – justifiably furious.
“Cummings’ double standards are breathtaking. His convoluted excuses to justify his inexcusable behaviour were frankly insulting to the people of Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.
“The Prime Minister has no option but to sack Mr Cummings. His failure to do so by now is a failure of leadership that could have a catastrophic effect on how coronavirus is contained.
“As the Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw said, 'There cannot be one rule for bosses and another for everyone else.' People must have confidence that the Tory government is following its own rules – not protecting advisers who break them.
“Boris Johnson has apparently known about this for weeks, has failed to offer any answers himself, and now has no option but to sack Dominic Cummings and answer questions about his own role in the Downing Street cover-up.
"Leading public health experts have warned this failure of leadership is damaging the public health message and putting lives at risk.
"The longer the Prime Minister allows this farce to continue, the more the Tory government will lose credibility and respect. He must sack Mr Cummings without further delay."
Mrs Ross added: “In Scotland, the clear public health advice has not changed. The Scottish Government will review the current rules on Thursday and hopefully this will lead to a gradual easing of some restrictions, evidence permitting.
“But for now, people in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross should continue to stay at home – it really is helping to save lives.”
