Bury St Edmunds MP Jo Churchill responds to Dominic Cummings row

Bury St Edmunds MP Jo Churchill has responded to the row over the lockdown trip made by the Prime Minister's top adviser to County Durham.

Dominic Cummings is facing calls to resign or be sacked over his 260-mile journey with his wife, who was taken ill, and son to his parents' estate.

Mr Cummings, who is Boris Johnson's chief adviser, said he drove to his parents in County Durham where there were childcare options if needed.

He has been backed by the Prime Minister who said he acted 'responsibly, and legally and with integrity'.

The issue has dominated headlines with accusations that Mr Cummings broke the coronavirus lockdown rules.

The Bury Free Press approached Bury St Edmunds MP Jo Churchill, who is a minister for public health, on Monday and Tuesday for comment.

In a statement issued this morning, she said: “My focus has been on supporting constituents and broader duties during these challenging times.

"Mr Cummings has set out the context for his actions.

"I understand the strength of feeling that this issue has caused and I will be responding to my constituents on this matter in due course.

"However, our overall focus should still be on maintaining the decrease in the R number and rebuilding the economy."