UK PM says adviser's lockdown drive was understandable

Dominic Cummings, special adviser for Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives in Downing Street, amid the COVID-19 outbreak, London, Britain, May 21, 2020. /Reuters

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defended senior adviser Dominic Cummings who reportedly violated lockdown measures.

Cummings is under pressure to vacate his position after reports that he travelled to his parents home more than 400 kilometers from his London home after showing symptoms of coronavirus on the weekend of March 28-29.

Johnson's office said on Sunday Cummings made a 400-km (250 mile) journey to ensure his 4-year-old son could be properly cared for as his wife was ill with COVID-19.

"I think that what they did was totally understandable," Johnson said at a news conference on Sunday.

"I think any father, any parent would frankly understand what he did and I certainly do."

Cummings masterminded the successful campaign to leave the European Union in 2016.

Source(s): Reuters