THE Prime Minister’s top adviser has said he has ‘no regrets’ over reportedly breaking lockdown rules in April.

Reports revealed Dominic Cummings drove to Durham from London at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

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As part of the team that drew up lockdown rules, Mr Cummings has faced calls to resign given his decision to make the almost-300-mile trip.

Bracknell MP James Sunderland told the News he was ‘sympathetic’ to constituents in lockdown who might be angry at the situation, whereas Wokingham MP Sir John Redwood backed the PM’s adviser.

The News asked some Conservative councillors from across Bracknell Forest for their thoughts on the situation, whether they thought Mr Cummings should be sacked, and if they had concerns his actions would lead a to a spike in people breaking lockdown rules.

Here’s what they had to say.

Pauline McKenzie, College Town

“I understand people being angry about it when they’ve followed the rules but I just think that if my daughter, who works for border force, rang me and told me she was ill and my three grand-children couldn’t be looked after I think I’d go and get them.

“It’s difficult isn’t it because I think you have to judge the situation yourself and what you can best do for your family.

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“Nobody has emailed me with their point of views. I’ve just been speaking to my friends basically and they feel the same. Because we’re all grandparents if our children turned around and said they were desperate because they’re ill we probably would have broken the rules as well.

“If you’re a leader you’ve got to be loyal and supportive of your staff and I feel that if you believed what he was saying and you think it’s reasonable, and obviously he did break the rules, but if it was a good enough reason then I think that decision about keeping him to do the good job he’s been doing you would stand up for him and be counted.

“I think that ‘s the kind of loyalty as a manager you’re supposed to show to your staff.

“The way we have got through this crisis is the majority of us have abided by the rules and therefore we’re in a much better situation. I think people should be told off or brought to account for what they do and what they break.

“We have a police system that can fine people for doing that and I think that’s all the legislation we’ve got at the moment to impose penalties so I guess we use that.”

Robert McLean, Warfield Harvest Ride.

Yesterday, Cllr McLean tweeted this: “Some parents have been placed in the truly appalling position of not being able to be with a sick child; some children could not be with a dying parent. They have adhered to Government guidelines. These guidelines must apply to everyone.”

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Speaking to the News, he added: “My view is people in public office have to adhere to a higher standard of behaviour than they can expect from general members of the public.

“People generally understand the reasons why he did it and are sympathetic to the fact he had a sick child whereas others feel that they’re not persuaded by what he said yesterday.

“I suspect he had other options open to him that he didn’t pursue. The advice I would give any local would be if you’ve got a problem, would be talk to your local authority Bracknell Forest Council.

“The message that seems to be coming from a lot of MPs is don’t do as I do, do as I say.

“Clearly he had a particular set of personal circumstances and he thought he’d done the right thing and he admitted not all reasonable people would agree with him.

“I happen not to agree. I think he had other options he could have pursued. The first thing I would say to anybody in Warfield is if you’ve got a problem, talk to Bracknell Forest.”

John Harrison, Binfield with Warfield

“I wouldn’t like to put myself in the position of a man with a four-year-old autistic child who can’t be left with strangers because it distresses him.

“I can sympathise with what he was going through and the fact he was being hounded by the press pack.

“I’ve seen what people have said on social media and there’s not been a lot of comment from Binfield.

“I think it’s a matter for the Prime Minister. It’s very sad when an adviser becomes the story and it might be the prime minister has to say regardless of the justice of the situation and the fact he didn’t actually technically break the lockdown he’ll have to go anyway as a sacrifice to the baying press pack.

“I think it would be very ill-advised to do [break lockdown]. I think people should continue to follow the guidance.”

Peter Heydon, Old Bracknell

“The government’s position and what they’re saying about Dominic Cummings, I can’t comment.

“What I would say, and what is really difficult, is to understand exactly where the truth is and the media’s got some responsibility here.

“There are so many conflicting stories and then you see the video footage of the media besieging him at home, and they’re ignoring social distancing.

“It’s very difficult for the man in the street to make a proper decision because you really don’t know what the truth is.

“The police have implied one thing and somebody says another thing. This is where I’m at a loss because what is the truth? Sometimes the media is to blame for their behaviour.

“I do think the press has got a lot to answer for and perhaps the government has, but we don’t seem to get a true, fair picture of what’s going on.

“My priority is to do my bit for Bracknell Forest Council and particularly looking after vulnerable people.

“It [people breaking lockdown] has already happened. It’s been happening all the way along and it just seems to have got out of hand.

“When you see how the press are going after him, they’re also breaking the rules.

“There are no innocents in this and I think that’s probably a symptom of a pandemic.”