UK Prime Minister's Chief Advisor Faces Criticism for Traveling 400km Despite COVID Symptoms: "Should Resign"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister who was infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and was even admitted to the intensive care unit, is now under pressure due to a controversy involving his chief advisor. Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister's chief advisor, is facing criticism for violating lockdown rules by visiting his parents' home about 400 km away despite showing suspected COVID-19 symptoms during the lockdown period.

According to BBC and other sources on the 23rd (local time), Cummings showed signs of COVID-19 infection at the end of March but visited his parents' home in Durham. The Prime Minister's Office stated that he felt suspected symptoms over the weekend and entered self-quarantine but did not disclose that he was in Durham. After a two-week quarantine, Cummings returned to work on April 14.

The UK government explained that Cummings hoped there would be someone to take care of his child if he and his wife showed COVID-19 symptoms. Cummings himself claimed to reporters camped outside his London home that he "acted reasonably and legally." When pointed out that his actions did not appear commendable, he retorted, "What matters is not what you think but whether I acted correctly according to the rules."

However, opposition parties unanimously launched an offensive, viewing Cummings, a key figure in the government, as having violated the lockdown order. Ian Blackford, the SNP (Scottish National Party) House of Commons leader, demanded Cummings' dismissal, and the Liberal Democrats (LD) commented that he should resign if he broke government guidelines. The main opposition Labour Party pressured Prime Minister Johnson to explain the matter through a spokesperson's statement.

Previously in the UK, Neil Ferguson, a government advisory committee member and professor at Imperial College, and Dr. Catherine Calderwood, Scotland's Chief Medical Officer, were revealed to have violated lockdown orders and resigned consecutively.

Cummings is known as Johnson's closest aide and is described by the media as the "puppet master" behind the scenes, making him the most powerful figure in the government. He formed a connection with Johnson as the strategy director for Johnson's campaign during the 2016 Brexit (Britain's exit from the European Union) referendum and later joined the cabinet together with Johnson.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.