Andrew Murrison must back calls for Dominic Cummings to go, and put fight against coronavirus first

The Liberal Democrats have written to Andrew Murrison urging them to "end the distractions" and support calls for scandal-hit Dominic Cummings to go, so the country can focus on the coronavirus emergency.

In the letter, Liberal Democrat South West Wiltshire councillors and spokesperson Ellen Nicholson for South West Wiltshire urges all Conservative MPs to "put the interests of your constituent's first, end the distractions and join the growing number of Conservative MPs who are calling for Dominic Cummings to go."

The call comes alongside Liberal Democrat demands for an independent inquiry into the Government's handling of the coronavirus crisis, while several Conservative MPs have also broken cover to call for Dominic Cummings to quit, amid claims he broke coronavirus lockdown rules twice.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson Ellen Nicholson for South West Wiltshire said:

"People right across South West Wiltshire have made incredible sacrifices to stop the coronavirus. Even if the Prime Minister keeps his blinkers on, Andrew Murrison cannot be oblivious to how angry people are with this scandal.

"Each minute this scandal is allowed to drag on is another minute the Government is distracted from upscaling Britain's testing capacity, securing PPE for frontline workers and preventing the tragic deaths in our care homes.

"Andrew Murrison must put the health, wellbeing and economy of our country before efforts to save the Prime Minister's adviser."

Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey added:

"By failing to act, the Prime Minister undermines his own authority to lead the country through this appalling crisis, bringing his own judgement into question.

"The Prime Minister must come clean about what he knows and terminate Dominic Cummings' contract. It is now clearer than ever that, once we are through this crisis, there must also be an independent inquiry to review the Government's actions."

Yours sincerely

Cllr Andrew Bryant, Trowbridge Drynham

Cllr Gordon King, Westbury East

Cllr Carole King, Westbury North

Ellen Nicholson, South West Wiltshire Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Spokesperson

Cllr Steve Oldrieve, Trowbridge Paxcroft

Cllr Stewart Palmen, Trowbridge Central

Cllr Jo Trigg, Trowbridge Lambrok

A copy of the letter can be found below:

Dear Dr Murrison

We hope this email finds you and your family well.

We are writing to you jointly as Liberal Democrat South West Wiltshire councillors and spokesperson.

It is fortunate that South West Wiltshire appears to have a low prevalence of coronavirus but these last few weeks across the UK have been the some of the hardest ever seen.

We've heard and received messages from doctors, nurses, care workers, key workers and teachers, all worried that they haven't been given the protection or support needed to do their job safely, and we're sure you will have had similar messages.

Despite this, people across South West Wiltshire have done their bit. They've stayed at home, set up help groups to support the vulnerable and isolated, become NHS volunteers or donated to food banks. Wiltshire is at its best when organising as a community and we have seen this time and time again.

The news about Dominic Cummings travelling to Durham while supposedly self-isolating and with a person infected with COVID-19, and the support received from the Prime Minister, is just a slap in the face for constituents though.

People are justifiably angry. Residents stating they have been unable to visit loved ones and talking of the anguish of those who have died alone. The guilt and sorrow will be with them forever, but they did what they thought was right because the Government had asked them to. Many will now wish they had ignored the advice. The Prime Minister's support for Mr Cummings has made it clear - it is one rule for him and another rule for the rest of us.

We agree with the Daily Mail, Daily Mirror and a growing number of Conservative MPs who are now saying that Dominic Cummings must go.

We are writing to you to ask you to join with them. Join those MPs and take a stand against the Prime Minister's decision to support Mr Cummings and please put South West Wiltshire's residents first in this matter.