Esher and Walton MP and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab expressed his support for embattled political advisor Dominic Cummings recently amid reports of concerns among his constituents over Cummings' reported breach of lockdown rules.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's top political advisor Cummings drove with his family some 260 miles from London to Durham at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in April, despite clear instructions from the government to isolate at one home.
He later drove 30 miles to Barnard Castle with his family while in the region.
Reports on social media circulated in recent days suggesting that Raab was not responding to constituent emails regarding the controversy.
Has anybody in his Esher and Walton constituency had a response from Dominic Raab to emails about Cummings? He’s not replied to mine. Not a good look to ignore his constituents views (again)
— Esher & Walton for EU (@EW4EU) May 28, 2020
The Esher and Walton branch of the pro-European Union European Movement, longstanding critics of Raab, tweeted:
"Has anybody in his Esher and Walton constituency had a response from Dominic Raab to emails about Cummings?
"He’s not replied to mine. Not a good look to ignore his constituents views (again)," on Thursday (May 28).
Responding to a request from the Surrey Comet regarding the reports of a lack of engagement with constituents over the issue, a spokesperson for Raab's constituency office said:
"We will respond to correspondence in due course".
Dominic Cummings gave a detailed account of his actions and how he followed the rules applicable to his family. Meanwhile, Cabinet met today and was totally focused on tackling C19 & moving the country forward.
— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) May 25, 2020
Johnson and senior government figures have backed Cummings despite mounting public pressure and dissent from within the Conservative Party over Cummings's actions, with many calling for his resignation.
A number of MPs including several Conservative MPs in the Greater South West London area have resisted the government's call to "move on" from the controversy and demanded Cummings resign.
Raab addressed the scandal last weekend (May 23), suggesting the excuse provided by Cummings — that he and his wife were possibly ill with coronavirus and needed to seek childcare — was adequate.
It’s reasonable and fair to ask for an explanation on this. And it has been provided: two parents with Coronavirus, were anxiously taking care of their young child. Those now seeking to politicise it should take a long hard look in the mirror. https://t.co/fvfvPmlccQ
— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) May 23, 2020
"It’s reasonable and fair to ask for an explanation on this. And it has been provided: two parents with Coronavirus, were anxiously taking care of their young child," Raab said in a post to Twitter.
He meanwhile accused others of seeking to "politicize" the issue still impacting the Prime Minister's top political advisor.
"Those now seeking to politicise it should take a long hard look in the mirror," the Esher and Walton MP added.
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