Welsh Health Minister concerned actions of Dominic Cummings could lead to ‘lack of public trust’

The Welsh Health Minister has said he fears the actions of Dominic Cummings could lead to a “lack of public trust” in the coronavirus lockdown rules.

The UK Government senior adviser was forced to defend himself on Monday after he drove his family 260 miles to Durham in March despite the ban on non-essential travel.

He said he did it because he was “worried about childcare” for his four-year-old son, as his wife was ill, but it has sparked a public backlash from others who stuck to the government legislation rigidly.

Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething was today asked what he would do in Mr Cummings’ position.

It comes after the Labour MS himself was criticised after he was photographed sitting eating chips in Cardiff Bay with his family.

Speaking at today’s daily Welsh Government press conference, he said: “I’ve said this several times before. I didn’t break the lockdown rules and the accusations are from people who want to try to avoid and ignore the facts of what happened.

“A local walk with my family within shooting distance of my home for a five year old child. That’s definitely local.

“We bought food in accordance with the rules we ate in accordance with the rules, we returned home in accordance with all of the rules.

“Now, I can say that if I had driven to the other end of the country to see a family member, when I thought that my wife could be potentially symptomatic with COVID-19, that would have been a clear breach of our rules in place at the time and my position as a minister would have been untenable.”

He continued: “It isn’t for me to make choices about the Prime Minister’s senior special adviser.

“What does matter to me there was not so much the fate of Dominic Cummings and his job. It’s actually whether people across all four nations, including here in Wales are going to continue to follow the rules to keep all of us safe.

“My real concern is the loss of public trust that comes from the ever changing circus of the last few days and that’s what really concerns me.”

Mr Gething was also questioned on when Wales would begin to ease more of the lockdown restrictions.

It follows the announcement that non-essential shops in England can start to open from next month.

In response, he said that the Welsh Government had yet to make a decision on such changes.

He said: “The cabinet of the Welsh Government are considering this week the rules and the First Minister will announce any changes on Friday as he has done previously.

“Our message to everyone though is to follow the message that we have. That is to stay at home and if you need to leave for one of the permitted reasons, then to stay local and stay safe.

“That will remain the message until we’re in a different place to have some new guidance and advice on what lockdown will mean here in Wales, because the Welsh Government wants us to be able to move out of lockdown, but to do so in a way that keeps Wales safe.”