Boris Johnson has backed his chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, amid calls for him to resign or be sacked.

Mr Cummings left London in March with his wife, who had coronavirus symptoms, and son, to travel more than 250 miles to Durham to be near family should Mr Cummings develop symptoms and need childcare help with their son.

UK Government ministers have said Mr Cummings acted within the rules.

But Labour has called for a civil service investigation and the SNP and even some Conservative MPs are calling for Mr Cummings to resign.

Glasgow Times:

Boris Johnson said: “I think he followed the instincts of every father and every parent and I don’t mark him down for that.

I believe that in every respect he acted responsibly, legally and with integrity.”

He also said the UK government was ready to move to stage two of exiting lockdown.

Nicola Sturgeon also said Mr Cummings should go.

She tweeted I know it is tough to lose a trusted adviser at the height of crisis, but when it’s a choice of that or integrity of vital public health advice, the latter must come first.

“That’s the judgment I and, to her credit, Catherine Calderwood reached. PM and Cummings should do likewise.”