ILKLEY’S MP Robbie Moore has given his backing to Dominic Cummings.

Mr Cummings, the chief adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, admits leaving his London home to travel to County Durham under lockdown.

In a statement issued on Facebook on Monday Mr Moore said: “These are really difficult times and we all take decisions we feel and think are right at the time. Dominic Cummings clearly did what he thought was right at the time to protect his child. Whether you agree with him or not, he believed, and believes, this was within the guidance, it was legal and therefore the right thing to do.

“To address this public health crisis, people across the country have had to make incredible sacrifices and difficult decisions – not least being unable to see their families and their friends for months during a difficult time. I, like many of you are in the same situation.

“Dominic Cummings has now explained his decisions and I believe his statement draws a line under it and we should now move on.

“To all who have kindly emailed me on this topic over the last couple of days, I will respond to you personally, but please bear with me.

“I hope you will appreciate and feel that it is right that my main focus must be on supporting constituents across the constituency who need my help and involvement on both Covid related matters and other issues - so I will come back to you personally on this subject as soon as I can.”