THE Prime Minister's most senior advisor should step down over his decision to travel 260 miles and back in lockdown, a Conservative councillor has told the Guardian.

Dominic Cummings defended his decision to drive from London to his parents' Durham farm in lockdown by claiming his circumstances were 'exceptional' and therefore within the rules.

He told journalists at 10 Downing Street on Monday that he feared no one would be able to care for his four-year-old son after his wife had fallen ill, while colleagues in the Government – including Boris Johnson – had contracted the coronavirus.

But Mr Cummings has faced criticism from politicians across the divide – and now a Conservative councillor who believes he should resign has labelled his actions as 'inexcusable'.

Cllr Andrew Kolker, Cheshire East Council member for Dane Valley, said: "My personal view is that it is pretty inexcusable, to be honest. He should go.

Knutsford Guardian:

"He is not elected, he does not have a responsibility to the electorate, however he is a very senior and influential person in Government.

"I think he should not have done it. I think it adds confusion to the message.

"The message is quite confusing now anyway but I don't think this decision engenders a culture of trust in the message."

Cllr Kolker is not the only Conservative councillor critical of Mr Cummings.

Cllr Charlotte Leach says she has 'every sympathy' with the situation he found himself in, but she feels it 'was not exceptional'.

And the CEC member for Mobberley claims the Government's decision to support him is an example of 'blind party loyalty', which she says is 'extremely unhealthy'.

She said: "Many people will have found themselves in similar circumstances, worrying about how they will be able to continue to care for their children if they become ill.

Knutsford Guardian:

"Many of those people will have suffered greatly by complying with government guidelines but did so because they were told they had no choice.

"The overarching narrative of this story is that it is one rule for the elite and one rule for everyone else.

"At a time when we need people to take public health advice seriously, allowing the rules to be bent for one senior government advisor seriously undermines this message. We expect those in power to lead by example."

According to a YouGov poll carried out on Monday evening, 59 per cent of Brits think Mr Cummings should resign.

However, Cllr Tony Dean believes the Government is best placed to make a decision over Mr Cummings' future.

The CEC member for Knutsford said: "My feeling is that he is not a politician, he is an employee.

Knutsford Guardian:

"I have not studied the details closely enough. I know he broke the spirit of the rules. He is claiming there is a let-out for childcare.

"I am prepared to wait and let the people concerned make a decision – his employer."

While anger towards Mr Cummings' actions was rife on social media over the bank holiday weekend, none of the three councillors had been contacted by residents with concerns over the episode.

Speaking at a press conference in Downing Street yesterday, Mr Cummings told journalists: "I don’t think there’s one rule for me and one rule for other people."

But he went on to suggest his role with the Government gave him an exceptional set of circumstances.

He said: "I believe that in all the circumstances I behaved reasonably and legally, balancing the safety of my family and the extreme situation in Number 10 and the public interest in effective government to which I could contribute.

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“I was involved in decisions affecting millions people and I thought that I should try to help as much as I could do.

“I can understand that some people will argue that I should have stayed at home in London throughout.

“I understand these views, I know the intense hardship and sacrifice the entire country has had to go through. However, I respectfully disagree.”

What do you think? Email yourviews@guardiangrp.co.uk