RYEDALE MP Kevin Hollinrake has said it is time to “move on” from the row around Dominic Cummings.

Mr Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, said he had received hundreds of emails over the weekend expressing a range of opinions over Mr Cummings’ lockdown movements.

He said: “I do understand that everyone has had to make huge sacrifices to keep to the rules and many of you have been separated from loved ones, some of whom have been ill or, very sadly, passed away during this period. I can totally understand why you may feel angry or frustrated.

“I am sorry I can’t reply to individual points, but I would like to set out my position. Most importantly, the rules must apply to everyone equally, so I have tried to consider this issue as if it were a constituent who had asked my advice.”

Mr Hollinrake said he would ask the question whether that person could self-isolate at home, if they moved could they travel without using public transport and on arrival could they self-isolate in a separate dwelling for 14 days.

He said: “If the answer to all these questions was reasonable and did not risk the spread of the virus, then I would have no objection to the decision to travel if they felt as a parent that it was in the best interests of their family. From what I have heard, I believe that these were the circumstances of the Cummings’ household.”

Mr Hollinrake said: “The country still faces a huge challenge ahead. We need to ease the lockdown without risking a second wave and more health impacts and loss of life and we need to reboot the economy and save as many businesses and jobs as we can. It is time to move on from this so we can all pull together to rebuild both our economy and our lives.”

However Sue Mumford, who lives in Gillamoor, said there seemed to be one rule for the public and another for No 10.

She said: “My husband and I have not been anywhere in public since March 15.

“We have not only followed the letter, but also the spirit of Government advice since then. As my husband received a letter from our GP in April advising him to isolate for a further 12 weeks, that is what we both intended to do. We follow rules.

“For the PM to describe Mr Cummings as having acted with ‘integrity’ thereby giving him his full backing, can I therefore assume that our personal lockdown is now over? I can now visit my family, or they can all come here to visit me? If not, then why not? Is there one rule for me and another for No 10?”