Elliot Colburn has called for Dominic Cummings to resign following hundreds of residents contacting him about Cummings controversial journey to Durham.

Dominic Cummings, the senior advisor to Boris Johnson, sparked controversy after driving approximately 260 miles from London during the UK lockdown.

Mr Cummings said, he and his wife drove to Durham to stay in a cottage on his father's farm, because of concerns about childcare for their son if they were incapacitated by coronavirus.

On Sunday, May 24, Elliot Colburn wrote to Boris Johnson to express how his constituents felt about Mr Cummings actions. 

He said he was waiting for the news conference on Monday 25, to decide for himself whether Cummings should resign.

After reviewing the conference and more emails sent by constituents, Elliot Colburn released a statement online informing his constituents on his decision for Cummings to resign, on May 26.

"I have to say, that I do not believe in trial by the media, threats or abusive behaviour, and will not condone any such treatment that has been received Mr Cummings, his family or indeed anyone else.

"Nevertheless, after listening to that conference and listening to local constituents, it is clear that many feel his decision is not one that they would have come to, or have open to them in similar circumstances.

"I do not believe I would have come to such a decision, although I confess that neither myself nor my husband-to-be have children yet.

"What is more, I am deeply concerned about what this could do to the public’s engagement with the measures being taken to tackle this virus.

"I fear this situation risks undermining those efforts, just when we are seeing a significant reduction in the number of tragic lives this virus has claimed."

In a letter to Boris Johnson, on May 26, Elliot Colburn said:

"Further to my letter to you of the May 24, I am afraid that I must now write to urge you to ask for Dominic Cummings’ resignation, or to remove him from Government directly.

"I have received more emails on this than on any other issue since being elected – many hundreds of messages from concerned constituents – and I join them in that view.

"Yesterday’s statement was certainly helpful, but it is clear that many people, including myself, believe they would not have made the same decision in the circumstances."

Elliot Colburn says he will now return to the efforts he has been putting in locally to tackle this virus and as always urges residents to get in touch.