Scottish Tory leader joins calls for Dominic Cummings to resign
Jackson Carlaw says the senior advisor should "consider his position" after publicly explaining his lockdown trip from London to Durham
Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw has said Dominic Cummings should “consider his position” following his trip to County Durham during the lockdown.
The Tories' Holyrood leader joined others in the party in voicing concerns about whether the Prime Minister's chief adviser should continue in the role.
Mr Carlaw had previously said Mr Cummings' role was a situation for the Prime Minister to judge.
His statement came after Moray MP Douglas Ross resigned from his role as a junior minister in the Scotland Office on Tuesday over Mr Cummings' journey.
Tory MSPs Adam Tomkins and Donald Cameron had also called for Mr Cummings to go.
Mr Carlaw said: “I'm very sorry that Douglas Ross has left the government, he was a huge asset to the Government and to the fight against the virus, and he will be a big loss for Scotland.
“But I fully respect and understand the decision he took.
“Over the course of the weekend I was really having to come to a view on all of this in the absence of the facts. The Prime Minister had those facts, so I very much felt it was a decision for him.
“Yesterday Mr Cummings spoke and we got a version of events from him, some people will have found that understandable.
“But I think the reality is this is now consuming the entire debate, distracting away from the principle message and the fight against the virus, and if I were in his position, if it were me I would be considering my position.”
Mr Carlaw said his view had “been made clear to Downing Street”.
Asked if the PM should sack him if he does not quit, Mr Carlaw said: “I'm not going to issue instructions to the Prime Minister.
“But given the furore, given the distraction this is, given the distraction of the Prime Minister on this issue, if I were Mr Cummings I would be considering my position.
“I think it is a distraction to the Prime Minister, I think it is diluting the message, I think all across the country our focus has to be on tackling the virus.”
Mr Carlaw has become one of the most senior Conservatives to call for the Downing Street adviser to consider his position.
Earlier, Prof Tomkins posted a tweet in response to Mr Ross' resignation.
The MSP said: “To lose (Douglas Ross) from Government is a disaster. His was one of clearest voices for the Union in Government. It shows exactly why Cummings should be sacked. I suspect others will follow where Douglas has led.”
Mr Cameron, the party's finance spokesman in Scotland, said “well done, my friend” in response to the MP's resignation.
Following Mr Ross's resignation, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “I would like to thank Douglas Ross for his contribution as a minister at the Scotland Office.
“I know he will continue to be a dedicated and hard-working constituency MP for Moray.”
Hear all the latest news from across Tayside, Perthshire and Angus on Tay FM. Listen on FM, via our Rayo app, DAB, or smart speaker.