DEVIZES MP Danny Kruger, has boosted his support for Dominic Cummings by reportedly telling colleagues to stop demanding his resignation on the grounds that such calls are tantamount to a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister.

The BBC tweets that the former political secretary to Boris Johnson and now Conservative MP for Devizes says in a note to newly elected MPs that: "No 10 won't budge, so calling for DC to go is basically declaring no confidence in PM."

The Devizes MP has defended the decision by the Downing Street aide to travel from London to Durham with his sick wife during the coronavirus emergency.

And he has apologised to his Wiltshire constituents. He gave this statement to the Gazette and Herald.

"I am so sorry that I am unable to represent the views of the many constituents who have written to complain that the Prime Minister is sticking by Mr Cummings. I believe he is right to do so.

"It's a complicated story and he gave all the details, " he said. "Given what he told us, I am satisfied that the trip was within the guidance, which states that in exceptional circumstances - including the wellbeing of a child - moving location is acceptable, so long as proper isolation rules are followed, which apparently they were.

"I respect the many sacrifices people have made to comply with lockdown guidance, and I understand why so many people feel let down. I accept it looks bad. You can legitimately question why they had to travel a long way to self-isolate, and why they took a trip to Barnard Castle.

"But Mr Cummings has given full accounts of all this, which I personally accept. Most of all, I believe we should show some understanding and sympathy to a couple who acted in an emergency. Their trip to the North East was not a casual jolly. It was not a visit to his parents (they didn't stay with them or even enter their house), but the actions of a mum and dad - themselves both seriously ill at times - feeling desperately anxious about their son, who also got ill. In the complex circumstances they found themselves in (including the fact their London home was the target of protesters, and without their usual childcare options) they took a decision which was reasonable, and which I believe many others would have taken in the same situation."