Sajid Javid's payback time: Former Chancellor who resigned after he was ordered to sack all his own special advisers joins Tory critics of Dominic Cummings despite Boris Johnson's 'let's move on' plea
- Former chancellor Sajid Javid has criticised Dominic Cummings' Durham trip
- Mr Javid, writing to constituents, branded the trip neither 'necessary or justified'
- Boris Johnson is desperately trying to move on from the Dominic Cummings row
- The PM has been hammered by MPs from across parties in committee hearing
- Dozens of Tory MPs have demanded the adviser is sacked for lockdown breach
Former Chancellor Sajid Javid has joined the Tory outcry over Dominic Cummings after Boris Johnson ruled out an inquiry into the scandal and pleaded with the country to 'move on'.
In a letter to constituents, Mr Javid said that he did not believe Mr Cummings' 260-mile trip from London to Durham was 'necessary or justified'.
Though stopping short on calling for the aide's resignation, Mr Javid did call on him to apologise for the controversial journey.
It comes after the Prime Minister flatly dismissed calls for an official inquiry into Mr Cummings as he was grilled by senior MPs, saying the outcry was just a 'political ding dong'
The PM said he 'totally understood public indignation' about the situation, but insisted some of the allegations about his chief aide were 'not correct' and urged people to 'move on'.
However, members of his own party have led anger at the row, with Mr Javid joined by paymaster general Penny Mordaunt, who said that there are 'inconsistencies' in Mr Cummings' account of his trip.
Mr Javid quit as chancellor earlier this year following an escalation in tensions with Mr Cummings, who had fired one of his aides without telling him.
After resigning, Mr Javid said Mr Johnson had told him that to stay in government he must accept the replacement of all his five-strong team with advisers hand-picked by Downing Street.
At that point he said he had no choice but to resign: 'I don't believe any self-respecting minister would accept those conditions.'

Former Chancellor Sajid Javid has called on Dominic Cummings to apologise for breaching lockdown regulations
Now, the former Chancellor has resurfaced to hit-out at Mr Cummings amid the row over his alleged lockdown breach.
Mr Javid wrote in his letter: 'Mr Cummings has argued he acted within the letter of the law.
'As a father myself, I also appreciate the fear and uncertainty one can feel when the safety of your child is potentially at stake.
'That being said I do not believe Mr Cummings' journey to County Durham to isolate on his family's estate was necessary or justified. I remain unconvinced his visit to Barnard Castle could be considered reasonable.
'I was also deeply concerned by his decision to return to Downing Street directly after coming into contact with a family member who was ill, potentially with coronavirus.'
More than 40 Conservative MPs have called on Mr Cummings to quit his role amid the lockdown breach controversy.
However, the Prime Minister has so far resisted all requests to punish his aide.
Pushed on whether the Cabinet Secretary should carry out a formal investigation, Mr Johnson said there had been plenty of 'autobiography' from Mr Cummings and it would not be a 'good use of official time' as everyone was working 'flat out' on the coronavirus response.
In one particularly bruising exchange at the Liaison Committee this afternoon, Labour's home affairs committee chair Yvette Cooper jibed: 'Forty-thousand people are dead. We need you to get this right now.'
The clashes came with the row over Mr Cummings' 260-mile trip to Durham during lockdown still threatening to tear the Tories to pieces.
The party's poll lead has been slashed by nine points in a week - thought to be the biggest drop in a decade. And despite the desperate plea for the focus to shift on to other subjects, nearly two-third say the story remains important.
Conservative MP Danny Kruger complained that 'one wing' of the party was 'going bonkers' and comparing the alleged lockdown breach to 'the invasion of Suez'.
A private conference call with government whips and the new intake of Conservative MPs today appears to have smoothed over matters somewhat, with no more outright calls for the adviser to quit.
But tonight even one of the whips came out with criticism of Mr Cummings.
Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green in North London, told the Evening Standard it was 'entirely reasonable for people to vehemently disagree with his (Mr Cummings) view of events'.
He added: 'I do not believe it is the conclusion many of my constituents, or myself, would have reached.'
Three more Tories, George Freeman, Giles Watling and Pauline Latham, have called on Dominic Cummings to resign.
Former transport minister Mr Freeman tweeted: 'After 48hrs & c1000 emails from constituents expressing outage at the PM's Chief of Staff breaking the lockdown & not apologising, it's clear that public anger at the betrayal of their trust & compliance now risks a collapse of respect for HMG public health advice. DC has to go.'


Liaison Committee chair Bernard Jenkin (left) oversaw the fiery exchanges with the PM, including Yvette Cooper (right) demanding to know what the advice to parents was about travelling for childcare




Liaison Committee chair Bernard Jenkin (left) oversaw the fiery exchanges with the PM, including Yvette Cooper (right) demanding to know what the advice to parents was about travelling for childcare


Amid fierce questioning from MPs at the committee hearing this afternoon, Mr Johnson was asked whether the government's 'moral authority' had been compromised.
'This has really been going on for several days now - in the media at least,' he said.
'I, of course, am deeply sorry for all the hurt and pain and anxiety that people have been going through throughout this period - this country has been going through a frankly most difficult time.
'We are asking people to do quite exceptionally tough things, separating them from their families.'
Mr Johnson said he would not be adding to his previous comments on Mr Cummings and said the public wanted politicians to focus on 'uniting our message' and 'focusing on their needs'.
Northern Ireland committee chair Simon Hoare - one of around 40 Tory MPs baying for Mr Cummings' resignation - warned the PM the nation will be 'far less energetic' about obeying future restrictions as 'a direct result of the activities of your senior adviser'.
Mr Hoare asked what MPs should tell constituents who ask 'if other people don't abide by it why on earth should we' because 'we know what your views are, frankly Prime Minister, I don't think anybody understands why you hold those views'.
Mr Johnson replied: 'I don't think that's true about how the British people will respond to the next phases, to how to work the test and trace system, I don't think that's how they responded at all throughout the crisis.
'If, just suppose for a second that you were right, which I don't accept, all the more reason now for us to be consistent and clear in our message driving those key messages.'
Mr Johnson said he had seen evidence to prove that some of the allegations made against Mr Cummings were false.
But asked by Labour MP Meg Hillier whether the Cabinet Secretary should also see that evidence, the PM said: 'I think actually that it would not be doing my job if I were now to shuffle this problem into the hands of officials who, believe me, Meg, are - as I think the public would want - working flat out to deal with coronavirus...
'I totally understand public indignation, I totally understand that, but I do think that as I understand things, and I've said what I've said about the whole business, I think it would be much better if we could now move on and focus on the next steps.'
Under fire from Home Affairs Committee chair Yvette Cooper, Mr Johnson said people could travel to get childcare during lockdown if there were 'exceptional' circumstances.
But Mrs Cooper demanded on the advice: 'What is it? Because it is not clear to me.'
Mr Johnson shot back: 'The clear advice is to stay at home unless you absolutely have to go to work to do your job.
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