Footballers and politicians alike: Famous faces who have flouted lockdown orders

Nature of the breaches, and the excuses made, have varied wildly

Lockdown flouters: Housing secretary Robert Jenrick (left), Manchester City's Kyle Walker (centre) and Labour MP Stephen Kinnock (PA)

Boris Johnson’s senior aide Dominic Cummings is reportedly the latest high-profile figure to have broken the government’s lockdown rules.

The Mirror reported that he was spotted at his parents’ home in Durham when he was recovering from Covid-19, after travelling from his London home.

A number of prominent figures have been caught breaching restrictions amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the other high-profile people who have been in the spotlight for flouting local lockdown measures.

Professor Neil Ferguson

The scientist, whose research helped usher in the lockdown, resigned from his role as a key government adviser after admitting that he had undermined social distancing rules by reportedly meeting his “lover” at his home.

Scotland Yard criticised his behaviour as “plainly disappointing” but ruled out issuing a fine because he “has taken responsibility” after resigning as a key government adviser in the coronavirus response.

Dr Catherine Calderwood

Scotland’s chief medical officer resigned in April after twice breaking lockdown restrictions in order to visit her second home, which was located more than an hour away from her main residence in Edinburgh.

Despite Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon backing Dr Calderwood to remain in her position, she ultimately decided to relinquish her role so as not to be a “distraction” from the Government’s social-distancing message.

Robert Jenrick

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary was forced to explain himself after travelling more than an hour to visit his parents despite warning people to remain at home.

Mr Jenrick was also criticised for travelling 150 miles from his London property to his Herefordshire home from where he travelled to his parents in Shropshire.

However, he defended his actions, saying he went to deliver food and medicine to his isolating parents.

Stephen Kinnock

The MP for Aberavon in South Wales was publicly shamed by police after travelling to London to celebrate his father’s birthday.

After Mr Kinnock posted a photo on Twitter of himself practising social distancing with his parents outside their home, South Wales Police replied: “We know celebrating your Dad’s birthday is a lovely thing to do, however this is not essential travel. We all have our part to play in this, we urge you to comply with (lockdown) restrictions, they are in place to keep us all safe. Thank you.”

Dr David Clark

The New Zealand politician branded himself an “idiot” for driving his family 20km (12.4 miles) to the beach on the first weekend of the country’s national stay-at-home measures.

That incident came a week after he was photographed going for a mountain bike ride 2km (1.2 miles) away from his family home in Dunedin on New Zealand’s south island.

Although the health minister offered his resignation to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, she instead opted to demote him to the bottom of the Government’s Cabinet rankings.

Marcos Rojo

It is not just politicians who have found themselves in hot water over social distancing breaches as the Manchester United defender was recently filmed appearing to flout Argentina’s coronavirus lockdown rules.

The 30-year-old, on loan at Estudiantes, was seen playing cards and smoking with friends in his homeland in a video on Instagram.

Kyle Walker

The Manchester City and England full-back was forced to apologise in April after it was widely reported he held a party at his Cheshire home in a blatant violation of the nation’s lockdown measures.

The club has promised the 29-year-old will also be subject to an “internal disciplinary procedure”.

Press Association