‘Time to move on’: Boris Johnson refuses to launch inquiry into Dominic Cummings affair

''We are working flat out on coronavirus,' PM says

Boris Johnson has rejected a call for an independent inquiry into whether his adviser Dominic Cummings flouted lockdown rules.

The prime minister said he was "deeply sorry" for the hurt and anxiety the public endured by the public - but stopped short of apologising for the conduct of his top aide, who drove 260 miles to his parents house in Durham at the height of lockdown while suffering from Covid-19 symptoms.

Mr Cummings also subsequently took a trip to Barnard Castle, some 30 miles away, to see if he was fit enough to drive before returning to the capital.

Amid fury from his own MPs, Mr Johnson said it was time to "move on" from the row which dominated the headlines over the weekend..

During a grilling by senior MPs on the Commons liaison committee, the prime minister was asked if the episode had undermined the government's "moral authority".

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.

"But I feel from my adviser, who you have referred, we have heard quite a lot of autobiography recently. I've commented on it, people know my views. I really don't propose to add to it."

Pressed on why he had not asked the cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill to launch an independent inquiry, he said: "Quite frankly I'm not certain - right now - that an inquiry into that matter is a very good use of official time.

"We are working flat out on coronavirus."

Mr Johnson refused to say whether Sir Mark had spoken to Mr Cummings, adding: "We've had a long go at it, and yes look it's been a very frustrating episode and I understand why people have been so concerned.

"Because this country is going through a horrendously difficult time but I really think that in so far as what we need to do is to focus on getting the message right... what we need to do really is to move on and to get on to how we are going to sort out the coronavirus."

Tory MP Simon Hoare told the prime minister the nation will be "far less energetic" about obeying lockdown rules as "a direct result of the activities of your senior adviser".

But Mr Johnson denied the charge, replying: "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.

The prime minister also refused to publish evidence which he said cleared his top aide of some of the allegations.

Asked by Labour MP Meg Hillier whether the cabinet secretary should also see that evidence, Mr Johnson 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, are - as I think the public would want - working flat out to deal with coronavirus."

Labour's Yvette Cooper accused him of "putting political concerns above the national interest" and failing to give a clear message to parents about whether they could travel to get childcare as Mr Cummings did.

Mr Johnson said he wanted to "lay aside party political point scoring and to put the national interest first".

The row came during the prime minister's first appearance before the liaison committee since succeeding Theresa May last year.

The panel, made up of senior MPs who chair Commons committees, is able to compel a prime minister to give evidence on the record.