As you will appreciate, I have been inundated over the weekend with correspondence relating to Dominic Cummings.  In my short time in politics and throughout my previous career, I have learned to maintain my own counsel, seek the right advice and obtain the facts before committing to a position.  So instead of responding prematurely to concerns and knee-jerking to understandable anger, it has been incumbent on me to read the many representations that have been submitted, derive the necessary clarity and importantly, wait for Dominic Cummings to provide his own personal account of events.  We live in a civilised society, presumed innocence is a fundamental tenet of who we are and the public trial that appears to be in full flow within an aggressive media remains unpalatable to many.

On reflection, it has become clear to me that this issue goes well beyond politics and that it is more about the behaviours and mutual respect that we have all needed to exhibit since lockdown began.  For those who have rightly followed the restrictions in full, I pay my own personal tribute for this has been the decisive factor in reducing the re-infection (R) rate below one.  I would therefore like to thank everyone in Bracknell, Crowthorne, Finchampstead, Sandhurst and Wokingham Without for your community spirit, selflessness, resilience and dogged determination in fighting the virus.  We are not out of the woods yet but the Government remains determined to do whatever it takes to support our country with bold and unprecedented measures that will be instrumental in getting us through.

Given the sacrifices that have been made by so many, it would be wrong to give the impression that there is one rule for the few and another for the rest. Following the press conference yesterday, I am now reassured at least that Dominic Cummings has explained his logic and I am sure that we can all sympathise with the actions of a devoted father in wanting to protect his family and escape from acute media harassment, not least outside his own home. Furthermore, Durham Police has now confirmed that no offences were committed and that no criminal action is being considered.  Whilst I would be unlikely to make the same call myself and appreciate that many do see this as a serious error of judgement, it is not for me to castigate a fellow human being for seeking to do the right thing.  Nor do I believe that others should exploit this for political gain when tough decisions continue to be made by all of us for pragmatic reasons and when a hostile media seems determined to expose individual failings.

To attempt to draw a line under this, I understand that Dominic Cummings acted in reasonable faith in the face of great anxiety and I condemn the abuse he has received - I am a parent too and feel my own responsibilities keenly.  But I am also hugely sympathetic to the anger of constituents who have followed the rules, made great personal sacrifices and not been able to meet their wider families.  In many cases, people have been gravely affected and my heart goes out to those who have not been able to see loved ones before paying the ultimate price.  For this, I cannot even begin to feel the anguish.

To answer the question that many have posed, I do not believe that it is right for me as new backbencher to sanctimoniously demand that Dominic Cummings loses his job. Not only has he played his full part in serving his country but he also deserves our respect as a loyal family man - we all make mistakes and there but for the grace of God go I.  But I have articulated my concerns through appropriate channels to senior figures in Government and I have every faith that common sense will prevail.  Whilst I believe that a wider investigation would help to ease tension and reassure constituents, this is absolutely a matter for No.10 to resolve.  The Prime Minister has also made his position clear and I wholeheartedly accept his personal judgement.

Given that the country has been through enough in the past few months, it is my view that we should be focusing our time and effort in defeating Covid-19, not hanging an unelected adviser out to dry.   As your MP, I am pragmatic enough to realise that I am ‘damned if I do and damned if I don’t’ with any response.  But I have articulated my views as honestly as I can and you will wish to be assured that I have noted the full depth of your feelings loud and clear.  You may not of course agree with me but as ever I have promised to be as open as I can and always act in the best interests of the Bracknell constituency.

James Sunderland MP