BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced calls Saturday from opposition parties to sack adviser Dominic Cummings after reports that he broke lockdown rules by travelling 400 km while ill with COVID-19 symptoms.

Cummings, who masterminded the 2016 campaign to leave the European Union during the Brexit referendum, travelled to Durham in northern England in late March, when a strict lockdown was already in place, the Guardian and Mirror newspapers reported.

British guidelines say people should stay at home and refrain from visiting family members unless they need essential items such as food or medication.

The BBC’s political editor quoted an unidentified source close to Cummings as saying he travelled to Durham during lockdown as he needed his parents’ help with childcare while he was ill.

Cummings did not respond to requests for comment. Downing Street also declined to comment.

The Scottish National Party’s parliamentary leader, Ian Blackford, said Johnson should fire Cummings.

“Dominic Cummings should have done the right thing, he should have resigned but now that he hasn’t, Boris Johnson must show leadership and he must remove him from office immediately,” he said.

(SD-Agencies)