Did Dominic Cummings break the law on lockdown rules?

Whether PM’s chief adviser contravened regulations depends on definition of ‘reasonable excuse’

On 23 March, the prime minister announced a nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus. “I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home,” said Boris Johnson. Dominic Cummings certainly ignored that diktat, along with government guidance not to travel anywhere else to self-isolate. But did he break the law?

On 26 March, regulations were introduced in England that made it an offence to leave home without a “reasonable excuse” and to gather in groups of more than two. The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 gave police powers to forcibly return those who refused to comply with the lockdown to their homes and issue fines to dissenters.

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