Labour councillors have accused Harlow’s MP of being ‘out of touch’ with anger over Dominic Cummings' excursion to Durham.

Conservative Harlow MP Robert Halfon initially tweeted in defence of the Prime Minister’s top adviser after it was reported Cummings had driven from London to Durham while displaying possible Covid-19 symptoms.

Mr Halfon, who has represented Harlow since 2010, initially defended Cumming’s 260-mile trip, with son and wife in tow, as a necessity any father would undertake to protect their child.

However, following reports the adviser had also driven 30-minutes from his parents’ home to Barnard Castle – which Cummings explained as a trip to test his vision before returning to London for work – the MP walked back his defence.

Epping Forest Guardian:

Harlow MP Robert Halfon initially tweeted in defence of Dominic Cummings.

Mr Halfon said he ‘regretted’ tweeting in support of Cummings and did not condone ‘anyone who had broken the law or regulations’, Your Harlow reported.

He accepted the tweet was wrong and that ‘many thousands’ in Harlow had ‘suffered enormously’ during the pandemic yet stayed at home as instructed.

Harlow Council Labour Party sources welcomed Halfon’s retraction but claimed his initial response brought into question his judgement and demonstrated “how out of touch he is with local anger.”

A spokesperson for Harlow Labour added: “Like millions in this country, the people of Harlow have made extraordinary sacrifices during the lockdown. Families have been forced apart, sometimes in the most tragic of circumstances. They stayed at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

“The British people were looking for at least an apology from Dominic Cummings for breaking the lockdown at his press conference yesterday. They got none.

“The message from this government is clear: it’s one rule for Boris Johnson’s closest adviser, another for everybody else.

Cllr Mark Ingall, Harlow Labour group leader, has called on Boris Johnson to sack his senior aid.

Epping Forest Guardian:

Harlow Labour leader Cllr Mark Ingall has called for Cummings to be sacked. Photo: Harlow Council

In a post following Cummings’ unprecedented press conference on Sunday, Cllr Ingall said: “In doubling down on the indefensible he avoided answering questions and tried to rewrite history. Dominic Cummings’ act of flagrant disregard became one of responsibility’, his selfishness compounded by dishonesty became an act of ‘integrity’.

“And why? Because with a middle finger firmly extended to Harlow residents, Mr Johnson made it clear that the rules he required them to follow didn’t apply to him or his friends in Parliament.”

Robert Halfon has been contacted for comment.

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