Edinburgh residents and their families have reacted with fury to news that the Prime Minister's top advisor broke lockdown to visit his parents hundreds of miles away.
People took to Twitter to share heartbreaking stories of their own lockdown sacrifices, while accusing Dominic Cummings of choosing to ignore the lockdown rules he helped write.
Michael Gallagher said: “My sister was in intensive care a few weeks ago at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and we couldn't go visit her because of lockdown but hey, Dominic Cummings law unto himself.”
Andy MacMichael said: “I watched my aunt's funeral online last week as I couldn't travel to Edinburgh. I abided by the government's advice, yet Cummings comes out with his BS excuses...”
It comes as it was revealed that the Prime Minister's chief adviser travelled to his parent's home in County Durham from London despite the lockdown restrictions.
The first time Dominic Cummings made the 450-mile journey to his parents' house he was exhibiting active coronavirus symptoms and the second time he had already been back to London.
The news was met with anger and disbelief from people who had been avoiding seeing their own families and following government guidance to stay at home.
Twitter user John Smith said: “I am a father living in England, my son is in Edinburgh and not in a good mental state at the moment and I would love to jump in the car and go visit however it is not safe to do so and I believe I am acting responsibly, Cummings and Boris Johnson are a disgrace.”
Below we have collected tweets from Edinburgh residents and their families.
Anger was also directed at the government after ministers appeared in the media defending Cumming's actions.
User Boxer T said: “See if Dominic Cummings was pictured eating a picnic on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle Downing Street would still say he broke no rules. Let that sink in because everyone's efforts of sacrifice, especially losing loved-ones, deserves a greater respect than Tory arrogance.
Meanwhile Cummings faces mounting pressure to resign, not least from some Tory MPs.
He is due to issue a statement at 4pm today.
