Boris Johnson has continued to back senior adviser Dominic Cummings after it was revealed he broke lockdown while self-isolating.
The Prime Minister said he believed the top aide had acted "responsibly, legally and with integrity" by travelling to Durham when displaying symptoms.
The UK Government leader said his valued colleague had "followed the instincts of any parent" and that he did "not mark him down for that".
The announcement came after it was revealed that Cummings had travelled more than 250 miles with his wife and child after showing symptoms of the killer virus in March.
Johnson said: "I have concluded that in travelling to find the right kind of childcare, at the moment when both he and his wife were about to be incapacitated by coronavirus - and when he had no alternative.
"I think he followed the instincts of every father and every parent. And I do not mark him down for that."
Our sister title The Mirror yesterday revealed that Cummings had allegedly been seen in the northeast of England for a second time in April.
The PM’s top aide was seen arriving at Downing Street on Sunday morning as calls for his resignation grew.
On March 23, Boris Johnson told the UK public they "must stay at home" and not to meet any family or friends, especially if they had symptoms.
