The Buzz | Minister quits UK government over aide’s lockdown breach

A junior British government minister quit yesterday over Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s failure to fire his top aide for allegedly breaching coronavirus lockdown rules.
Johnson has stood by Dominic Cummings over his decision to drive 250 miles to his parents’ house at the end of March, despite a national order for people to remain at home. Cummings says he traveled so that extended family could care for his 4-year-old son if he and his wife, who both had suspected coronavirus infections, fell ill.
But many Britons say Cummings made a mockery of the sacrifices of people who followed the rules to stop the spread of the disease, even when it meant staying away from loved ones.
Scotland Minister Douglas Ross said in a resignation letter that “the vast majority of people” didn’t agree with Cummings.
Senior police officers said Cummings’ interpretation of the rules made it harder to enforce the lockdown, and scientists said it could undermine messaging about the importance of social distancing.
Johnson has stood staunchly by his adviser, saying Cummings “followed the instincts of every father and every parent.”