The leader of the Labour Party in Basingstoke has joined in on the chorus of calls for Dominic Cummings to be sacked.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister's chief adviser said his trip from London to Durham to stay at a property on his father's farm was justified to protect his family's health.

Mr Cummings also stood by a trip he and his family made to Barnard Castle on Easter Sunday, April 12, telling reporters that the 30-minute drive to the outskirts of the town was to test his eyesight in case it had been affected by the illness.

These actions have received mixed reaction among the public and politicians, with some saying he should remove himself from his position, while others say calls for his resignation are nothing more than political point scoring.

But now leader of the opposition in town, Labour Councillor Andrew McCormick has chimed in with his opinion.

"What Cummings did was wrong, and he knew it," Cllr McCormick told the Gazette.

"Much of his statement will not stand up to scrutiny, e.g. using domestic violence and child abuse clauses to justify a 260-mile trip to Durham, when he had in-laws and plenty of people in London who could have offered childcare.

"Driving 30 miles to Barnard Castle "to test his eyesight" is a bit like driving drunk to test if you're over the limit. Why didn't he read a number plate from 20 metres like everyone else?"

He expressed gratitude for council staff such as binmen and contractors, volunteers in the community, residents as well as councillors from all political parties.

"It is therefore extremely disappointing to see our council leader offer excuses which appear to condone Dominic Cummings' behaviour," Cllr McCormick added.

"Especially after his well-publicised "showdown" with a lockdown protester in the Memorial Park."

The Gazette previously reported how leader of Basingstoke Council Ken Rhatigan said he saw no reason to question the actions taken by Mr Cummings.

"If he thinks he has judged the situation with integrity, then who am I to question him," the Conservative councillor previously said.

"If he thinks it was the right thing to do then it’s fine with me."

Cllr McCormick accepted that not everybody is perfect and was sure than many people will have in some way or another contravened a lockdown rule these past few weeks.

But he argues the best thing to do is hold you hand up afterwards, something he doesn't believe Mr Cummings has done.

"Given that the government was happy to accept scientist/doctor resignations for undermining the lockdown rule, the same approach should have applied to Cummings," he finished.

"The public perception is that Cummings is seen by the government 'too important to go'.

"What they also see is that he is also Boris Johnson's puppet master, and any minister, or Tory party member of whatever level, justifying Cummings as being under his control.

"Ultimately, they want those of us who speak out against him to "back down", "move on", and for the lie to stand. That is an existential threat to democracy in my opinion."