Boris Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings will make a public statement following calls for him to be sacked over allegations he breached coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

The PM’s aide is expected to take questions following the unusual address, as he faces sustained pressure from across the political spectrum to quit his government role.

 Cummings travelled to County Durham in March to self-isolate with his family – apparently because he feared that he and his wife would be left unable to care for their son – while official guidelines warned against long-distance journeys.

Further reports also suggested he took a second trip to the North East in April, having already returned to London following his recovery from Covid-19 – a disease which has seen more than 45,000 people in the UK die after contracting it.

Several Conservative backbenchers have joined calls from opposition parties for Cummings to quit or be sacked, amid warnings that his actions have “undermined” efforts to fight coronavirus.