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| Dominic Cummings running from Downing Street |
Martin Redston, who many readers will know from the Save Willesden Green Library campaign has his sights on Dominic Cummings. Martin has launched a crowdfunder to finance legal action over the Director of Public Prosecutions' failure to hold Dominic Cummings to account. Cumming failed to comply with government instructions over Covid19. Martin is instructing well known QC Michael Mansfied.
Coverage of the move in the Guardian LINK
This is what Martin wrote on his fundraising page:
Who am I?
My name is Martin Redston and I am bringing
judicial review proceedings against the Director of Public Prosecutions for his
failure to properly consider the actions of Dominic Cummings, the chief advisor
to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in relation to a potential breach of
Regulation 6 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England)
Regulations 2020/350.
I, like many other citizens, have fully complied
with the Government’s lockdown requirements at all times. Despite the police
and the public having been made aware of Mr. Cummings’ potential breaches of
the rules since 22nd May 2020, there has been no investigation into
those potential breaches in London.
Why does this matter?
The rule of law should apply for all
persons, irrespective of any friendships in government. The public health
measures which were put in place to protect us must be applied to everyone,
including in particular those who helped to make the rules. A number of
individuals in public office who have flouted those strict rules have resigned.
That provided some accountability for breach of the law by those who are
central to the public health message and the need to encourage full compliance.
In respect of Mr. Cummings, however, representatives of the Government have
taken to social media in support of him. The Attorney-General has tweeted in
support of Mr. Cummings’ actions. This raises a real concern over the state’s
obligation properly and fairly to investigate the case of Mr Cummings where a
law officer has prejudged it by issuing a peremptory statement that sought to
exculpate Mr Cummings, without due process of the law.
Dominic Cummings left London on 27th March and
travelled approximately 260 miles north to Durham in a car together with his
wife and child. At the relevant time the law required all persons to remain at
home save for limited prescribed purposes. The journey would take 5 hours or
so, not allowing for breaks and stops on the way.
On the same day, 27th March, and before leaving
London, Mr. Cummings had left work and gone home to see to his wife, and then
returned to work in the afternoon, despite his wife exhibiting symptoms of
Covid-19. Mr. Cummings subsequently, together with his wife and four year old
child, also took an unnecessary car journey to Barnard’s Castle which, he has
said, was in order to test his eyesight while driving, in preparation for a
longer journey back to London.
Since these events three months has passed, and
there has been no indication that any state authority, including the DPP, shall
inquire into the matters relating to the London breaches. Indeed there have
been some very quick indications that no inquiry would follow from the briefest
of possible considerations by some state bodies. By 22nd May it was
known to the public and the police that Mr. Cummings had potentially breached
the regulations. Since then there has been no due consideration of
accountability for Mr. Cummings’ actions in London on 27th March.
Ultimately Mr. Cummings then held a press
conference on 25th May ending with the following words: “I know the
British people hate the idea of unfairness. I wanted to explain what I thought,
what I did and why, over this period, because I think that people like me who
helped to make the rules should be accountable for their actions.”
At that juncture police were already in possession
of the fact that Mr. Cummings had left his house in London twice on 27th
March 2020.
I have instructed lawyers to assist me with this
matter: Michael Mansfield QC, who is leading counsel Philip Rule, instructed by
Lorna Hackett at Hackett & Dabbs LLP.
What are we trying to achieve?
Last Wednesday, 3rd June, my lawyers wrote to the
Director of Public Prosecutions expressing concern that no action had been
taken in relation to the alleged breaches by this public figure in London. This
inaction may result in the loss of additional evidence which could otherwise be
gathered by prompt investigation. This in turn could lead to the serious loss
of public confidence in the accountability of government employees. There is a
current public health emergency, and I am alarmed at the inactivity over the
actions of Mr. Cummings which could be contributing to breaches of the lockdown
rules at a time when this will cost lives.
Despite setting a deadline for substantive reply
that has now passed, the only response was by email on 8th June 2020 wherein
the DPP notified my lawyers that “This has now been passed to colleagues in our
Special Crime Division, who will provide a response to you in due course.” This
reply does not suggest that any investigation has been instigated, otherwise
they would have said so.
When further urgent confirmation was sought that
there was any active consideration taking place, it was met by silence. We, the
public, must be at the forefront of the seeking of a just process in this case
to restore public confidence.
What you can do to help
We need to raise £30,000 as an initial target to
enable the case to proceed. Please do contribute whatever you can
to ensure that the DPP complies with his legal obligations and share as far and
wide as you can on social media to enable me to meet the target needed to lodge
proceedings in court. I am deeply grateful to you for reading my crowd funding
page. Thank you.
