Cummings backlash hits Conservatives in the polls

The backlash from the Dominic Cummings lockdown trip to County Durham hasn't been extinguished by the extraordinary press conference the senior government aide gave on Monday. In fact, as the most recent survey reveals, public opinion was only strengthened against him after giving his statement.

The prime minister's reaction to the scandal and refusal to remove backing for his chief adviser is also causing repercussions for his party in the polls amid a growing number of Conservative MPs calling for Cummings to be relieved of his position. As the latest YouGov polling shows, the Tory lead over Labour has been cut by 9 points since 19 May - representing the sharpest sudden drop in a decade.