HEXHAM’S MP Guy Opperman has remained silent over the controversy the Conservative Party is facing over the Prime Minister’s chief adviser.

In a press conference on Monday, Dominic Cummings – Boris Johnson’s chief adviser – defended a 260-mile trip from London to the North-East of England he made with his family during lockdown, explaining that he believed he behaved “reasonably”.

In a letter shared on social media, retired local GP Dr Kate Menage pleaded with Mr Opperman not to support his actions and call for his resignation.

“It is important – important for people who have sacrificed so much to try and do the right thing,” she said, referencing the lockdown rules that the public have followed and Mr Cummings allegedly broke.

More than 30 Conservative MPs have publicly called for Mr Cummings to resign as a result of his actions.

Three North-East Conservative MPs have said none of them would have made the same decision that saw Mr Cummings complete the journey to County Durham.

North West Durham MP Richard Holden, Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison and Sedgefield MP Paul Howell said they believed Mr Cummings' actions had been motivated by his desire as a parent.

In a joint statement, all three MPs said the fallout from Mr Cummings’ journey to his parents' home in Durham had caused a “major distraction” from the Government’s work on Covid-19.

Mr Opperman was approached by the Hexham Courant on Wednesday, to comment on the issue, but did not respond.