British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing increased pressure to sack his closest aide after reports emerged that he broke lockdown rules.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing increased pressure to sack his closest aide after reports emerged that he broke lockdown rules. 
Police confirmed they attended Dominic Cummings’s family property in County Durham after allegations emerged that Mr Johnson’s chief adviser travelled more than 260-miles from his London home during the lockdown in place across England. 
Political leaders have piled pressure on Mr Johnson to sack the 48-year-old strategist. 
Downing Street has so far refused to comment. 
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The news comes as authorities managing beaches and beauty spots are bracing for an increase of visitors expected to put social distancing rules under strain. 
Following the easing of some lockdown measures last week, there are no restrictions on how far people can go to get to the countryside, National Parks and beaches in England. 
With the Met Office forecasting that temperatures could reach highs of 26C on Monday, many people may be planning trips to the beach, with pictures of crowds flocking to beaches in Brighton and Southend in recent days sparking fears that guidance over remaining two metres apart is being set aside. 
Questions also remain over whether Britons will be able to go on holiday this summer after Home Secretary Priti Patel announced plans, due to come into force on 8 June, for visitors – including residents returning home from breaks – to quarantine for two weeks on their arrival into the UK. 
Ms Patel, speaking at the Downing Street briefing yesterday, said the government guidance continued to be that all but essential travel abroad was advised against. 
Mr Cummings’s reported Durham developments only added to scrutiny on No 10. 
According to a joint investigation by the Daily Mirror and the Guardian, at the same time as the UK government was instructing people to remain home – with fines in place for those contravening the rules – Mr Cummings reportedly decided to escape the capital. 
He is alleged to have been present at his family home in the North East when police from Durham Constabulary turned up on 31 March, following a call from someone reporting they had seen Mr Cummings in the area. 
Durham police confirmed officers had spoken to the owners of an address in the city after reports a person had travelled there from London. 
A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “On Tuesday, March 31, our officers were made aware of reports that an individual had travelled from London to Durham and was present at an address in the city. 
“Officers made contact with the owners of that address who confirmed that the individual in question was present and was self-isolating in part of the house. 
“In line with national policing guidance, officers explained to the family the arrangements around self-isolation guidelines and reiterated the appropriate advice around essential travel.” 
Downing Street had previously confirmed Mr Cummings had started displaying coronavirus symptoms “over the weekend” of 28-29 March. 
The same day as police spoke with members of Mr Cummings’s family, Mr Johnson was admitted to hospital with coronavirus, where he would later require treatment in intensive care. 
According to the two papers, he was spotted a second time at the Durham property on 5 April. 
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford MP said the aide’s position was “completely untenable”. 
“He must resign or be sacked,” he added. 
Ed Davey, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, called for Mr Cummings to quit over the allegations, while a spokesman for Labour said: “The British people do not expect there to be one rule for them and another rule for Dominic Cummings.” 
But friends of Mr Cummings suggested he would be going nowhere. 
Close friends told the PA news agency: “He isn’t remotely bothered by this story, it’s more fake news from the Guardian. 
“There is zero chance of him resigning.”