I fully respect @JuliaHB1 and @IainDale’s views, but would add:

1. None of us can understand the pressure of being the PMs key adviser at any time let alone during the worst crisis in a century

2. Your boss, the PM has just gone down with the deadly disease.

3. You are responsible for the Covid strategy and now concerned with your own health given close contact with the PM & other colleagues who have become ill

4. Your wife is vomiting

5. You don’t know how you will deal with your (autistic?) 4 year old child with your wife sick

6. Especially when you feel need to be at heart of Govt decision making to handle this very crisis.

7. And you have the unwarranted pressure of the media on your doorstep, nastily haranguing you and your family daily.

These are unique pressures. Dominic Cummings has not complained about them and nor should he or can he. That’s his job. But it is not typical of your job or mine or anyone else’s.

He cannot apologise - for what? ‘breaking the law’. Then he would have to resign.

I think his actions were perfectly reasonable and if you are happy to accept his apology you should be understanding of why he cannot make it.

He has not acted in a malicious or morally repugnant way here, simply looking after his family and at all times staying safe and ensuring no risk to others. With the vicious attacks he receives daily from Remain media I think the guy deserves to be cut some slack.