As ministers, and students, on the Roll of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christians, (and aligning ourselves with statements made by other churches), we sign below to express our anger and dismay at the actions of Dominic Cummings and the response of the Prime Minister.
This is a time when most members of the public are making great personal sacrifices in order to protect public safety. And yet Mr Cummings acted in defiance of government advice, and in so doing, actively jeopardised that very safety.
This is a time when, in order to prevent the spread of a deadly virus, people are dying alone, and when their loved ones are unable to mark their deaths with appropriate ceremony (something which, as ministers of religion, we know to be spiritually and psychologically vital). And yet Mr Cummings chose to travel 260 miles whilst suffering from the effects of that very virus, thereby greatly increasing the risk of it spreading.
This is a time when people are limiting the amount they travel, and driving with extra caution to prevent further strain on medical services. And yet Mr Cummings himself has stated that he drove 60 miles knowing that he was not in a fit state to do so safely.
Mr Cummings, in short, acted in ways which endangered the lives of others and has shown no regret for that. These actions do not suggest someone who is fit for the position Mr Cummings occupies.
We are further dismayed that the Prime Minister has defended the actions of Mr Cummings, and has stated that his actions were legal and responsible, and that he acted with integrity. We would dispute this, particularly in view of his own admission of driving whilst unsure he was fit to do so.
This is a time when we have a deeply felt need to be able to trust in the government. And yet we are seeing hypocrisy and elitism sow distrust, pain, and anger.
We deplore the threatening behaviour which has been directed at Mr Cummings, and believe that he should be protected from this. We do not believe, however, that he should be allowed to remain in a public post.
As ministers we are charged with pastoral care and spiritual guidance, and this sometimes involves calling out injustice: we hold the recent events, and the response to them, to be a matter of great injustice and feel that it is our duty as religious professionals to make a public statement decrying them.
We encourage those who feel similarly (whether clergy or lay people, and whether people of faith or not) to make their feelings known by contacting their MP and urging them to demand the resignation of Mr Cummings, on the basis that his actions are in clear contravention of both the spirit and the letter of the government’s own instructions to the public.
In love,

Ernest Baker
Liz Birtles
Jeffrey Bowes
John Carter
Rory Castle-Jones
Jim Corrigall
Cody Coyne
Danny Crosby
Maria Curtis
Bill Darlison
Kate Dean
Stephen Dick
Laura Dobson
Sheena Gabriel
Chris Goacher
Peter Godfrey
Melda Grantham
Robin Hanford
Elizabeth Harley
John Harley
Andrew Hill
Jo James
Bob Janis-Dillon
Anna Jarvis
Margaret Kirk
Tom McCready
Kate Brady McKenna
Celia Midgley
John Midgley
Helen Mills
Ann Peart
Gillian Peel
Andy Phillips
Lynne Readett
Lewis Rees
Maud Robinson
Matthew Smith
Sarah Tinker
David Usher
Philip Waldron
Shammy Webster
Kate Whyman
Sue Woolley
Sarah Tinker
David Usher
Philip Waldron
Shammy Webster
Kate Whyman
Sue Woolley