Douglas Ross resigns as minister over Dominic Cummings furore despite plea from Boris Johnson to stay

A Scottish Tory MP has become the first Government minister to resign over the Dominic Cummings furore after Boris Johnson and the senior adviser made desperate pleas for him to stay.

Douglas Ross, a junior Scotland Office Minister, said there were "aspects" of Mr Cummings' explanation that he was concerned about.

In a statement, the Moray MP said that he had "constituents who didn't get to say goodbye to their loved ones; families who could not mourn together; people who did not visit sick relatives because they followed the guidance of the government."

He added: "I cannot in good faith tell them that they were all wrong and one senior adviser to the government was right."

The Telegraph understands that both the Prime Minister and Mr Cummings made "desperate" phone calls to him to try and dissuade him from quitting.

Alister Jack, the Scottish Secretary, also made several appeals to him to change his mind.

His resignation prompted rebellion in Scottish Tory ranks, with Adam Tomkins, the party's strategy chief at Holyrood, describing it as a "disaster" and saying: "It shows exactly why Cummings should be sacked. I suspect others will follow where Douglas has led."

Donald Cameron, the Scottish Tories' Shadow Finance Minister, also praised Mr Ross's decision to resign, tweeting: "Well done, my friend."

Finlay Carson, the Tory MSP for the Galloway and West Dumfries, told ITV Border: "I believe Mr Cummings position has become untenable."

Their interventions later prompted Jackson Carlaw, the Scottish Tory leader, to urge Mr Cummings to "consider his position." He said he had made his views known to Downing Street.

Mr Ross said he accepted Mr Cummings' explanation that he was acting in what he considered to be "the best interests of his family."

However, he added that "these were decisions many others felt were not available to them" and his interpretation of Government advice "was not shared by the vast majority of people" who have stayed at home.

Mr Ross, the father of a young child, said his family had been fortunate enough not to have caught this "awful virus" but if they had they would have remained in their house.

The resignation of an MP who supported Boris Johnson during the Tory leadership campaign will prompt concerns in 10 Downing Street that more ministers will follow.

Many of the party's senior MSPs and its grassroots are furious at the "cavalier behaviour of Mr Cummings and the Prime Minister's failure to fire him.

Jackson Carlaw, the Scottish Tory leader, is also facing intense internal criticism for failing to stand up to Mr Johnson.

Mr Ross was seen as a rising star Tory circles north of the Border and a potential Scottish party leader. Ruth Davidson said she was "sorry" to see the "talented minister" resign.

He won his seat in the 2017 election, ousting the SNP's then-Westminster leader Angus Robertson in one of the shocks of the night. He held his seat in December's contest and was appointed Under Secretary of State for Scotland.

In a statement, Mr Ross said: "I have never met Dominic Cummings so my judgement on this matter has always been open and I accept his statement on Monday afternoon clarified the actions he took in what he felt were the best interests of his family.

"However, these were decisions many others felt were not available to them."

He added: "I have constituents who didn't get to say goodbye to loved ones; families who could not mourn together' people who didn't visit sick relatives because they followed the guidance of the government.

Mr Carlaw initially said: "“I accept Douglas’ position and respect the decision he has come to. This is a difficult situation for many, and people will arrive at different judgements.

“Douglas will be a huge loss to government and I thank him for all he’s done at the Scotland Office. I am in no doubt that he will continue to serve his Moray constituents with diligence and commitment, as he has done since first being elected.”

But Mr Tomkins ramped up pressure on Mr Carlaw to get off the fence, tweeting that Mr Ross was "one of clearest voices for the Union in government" and Mr Cummings should go.

Mr Carson said: "While it is a matter for the Prime Minister to determine who advises him and for how long, my own view is that rules must be applied equally and without favour. My personal opinion is that Mr Cumming’s position is untenable and should step down.

"We have come too far together over the last two months, and with such great personal sacrifice on the part of millions of ordinary people, for anything other to be the case."

Mr Carlaw later told STV News he had made his views known to Downing Street. He said: "It is absolutely a matter for the Prime Minister himself who serves him and for how long they serve but given the furore, given the distraction we are now in, given the distraction to the Prime Minister onto this issue if I were Mr Cummings I would be considering my position.

"It is a distraction for the Prime Minister, I think it is diluting the message, I think all across the country the focus has to be on tackling the virus."

Mr Jack said: “I would like to thank Douglas Ross for his contribution as a minister at the Scotland Office. I know he will continue to be a dedicated and hardworking constituency MP for Moray.”

Ian Murray, Labour's Shadow Scottish Secretary, said: "Douglas was a fair and reasonable minister who has done the decent thing and resigned from a government that is out of control.

"Douglas has shown more integrity than Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw and other UK Government ministers who have defended the indefensible and couldn’t be more out of touch with the people of Scotland and the UK."

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