In private, Tories were dismayed. In public, they rallied to save Dominic Cummings

Pressure is growing inside and outside parliament for the resignation of the No 10 chief adviser after claims that he flouted lockdown rules

It was Mother's Day - 22 March - and as Covid-19 spread across the country, Boris Johnson was urging families not to mark the occasion as normal. This Mothering Sunday," he said, the single best present we can give - we who owe our mothers so much - is to spare them the risk of catching a dangerous disease. The sad news is that that means staying away. This time the best thing is to ring her, video-call her or Skype her - but avoid any unnecessary physical contact or proximity."

The following day Johnson imposed a full lockdown on the country. Pubs and restaurants had to close. Johnson banned all but essential travel. The message was crystal clear, and was repeated day after day by government ministers. It was to stay at home wherever possible, however painful and difficult doing so might seem.