UK coronavirus live: PM says 'people should make up own minds' on Dominic Cummings

Boris Johnson shows no sign of removing backing from chief adviser after his breach of lockdown rules

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9.01pm BST

Cummings has claimed his 60-mile roundtrip to Barnard Castle was necessary because he needed to test his eyesight before driving home to London.

Asked why alternative transport arrangements, such as a government car or Cummings' wife taking on the driving duties, could not be arranged, Johnson said:

To the best of my knowledge, Mr Cummings has just subjected himself to your interrogation for quite a long time now about these very detailed matters and has produced quite a substantial chunk of autobiography about what happened in the period from 27 March to 14 April.

I really feel that it would be wrong of me to try to comment further. I think people will have to make their minds up. I think he spoke at great length. To me, he came across as somebody who cared very much about his family and who was doing the best for his family.

8.56pm BST

One quote from the prime minister's briefing that bears relaying in full. Responding to questions about when he learned of Cummings' lockdown breach, he said:

I didn't know about any of the arrangements in advance ... What I think did happen was while I was ill and about to get a lot sicker we had a brief conversation in which I think Dominic Cummings mentioned where he was.

But I have to tell you, at that particular stage I had a lot on my plate and really didn't focus on the matter until these stories started to emerge in the last few days.