THE wife of the PM's senior adviser Dominic Cummings has been isolating with her husband after showing symptoms of coronavirus.
Boris Johnson's senior adviser has come under fire for breaching coronavirus lockdown rules, but who is his wife Mary Wakefield?
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Who is Mary Wakefield?
Mary Wakefield is the commissioning editor of the Spectator magazine as well as the wife of Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister's most senior adviser.
Her father is Sir Humphrey Wakefield – a baronet and expert on antiques and architecture who owns Chillingham Castle in Northumberland.
She met Cummings through her brother Jack Wakefield, and the couple married in 2011.
The couple have one son, Alexander Cedd, was was born in 2016 and is named after an Anglo-Saxon saint.
Wakefield worked at the Spectator during Boris Johnson's tenure as editor, which ran from 1999 to 2005.
Sunday Times journalist Charlotte Edwardes has alleged that, during that time, Johnson grabbed her inner thigh and that of another woman under the table at a dinner.
Rumours at the Conservative Party conference had suggested that Wakefield was the second woman, but she has now said publicly that it was not her.
Did she and her husband breach lockdown rules?
Cummings and Wakefield have been accused of being in breach of the coronavirus rules, by making non essential travel and leaving home.
The couple reportedly stayed at his parents' home in Durham while self-isolating.
However, they said they needed childcare help and stayed in a separate building at the property.
In an official statement from Downing Street, the Prime Minister has given his backing to the aide.
A No10 spokesperson said: "Owing to his wife being infected with suspected coronavirus and the high likelihood that he would himself become unwell, it was essential for Dominic Cummings to ensure his young child could be properly cared for.
"His sister and nieces had volunteered to help so he went to a house near to but separate from his extended family in case their help was needed.
"His sister shopped for the family and left everything outside.
"His actions were in line with coronavirus guidelines.
"Mr Cummings believes he behaved reasonably and legally."
The revelation comes despite No10 telling Brits they must stay at home and not see family to slow the spread of Covid.
The move allegedly went against advice, which became law on March 26, which stated: “You should not be visiting family members who do not live in your home.”
Only in exceptional circumstances were people allowed to attend relatives' addresses; for example, to drop off food or medicine to their door.
Tory MPs are said to be privately angry, but a close friend of Dominic Cummings said: "He isn't remotely bothered by this story…
"…There is zero chance of him resigning."
Acting Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey today called for Mr Cummings to explain himself – or resign.
He said: "If Dominic Cummings has broken the lockdown guidelines, he will have to resign. It's as simple as that."
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