SENIOR Tory minister Penny Mordaunt has said there are “inconsistencies” in Dominic Cummings’ account, and apologised for the saga having “undermined key public health messages”.

In an email to a constituent, the Paymaster General did not go as far as calling for Cummings to leave, saying it is “a matter for the Prime Minister who he has as his adviser”.

READ MORE: Tory MP calls for PM to take 'immediate action' over Dominic Cummings

“Despite Mr Cummings’ statement yesterday [on Monday] I am personally still not clear of the facts. There are some inconsistencies in his account of events and the reasons behind it,” the Portsmouth North MP wrote.

“I am not clear about when he would have been symptomatic and on what dates he should have been in isolation. Or whether it was appropriate he drove home at the time he did.

“There is no doubt he took risks – refuelling at a petrol station is a risk to oneself and to others, which presumably he did.

“What is clear is that the scenes of the last few days will have undermined key public health messages. I deeply regret this and am very sorry for it.”