81% of parents say they either didn’t or wouldn’t have travelled for emergency childcare during lockdown

81% of respondents say they either didn’t or wouldn’t have travelled for emergency childcare during lockdown, with almost a quarter (23%) of respondents saying that they had found themselves in similar circumstances, where one parent was ill, and the other suspected they may become ill too, whilst both were caring for a young child and did not travel for emergency childcare back up.

A huge majority – 90% – say that in their view Dominic Cummings and his family broke the rules of lockdown.

While a third (33%) of respondents say that knowing the actions he took, they are more likely to break lockdown rules as they now stand – and three quarters (75%) of those saying they would be most likely to break the rules to visit family or friends.

Mumsnet Founder, Justine Roberts said “It’s clear from our respondents and the Mumsnet discussion boards that Dominic Cummings’ interpretation of lockdown rules was not how parents around the country viewed them. Many of our users have found themselves in similar circumstances with concerns about how they might care for their children in the event of falling ill but very few thought that meant they could ignore guidance to stay at home. Perhaps the most worrying aspect is that a large number of parents now freely admit they’ll break the rules to visit friends and family.”

Survey of 965 Mumsnet users with at least one child, on 26 and 27 May 2020. The data is not weighted.