NEWSNIGHT’S Emily Maitlis has received praise for opening last night’s programme with a short but effective summary of the Dominic Cummings row.

The Prime Minister’s top adviser is facing calls to resign after travelling more than 250 miles to his parents’ Durham farm while sick with Covid-19 at the height of lockdown.

The scandal has resulted in a huge decrease in support for Boris Johnson and the UK Government according to approval rating trackers, while people of varying political affiliation have expressed anger over the situation. However, Johnson continues to stand by his top adviser who he says acted legally and reasonably.

Last night Maitlis kicked off the programme by saying Cummings “broke the rules”. She said: "The country can see that, and it's shocked the government cannot."

She went on: "He was the man, remember, who always got the public mood.

“Who tagged the lazy label of elite on those who disagreed. He should understand that public mood one now: one of fury, contempt and anguish.

"He made those who struggled to keep to the rules feel like fools, and has allowed many more to assume they can now flout them."

"The prime minister knows all this, but despite the resignation of one minister, growing unease from his backbenchers, a dramatic early warning from the polls, and a deep national disquiet, Boris Johnson has chosen to ignore it."

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The journalist’s name was trending on Twitter after the clip was shared widely.

Comparing the clip to things said by political editor Laura Kuenssberg, one Twitter user wrote: “It's good to see not everyone at the BBC feels it necessary to be in constant cap-doffing mode. Well done!”

Another person added: “I am often quite cross with BBC News, but Emily Maitlis is often its very best asset.”

However some Brexiteers were furious with the segment – and former Labour MP Kate Hoey said she had put in a complaint about it.