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UK Covid live: Hancock suggests ‘stress’ was factor in Boris Johnson calling him ‘totally useless’ UK Covid live: Hancock suggests ‘stress’ was factor in Boris Johnson calling him ‘totally useless’
(32 minutes later)
Health secretary refuses to say whether he and PM have spoken about issue, but says it feels like ‘ancient history’Health secretary refuses to say whether he and PM have spoken about issue, but says it feels like ‘ancient history’
A “do or die” meeting on social care involving Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Matt Hancock has been postponed, it is understood, as the government came under renewed pressure over delays in setting out a policy for the sector. My colleague Peter Walker has the story here.
As Jessica Murray reports, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has accused the Scottish government of “hypocrisy” after it announced a travel ban to parts of the north-west.
John Swinney, Scotland’s deputy first minister, defended the decision on the Today programme. He said:
Asked about Burnham’s complaint that Manchester was not even consulted about the decision, Swinney replied:
Matt Hancock’s interview with BBC Breakfast this morning covered quite a lot of ground. I’ve posted his comment about the “hopeless” text already (see 9.21am), and here are other lines from what he said.Matt Hancock’s interview with BBC Breakfast this morning covered quite a lot of ground. I’ve posted his comment about the “hopeless” text already (see 9.21am), and here are other lines from what he said.
Hancock confirmed that he does want to replace self-isolation for people who have been in contact with someone testing positive with regular testing. The government was piloting this, he said, and he was taking clinical advice. He went on:Hancock confirmed that he does want to replace self-isolation for people who have been in contact with someone testing positive with regular testing. The government was piloting this, he said, and he was taking clinical advice. He went on:
Hancock also stressed that regular testing would not replace self-isolation for people who have tested positive themselves.Hancock also stressed that regular testing would not replace self-isolation for people who have tested positive themselves.
He said that he would set out plans for his autumn vaccine booster programme in the next few weeks. Clinicians were still looking at what combinations would be most effective, he said. For example, people who have had two doses of AstraZeneca could be given a Pfizer vaccine as a booster.He said that he would set out plans for his autumn vaccine booster programme in the next few weeks. Clinicians were still looking at what combinations would be most effective, he said. For example, people who have had two doses of AstraZeneca could be given a Pfizer vaccine as a booster.
He rejected suggestions that it would take at least five years to deal with the backlog for NHS operations that built up during the pandemic. When it was put to him that a consultant had to told the programme it would take five years, or maybe 10 years, to clear this backlog, Hancock replied: “I think we can sort it faster than that.” The government has already put an extra £1bn into the NHS to address the problem, he said. He went on:He rejected suggestions that it would take at least five years to deal with the backlog for NHS operations that built up during the pandemic. When it was put to him that a consultant had to told the programme it would take five years, or maybe 10 years, to clear this backlog, Hancock replied: “I think we can sort it faster than that.” The government has already put an extra £1bn into the NHS to address the problem, he said. He went on:
He confirmed that the government would publish a plan to reform social care before the end of the year. But he refused to comment on reports that an important ministerial meeting on the topic has been scheduled for this week. The meeting was reportedly due to take place tomorrow, but No 10 is now denying that. When asked about this, Hancock just said he had meetings with the PM all the time.He confirmed that the government would publish a plan to reform social care before the end of the year. But he refused to comment on reports that an important ministerial meeting on the topic has been scheduled for this week. The meeting was reportedly due to take place tomorrow, but No 10 is now denying that. When asked about this, Hancock just said he had meetings with the PM all the time.
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, says she has now had her second jab.Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, says she has now had her second jab.
Good morning. Matt Hancock, the health secretary, gave a long interview on a BBC Breakfast this morning and in it he gave his most considered response so far to the revelation last week that Boris Johnson called him “totally fucking hopeless” in a text to Dominic Cummings in March last year. Hancock put it down to the PM being stressed at the time. Asked how it felt to be described as “hopeless”, Hancock said:Good morning. Matt Hancock, the health secretary, gave a long interview on a BBC Breakfast this morning and in it he gave his most considered response so far to the revelation last week that Boris Johnson called him “totally fucking hopeless” in a text to Dominic Cummings in March last year. Hancock put it down to the PM being stressed at the time. Asked how it felt to be described as “hopeless”, Hancock said:
When the presenter, Dan Walker, said that he had also once been described as being “hopeless” at a job (not presenting, but making cardboard boxes, when he was young), and that the revelation must have been embarrassing, Hancock replied:When the presenter, Dan Walker, said that he had also once been described as being “hopeless” at a job (not presenting, but making cardboard boxes, when he was young), and that the revelation must have been embarrassing, Hancock replied:
Hancock also refused to say whether he had Johnson had spoken about the text since it was revealed last week.Hancock also refused to say whether he had Johnson had spoken about the text since it was revealed last week.
I will post more from the interview soon.I will post more from the interview soon.
Here is the agenda for the day.Here is the agenda for the day.
12pm: Downing Street is expected to hold its daily press conference.12pm: Downing Street is expected to hold its daily press conference.
12.30pm: Eluned Morgan, the Welsh government’s health minister, and Dr Chris Jones, deputy chief medical officer for Wales, are holding a press conference.12.30pm: Eluned Morgan, the Welsh government’s health minister, and Dr Chris Jones, deputy chief medical officer for Wales, are holding a press conference.
2pm: Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s former chief adviser, holds a Q&A on his Substack subscribers.2pm: Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s former chief adviser, holds a Q&A on his Substack subscribers.
2.30pm: Sir Mark Worthington, the independent construction commissioner for HS2, and Sir John Armitt, chair of the national infrastructure commission, give evidence to the Commons public accounts committee on HS2.2.30pm: Sir Mark Worthington, the independent construction commissioner for HS2, and Sir John Armitt, chair of the national infrastructure commission, give evidence to the Commons public accounts committee on HS2.
After 3.30pm: MPs will debate a Labour motion on planning, saying the government should “protect the right of communities to object to individual planning applications”.After 3.30pm: MPs will debate a Labour motion on planning, saying the government should “protect the right of communities to object to individual planning applications”.
Johnson is also doing a visit today, where he is expected to record a broadcast interview.Johnson is also doing a visit today, where he is expected to record a broadcast interview.
Politics Live has been a mix of Covid and non-Covid news recently and that is likely to be the case today. For more coronavirus developments, do follow our global Covid live blog.Politics Live has been a mix of Covid and non-Covid news recently and that is likely to be the case today. For more coronavirus developments, do follow our global Covid live blog.
I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone.I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone.
If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow.If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow.
Alternatively, you can email me at andrew.sparrow@theguardian.comAlternatively, you can email me at andrew.sparrow@theguardian.com