Matt Hancock Responds to Dominic Cummings Allegations

 Yesterday, serious allegations were made against the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock and other members of the Cabinet by former PM advisor, Dominic Cummings.

Hancock has issued a response in parliament today as Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Jonathan Ashworth points out the allegations weren't immediately addressed by Hancock. Ashworth goes on to ask Hancock to address the allegations put to him and the Prime Minister and states that if they are true, it would be a breach of the Ministerial Code and the Nolan Principles. If they are false, however, then the Prime Minister brought a:

"fantasist and liar into the heart of Downing Street"

After this fiery statement, Ashworth goes on to question the honesty of the Health Secretary in relation to the safety of care homes. According to Ashworth, Hancock had stated elderly people were being tested upon discharge from hospital before entering a care home and that care homes were safe from the virus. However, mandatory testing was not implemented until some time after this statement. Ashworth also addresses the claim from Hancock that PPE supplies were sufficient, when it was revealed in the accusations that during a private conversation Matt Hancock 'blamed' the Chief Executive Officer of the NHS, Simon Stevens, for the shortage of PPE. The National Audit Office (NAO) confirmed the PPE supplies were inadequate. 

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock then responds and states:

"These substantial allegations around honesty are not true"

He goes on to say he has been honest with the public and the house. He has hosted 84 press conferences and answered questions from ministers and the media, claiming he and the Prime Minister have been open and transparent about the steps they have needed to take, despite it being hard to say to people. He says they have learned throughout the pandemic by each decision that was made and are ensuring they are prepared for future events and controlling the Indian variant.

Former Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Jeremy Hunt then closes off the discussion of the allegations and claim of evidence by stating:

"Until such evidence is provided, those allegations should be treated as unproven. In the meantime, we are in the midst of a pandemic and we need the Health Secretary doing his job"

R.Harris