Three of PM’s top scientists say: He’s trashed our work

BORIS Johnson has ‘trashed’ public trust and adherence to lockdown, Government advisers warned last night.

Psychology professor Stephen Reicher said the Prime Minister’s defence of Dominic Cummings had threatened the UK’s fight against coronavirus.

The University of St Andrews academic, who serves on the SAGE committee advising the Government on behavioural science, tweeted: ‘I can say that in a few short minutes tonight, Boris Johnson has trashed all the advice we have given on how to build trust and secure adherence to the measures necessary to control Covid-19.

‘Be open and honest, we said. Trashed. Respect the public, we said. Trashed. Ensure equity, so everyone is treated the same, we said. Trashed. Be consistent we said. Trashed. Make clear “we are all in it together”. Trashed.’

Shortly after the comment was shared, two other Government advisers, also on the committee, echoed Professor Reicher’s anger.

Susan Michie, professor of health psychology at University College London called for scientific chiefs to deliver separate briefings from ministers from now on, adding: ‘Never thought I’d say this but I don’t want science to be dragged down by association with dishonesty.

‘My fear is that science, which is key to getting through this pandemic, will be diminished in the eyes of the public by association with this Government. Independent scientific communication key.’

Robert West, also part of the advisory group, backed his colleagues as he shared Professor Michie’s post.

Professor West, also a health psychology professor at UCL, had earlier tweeted: ‘Conservative MPs and supporters must be feeling alarmed at what is going on in Government. It is nothing short of a shambles with Trumpian levels of deceit. The people of this country are being treated like idiots and I doubt that they will stand for it.’

Last night, Professor Reicher’s tweets had been shared thousands of times – with other members of the scientific community adding their voices to his criticism.

In further posts Professor Reicher said it was ‘very hard to provide scientific advice to a Government which doesn’t want to listen to science’.

He appealed for the public to continue sticking to the lockdown rules and ‘to make up for this bad government with their own good sense’.