‘Scientific experts still on TV but not daily’

THE Foreign Secretary has said the UK Government’s medical and scientific advisers will continue to take part in its televised coronavirus briefings but “perhaps not on a daily basis”.

Dominic Raab’s comments came in response to questioning during yesterday’s Downing Street briefing over why weekly appearances by experts have reduced since the start of the month.

Earlier in the day, a spokesman for the Prime Minister insisted there was not an issue in the government’s relations with scientists.

It followed reports that Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, were on “resignation watch”.

Both men made their second appearance at a Downing Street briefing this month alongside Boris Johnson last Wednesday, but other experts have not appeared in June.

Deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam last appeared at a briefing on May 30, while Dr Jenny Harries, deputy chief medical officer for England, last attended on May 31.

Professor Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, has attended a briefing once in June so far after appearing eight times in May.

Appearing alone at yesterday’s briefing, Mr Raab said: “In terms of presence at these press conferences, scientists and the chief and deputy medical officers will continue to come and attend these press conferences.

“I think it is also true to say that as we go down the road map and start to talk about the changes we are making, whether it is to business, schools or other areas, we will also bring other independent experts along and make sure we can answer the full range of questions that people have.”

After it was put to him that there were some questions that medical experts would be more equipped to answer than ministers, Mr Raab added: “Well, you haven’t tried me on a question I can’t answer yet but I am happy to be proved wrong.

“Look, you are right to say the scientists and the medical adviser are important.

“They will continue to attend these press conferences, perhaps not on a daily basis – they’ve got a huge amount of other work to do – and undoubtedly the politicians need to answer the judgement calls we make based on the evolving science. There won’t be an expert there every day but you will still see them.”