Saying thanks is all very well, but Raab gingerly dodges the question of a pay rise for NHS staff

On the plus side: this was much better from Dominic Raab. At his previous news conferences from No10, the Prime Minister’s stand-in had seemed distinctly ill at ease. Jumpy. Nervy. Hyperactively restless. Like a rabbit full of Red Bull.

At yesterday’s news conference, though, he was steadier. His nerves appeared to have calmed. There was no manic staring. No panting or gulping.

No obvious sign he might end up getting swept out of the room on a swirling torrent of his own cold sweat. Outwardly, at any rate, he seemed to have adjusted to the pressures of the job. After a brief update on Boris Johnson’s progress in hospital (“He continues to make positive steps forward”), Mr Raab launched into a plea to the nation.

No visiting family over the Easter weekend, he implored, no matter what the temptation, or how glorious the weather. “Let’s not ruin it now … We mustn’t give coronavirus a second chance … So please stay at home, for everyone’s sake …”

This wasn’t by any means a harangue, though.

He repeatedly praised the public for all they’d done during the lockdown so far. “I want to say a massive thank you,” he said, “to everyone who’s gone the extra mile.”

(Strictly speaking, he should really have thanked them for not going the extra mile, or ideally any miles at all. But you knew what he meant.)

He also thanked “the workers who keep the country running”, singling out supermarket staff, delivery drivers, cleaners. “You’ve certainly made us all think long and hard,” he said, “about who the ‘key workers’ are in our lives.” (True enough, if by “us” he means politicians: it’s been weeks since we’ve heard one give a speech featuring sniffy little phrases like “low-skilled” or “low-value”).

Most profusely of all, Mr Raab thanked everyone working in the NHS.

A journalist, however, wondered whether the Government planned to do more for NHS staff than just saying thank you.

Warm words were all very well – but how about a pay rise?

Perhaps fearing that this question was above his own pay grade, Mr Raab dodged it as delicately as he could. The most he would say was that, after the crisis had passed, there would “be a moment when we formally recognise those in the front line who have done so much at this very difficult moment”.

Unsatisfied, the journalist pressed him. “Formally recognise”?

Did that mean money, or didn’t it? Once again, Mr Raab stepped gingerly out of the question’s path. “I’m sure,” he said, “there will be the appropriate level of recognition.”

An almost expertly vague response. It could mean a pay rise.

But equally it could mean a commemorative Covid-19 pen, and a limited edition top adorned with the slogan “I Risked My Life Saving the Country from the Deadliest Pandemic in a Century, and All I Got Was This Lousy T-shirt”.

I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.

‘You’ve certainly made us all think long and hard about who the ‘key workers’ are in our lives’