Public given chance to ask a question at daily briefings

MEMBERS of the public were yesterday allowed to ask questions at the daily Downing Street coronavirus press conference for the first time.

Alongside journalists, a member of the public, selected each day by an independent polling organisation, will be given the chance to question the minister holding the briefing.

The first question to be asked by a member of the public, read out by Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, was from a grandmother from Skipton, North Yorks, who asked if hugging close family will be allowed as one of the first steps out of lockdown.

Prof Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer, said the ability for families to get together again was seen by most people as “absolutely essential”.

However, he stressed that if she was someone who was shielding, it may be “prudent” for her “not to get into a situation where she is putting herself at risk”. The Government has promised that ministers will not see the question before the press conference.

The person whose question is selected will be informed before 3pm, two hours ahead of the usual press conference starting time.

They will then be given the choice of either filming themselves asking the question, with the footage played during the press conference, or having their question read out.

Members of the public can submit their questions by using an online form. Around 15,000 people submitted questions for yesterday’s briefing.

Downing Street said: “We have asked a lot of the public and this is an opportunity for them to put questions to ministers and experts.”

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We know people are making significant sacrifices every day in order to stay at home and protect the NHS. So it is absolutely right that the public get the chance to put their questions on the virus and the measures that we have put in place directly to the Government and to its experts.”