Government ends ‘boycott’ of Good Morning Britain

A GOVERNMENT “boycott” of ITV’S Good Morning Britain will end today, with Matt Hancock due to appear on the programme.

The Health Secretary’s scheduled appearance this morning will be the first by a member of the Government since April.

Presenter Piers Morgan said in a tweet yesterday: “BREAKING: Just had a call from Downing Street. The 201-day Government boycott of @GMB is over & Health Secretary @Matthancock will be appearing on the show tomorrow morning.”

Morgan had previously accused the Government of “cowardice” for not fielding members of the Cabinet for questioning.

The announcement follows the departure of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s top aide Dominic Cummings and director of communications Lee Cain from Downing Street this week.

Last week Good Morning Britain sent reporter Nick Dixon to ambush Matt Hancock on live television outside the BBC’S Broadcasting House and asked him to appear on the show and end the boycott.

The Health Secretary was forced to reply that he would “come on as soon as I possibly can” but declined the opportunity to appear last Tuesday, adding: “Unfortunately, I have got something in the diary tomorrow morning”.

Last month, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was “pretty disgraceful” for UK Government ministers to refuse to appear on a breakfast show during the coronavirus pandemic.

There was speculation on social media that the end of the boycott could be linked to Mr Cummings’s departure.