Test and hope...

Hancock’s challenges mount

MATT HANCOCK has three fundamental problems following the launch of the new NHS Test and Trace System to help suppress the spread of Covid-19.

The first is that it is not the full system and app previously promised by the Health and Social Care Secretary – and that he should have accepted this failing when questioned by Kay Burley on Sky News.

The fact that Mr Hancock laughed off the criticism was, frankly, insulting to the 37,000 families who’ve lost relatives to Covid-19 – or who know loved ones who are particularly susceptible to the virus.

When many are largely sympathetic towards Mr Hancock, and the scale of the challenge confronting the NHS, he lets himself down like this on too many occasions for his own good.

Second, there’s his call for people to undertake their ‘civic duty’, and go into voluntary self-isolation, for 14 days, if they’ve come into close contact with a coronavirus sufferer.

No doubt most will comply with the rules, in spite of any hardship, but how does Mr Hancock expect the authorities to be enforce this in the wake of the Dominic Cummings scandal? Again, this is no laughing matter Secretary of State.

And, finally, Mr Hancock needs to satisfy people about data security. Indeed it won’t have escaped the Minister’s attention that former Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning owner Dido Harding, the Tory peer heading the scheme, was chief executive of TalkTalk when the telecoms firm was hit by a cyber-attack.

The irony might amuse Mr Hancock, but it will not comfort all those who are still seeking reassurance over his ‘test and hope for the best’ approach.