Minister ducks question on impact to health message from aide’s trip
HEALTH SECRETARY Matt Hancock failed to say whether any work had been done to assess the damage done, if any, by Dominic Cummings’ trip to Durham when questioned by a Yorkshire MP.
Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker, who was one of the first to call from Mr Cummings to resign over his alleged breaking of lockdown rules, and in the Commons yesterday he questioned Mr Hancock over the saga.
Listing the lengths his constituents had gone to to abide by the rules, including not being able to attend funerals of loved ones, Mr Whittaker said: “On the whole people have made huge sacrifices to maintain the lockdown and the Government’s public health message.
“Can my right honourable friend advise therefore if an assessment has been done on what, if any, damage has been done to the Government’s public health message by the actions of the Prime Minister’s special adviser?”
Mr Hancock replied: “As a nation we have the resolve to see this through.
“We can see that the number of cases is coming right down, we can see that the number of people dying is coming right down, and we’ve got to see the back of this disease. We are not there yet.”
Mr Hancock also said that “needs must” when it comes to considering the extent to which localised restrictions could be imposed in the event of a rise in infections.
Colne Valley Tory MP Jason McCartney said: “With track and tracing now being rolled out, if there happens to be localised increases again in the rate of infections, localised second waves, to what level would (Mr Hancock) recommend bringing back localised restrictions?
“Would it be at a county level, a town level, a council level, a village level or even a street level?”
Mr Hancock responded: “The answer is needs must.
“It’s whatever is necessary to bring any local outbreak under control.”