Government defends head of Test and Trace amid calls for sacking

The government is resisting pressure to sack the head of NHS Test and Trace amid deepening concern among ministers and MPs that the system is failing to stem the spread of coronavirus.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis insisted Baroness Harding was doing “a very good job” after one senior Conservative MP called for her to be replaced by a senior military commander.

H o w e v e r, Labour warned her position was “untenable” as it emerged ministers were considering cutting the time people have to selfisolate if they have been in contact with someone who has the disease because of concerns over public compliance.

During a round of broadcast interviews, Mr Lewis rejected calls for Lady ( Dido) Harding – who is a Conservative peer – to be dismissed, a l though he acknowledged the service needed to improve.

“What Dido has done is put together and drive forward a team that has come on so much in the last few months,” he told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme.

However, senior Tory backbencher Sir Bernard Jenkin said there was a “vacuum of leadership” at the top of the organisation and that public consent and co- operation was “breaking down”.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, he said Lady Harding should be given a “well-earned break” so she and others could “reflect on the lessons learned so far” and that a senior military figure should be appointed in her place.

“The immediate priority is to fill the vacuum of leadership in Test and Trace, which is destroying co- operation and compliance.

“Gove rnmen t harnessed the military to regain control in the foot and mouth crisis; the prime minister should follow that example today, by installing a single leader, a three or four- star militar y commander with a reputation for handling complexity under stress.”

The row comes after the Test and Trace system last week hit a record low with just 59.6% of the contacts of people who tested positive for the disease being successfully contacted and told to self-isolate.

For Labour, shadow mental health minister Rosena Allin- Khan said Lady Harding’s position had become “untenable”.

“The Tories are infighting because even they can see just how catastrophic the test, trace and isolate system has been,” she told the Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme.

Meanwhile, Mr Lewis confirmed officials were looking at reducing the time people contacted by the Test and Trace system would be required to quarantine at home from 14 days to between 10 days and a week.

Baroness Dido Harding has faced criticism.