Hancock Insists He Didn't Lie To PM Over Care Homes

Matt Hancock has denied claims that he lied to Boris Johnson in the pandemic and said he was always driven by “honesty and integrity”.

- Martyn Brown

The Health Secretary refuted allegations by ex-top No10 adviser Dominic Cummings that the Prime Minister wanted him fired, saying Mr Johnson always backed him.

He came out fighting in a grilling by MPs over the coronavirus crisis.

Mr. Cummings alleged last month that Mr. Hancock misled the PM that all care home residents arriving from the hospital were tested.

Asked by the same health and social care committee if he has ever lied to Mr. Johnson, the Health Secretary replied: “No.”

Mr. Hancock repeated his department had to build test capacity before residents could be checked.

He said: “The clinical advice at the time was hospital is a dangerous place for people, who might end up getting Covid after they’ve taken the test but before the result.

“The advice was that very few people would be able to pass on Covid if they didn’t have any symptoms, so testing was reserved for those who had symptoms.”

The Cabinet minister has been fighting for his career after Mr. Cummings said he should have been sacked for “at least 15 to 20 things” during the pandemic.