TORY Care Minister Helen Whately has faced backlash after appearing to laugh during an interview about the number of coronavirus deaths in care homes.

The minister appeared on Good Morning Britain today to discuss the virus’s impact in care homes.

It comes a day after presenter Piers Morgan slammed DWP Secretary Therese Coffey when she could not tell him how many coronavirus deaths had occurred outside of hospitals.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Piers Morgan slams Therese Coffey over death figures

Morgan questioned Whately on the Daily Mail’s front page, which claimed 4000 people have died with Covid-19 in UK care homes. He asked her if this was true, but she could not answer the question.

He said: : “No I’ll tell you what’s really important is you just answer straight questions – is it true that 4000 people … why are you laughing?

Whately wiped the smile off her face and replied: “I’m coming to answer your question –“

But Morgan pushed her on why she had appeared to laugh, asking: “What’s funny about this?

“Why do you keep laughing then? I literally just asked you is it true that 4000 elderly people have died in hospital and all you can do is laugh? What’s the matter with you?”

The minister again denied she had laughed, saying: “Please don’t suggest for a minute that I’m laughing – I have not been, it feels like you’re shouting at me and not giving me a chance to answer your question…”

Morgan pushed again to get the Tory MP to answer his question. He said: “I’ve asked you a question three times now and you won’t answer it. Let me try one more time. Is it true that 4000 people, elderly vulnerable people, have died of coronavirus in our care homes as the Daily Mail front page says?”

Whately replied: “The data we have from the ONS which is the source of robust reliable data tells us that up to April 3 217 people died from coronavirus in care homes. I believe because I’ve been talking to care providers and representatives of the care sector since then very sadly, very sadly, more people have died in care homes and we are working to make sure that we have that data – “

Morgan asked for a ballpark figure but she denied this was appropriate – to which the presenter said what would be appropriate would be if the care minister had this information.

Whately was the second Tory in two days to experience a car-crash interview on coronavirus with Morgan, who has been vocal in his criticism of the UK Government’s approach to the pandemic.

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