MATT Hancock is coming under pressure to follow Nicola Sturgeon’s lead and reveal his coronavirus exit plan.
In an angry interview with the BBC, the beleaguered Health Secretary even claimed his Government’s five-point framework for easing the lockdown announced last week was the same as the Scottish Government’s 25-page paper released yesterday.
Sturgeon’s document, and willingness to hold an “adult conversation” about the trade-offs necessary for living in a global pandemic, was praised by politicians from across the parties, including a number of senior Tories.
Further pressure came from the Welsh Government, with First Minister Mark Drakeford raising the prospect of easing some restrictions in Wales at the end of the current three-week lockdown.
But the Health Secretary said it was still too soon to talk about it.
He told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme: “The British public have been unbelievably resolute in supporting the lockdown measures because they understand the impact on the number of people who ultimately die from this disease and I stand with the British public with that resolve.
“Of course there will be a time when we need to make changes, and we’ve set out the five tests precisely to give people the guide on when those changes can safely be done. I will not allow the changes to be made that are unsafe.
“The point is that the improvement in health from getting the number of new cases right down is also the best thing for the economy because the worst thing for the economy would be a second spike.”
He also claimed that the UK Government hadn’t been left behind by the Scottish Government.
READ MORE: Common Weal calls for urgency in Scottish planning for ending lockdown
Hancock said: “We have released a framework – we released it last Thursday, which is five tests for the things that need to happen before we can make changes.
Presenter Mishal Husain interrupted, telling the Health Secretary: “You know that is different. We know about your five tests.”
Hancock hit back. “It is not different,” he said, angrily. “It is not different because if you read the Scottish document it is essentially a reiteration broadly of those five tests.
“It doesn’t set out what the Scottish Government is going to do.”
Hancock said he did not have a “problem in principle” with Sturgeon setting out her own plan.
“My preference is that we work together as one country.
“I think that is where the public has been during this but I also respect the responsibilities that my devolved colleagues have got”.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith called on his party to follow the SNP administration’s lead. He told The Times: “The Government needs now to explain to the British public that they are planning for the time when we come out of lockdown.
“We must trust the British public to understand how this will happen. The Scottish administration is right. I want the UK Government to be doing the same.”
READ MORE: Questions for Matt Hancock leaked in embarrassing Tory blunder
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, treasurer of the 1922 Committee, told The Times: “If we keep the lockdown going, it will be much more difficult for the economy to recover.
“The nation is quite divided on this and it’s up to the Government, I think, to exercise leadership. Unless we do something fairly soon the economy is going to take a real hit.”
Some senior Tories figures believe that Boris Johnson’s absence as he recovers from Covid-19 has created a leadership vacuum with nobody at the top willing to take decisions.
It’s believed the Prime Minister could return to work on Monday .
Earlier this week he spoke to the Queen and Donald Trump, who described Johnson as “ready to go”.
Hancock insisted the Prime Minister “has to be better” before returning to Downing Street and refused to get into the “precise timing” of his recovery.
“I spoke to him yesterday, he’s cheerful, and he’s ebullient and he’s definitely on the mend in a big way. When exactly he comes back is a matter for him and his doctors.”
Meanwhile, former civil service chief Gus O’Donnell and economists from the London School of Economics yesterday published a paper suggesting that the lockdown should be eased from June 1.
He urged ministers to weigh positive factors of ending the lockdown including bringing the economy back to life, reducing mental health problems, lowering domestic violence, against possibly causing a new spike in deaths from coronavirus.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel