HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock has tried to defend there being no black MPs in Boris Johnson's current Cabinet, stating: "There were until a couple of months ago."

Hancock also bizarrely moved to deny that there is a lack of diversity in the current line-up, claiming that it is "one of the most diverse in British history".

Out of Johnson's 22 Cabinet members, six are women, and there are no black or LGBT MPs.

Speaking to ITV News, when pressed on the issue, the Health Secretary attempted to defend the suggestion by making reference to colleagues Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Priti Patel, who are from ethnic minority backgrounds.

"The most important thing is that we have that diversity throughout the government and the key thing is taking action to ensure that people have equality of opportunity," he said.

READ MORE: Watchdog launches review into election campaign finance regulation

Hancock also urged people not to attend anti-racism protests taking place in the UK following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Thousands of people are expected to join Black Lives Matter rallies taking place up and down the country today, including in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

"I do want people to put that argument and I will support people who make that argument," he claimed.

"But the challenge is we are still living in the middle of a pandemic and we're still trying to get the number of infections down.

"But it's a biological fact that gathering in large numbers without social distancing risks the increased spread of the virus and that risks lives.

"I urge people to make the case and make the argument but follow the social distancing rules and follow the law because that's the best way to make the case in a way that keeps people safe."