COVID-19: Matt Hancock fights for his political life after Dominic Cummings brutal demolition job | UK News

Matt Hancock is fighting for his political life after a brutal demolition job on the Health Secretary by Dominic Cummings.

In the middle of a bitter beards series which looked like a calculated political assassination, Mr. Cummings accused Mr. Hancock “Criminal and shameful behavior which has caused serious harm”.

To questions from the Prime Minister, while Mr. Cummings was still testifying to MPs, Boris Johnson was forced to deny that cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill had lost faith in Mr Hancock’s honesty.

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But, during his clash with Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister did not take the opportunity to praise Mr Hancock’s work in leading the fight against the COVID pandemic.

And later – significantly – at a briefing for political journalists, the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson offered only lukewarm support to the besieged Mr Hancock.

When asked if Mr Johnson was considering sacking Mr Hancock, the spokesperson said: ‘At all times, the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary have worked closely together to protect public health during the pandemic. It always has been and continues to be. “

And asked if the Prime Minister still has full confidence in Mr Hancock, the spokesperson only replied: “Yes. The health secretary has worked closely with the Prime Minister throughout.”

Government backbenchers and opposition MPs will now question whether Mr Hancock is being erected as a fall man in COVID recriminations ahead of the public inquiry promised by the Prime Minister.

Mr Cummings appeared to confirm this view when he told the commission towards the end of its hearing: “I said fire him almost every week, sometimes almost every day.

“He was told, however, that you shouldn’t send him back, you should keep him there because he’s the person you were firing during the investigation …