BORIS Johnson DID have all the data to show that vaccines work, despite claims that Matt Hancock didn’t tell the PM about the jab success.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said that there’s “no question” the PM had the most “up-to-date” figures before deciding to delay June 21.
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It was previously said that the Health Secretary failed to tell the Prime Minister about the PHE study showing the effectiveness of vaccines against the Delta variant.
Sources told the Telegraph that Mr Hancock didn’t raise the promising figures during the meeting when Boris Johnson decided whether to postpone the planned June 21 reopening.
Refuting the claims, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said today: “That report is wrong.
“The data was provided to the Prime Minister and other members of the Cabinet committee in the most up-to-date way before the decision was made on Monday.”
He told Sky’s Trevor Phillips On Sunday: “Those taking part in the meeting had all the relevant data in the most up-to-date way.
“There’s no question of the Prime Minister not being cited on important data.
“It was provided to him and other members of the committee in the normal way, as people would expect.”
The Justice Secretary rejected claims that the data wasn’t included in briefing papers given to Mr Johnson, Rishi Sunak, and Michael Gove in advance of the meeting.
Matt Hancock’s alleged withholding of information yesterday lead to senior Tories questioning his motives.
On Saturday night Steve Baker, the deputy chairman of the Covid Recovery Group of Conservative MPs, said: “Either Matt Hancock thought this data was insignificant or he thought it should be withheld from the Prime Minister and other key ministers.
“Either way, the mind boggles at what conversation must now be necessary with the Prime Minister, and I feel confident it will be a matter of interest to my colleagues on the relevant select committees.
FREEDOM DELAYED
“If Matt Hancock was deliberately withholding relevant information, what was he trying to gain? Was the Prime Minister bounced?”
Earlier this week, the PM confirmed that Freedom Day would be delayed for at least a month following growing cases of Covid in England.
At a gloomy press conference on Monday the PM said current restrictions will stay until July 19 – as the NHS rushes to jab more people, quicker to beat the Delta variant.
Sobering modelling predicted hospital admissions would soar to the peak of the first wave if Mr Johnson ploughed ahead with the roadmap on June 21.
And scientists warned that 500 deaths a day would have soon been on the cards if we didn’t hit the brakes now – with nearly 50,000 predicted over the summer months.
The Prime Minister vowed that his action to delay freedom by an extra four weeks would save thousands of lives and stop hospitals being swamped.
Speaking from Downing Street, a sombre Boris said: “Today I cannot say that we have met all our four tests for proceeding with step four on June 21.
“I think it is sensible to wait just a little longer.
“Now is the time to ease off the accelerator. Because, by being cautious now, we have the chance in the next four weeks to save many thousands of lives by vaccinating millions more people.”
