Tory war over Whitty: Sajid Javid and ministers risk wrath of lockdown sceptics as they heap praise on medical chief after MPs accuse him undermining the government’s Omicron message
Cabinet ministers today heaped praise on chief medic Chris Whitty after Tory MPs accused him of undermining the government’s message on Covid curbs.
Sajid Javid delivered a barely-veiled rebuke to critics with a tweet hailing the ‘first-class advice’ he is getting from ‘extraordinary scientists and clinicians’.
Meanwhile, Conservative chairman Oliver Dowden insisted Boris Johnson and Prof Whitty are ‘in agreement’.
However, Chancellor Rishi Sunak struck a slightly different tone, stressing in an interview that the government is ‘not telling people to cancel things’.
The row erupted yesterday when a Tory MP lashed out at Prof Whitty for advising people to prioritise what social events they attend in the run up to Christmas.
Joy Morrissey said on Twitter that England’s Chief Medical Officer should ‘defer’ to what MPs and the government decide when it comes to slowing the spread of Omicron.
Cabinet ministers today heaped praise on chief medic Chris Whitty after Tory MPs accused him of undermining the government’s message on Covid curbs
Conservative chairman Oliver Dowden insisted Boris Johnson and Prof Whitty are ‘in agreement’
Sajid Javid delivered a barely-veiled rebuke to critics with a tweet hailing the ‘first-class advice’ he is getting from ‘extraordinary scientists and clinicians’
Ms Morrissey, who is a parliamentary private secretary (PPS), the lowest rung on the ministerial ladder, suggested Prof Whitty was behaving like the UK is a ‘public health socialist state’.
After Labour demanded an apology and her own Tory colleagues said it was ‘completely unacceptable’ to attack civil servants, Ms Morrissey deleted the tweet.
But she was later accused of ‘doubling down’ as she tweeted she is ‘increasingly concerned at public health pronouncements made in the media that already seem to exceed or contradict decisions made by our elected representatives’.
Number 10 defended Prof Whitty as a ‘hugely respected and trusted public servant who provides independent, evidence-based advice’.
However, other Conservative MPs have also voiced frustration at interventions by advisers, as well as slating the ‘extraordinary’ predictions about Covid from modellers.
Posting on Twitter today, Mr Javid said: ‘I want to thank the extraordinary scientists and clinicians who provide the government and I with first class advice every single day. You are a huge credit to our country.’
Mr Dowden said Prof Whitty, advises rather than speaks for the Government.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘Professor Whitty advises the Government.
‘The Prime Minister speaks for the Government. Chris Whitty advises the Government. Actually, the Prime Minister and Chris Whitty are in agreement not just on the vaccine rollout, they’re also in agreement that we have to show some caution.
‘So, for example, if you are going to events with lots of people, then you should, for example, look at taking a negative lateral flow test before doing so.’
He added: ‘Chris Whitty – and I know this because I’ve spoken to Chris Whitty about it – agrees with the Government that the right approach is to get the vaccine in people’s arms. And that is a way of preventing much further and more stringent restrictions.’
In an interview with CNN overnight, Mr Sunak – who has long been seen as on the lockdown-sceptic side of the Cabinet – defended not having come forward yet with a package for bars and restaurants hammered y customers opting to stay away.
‘The situation is very different to what we’ve encountered before — the government is not telling people to cancel things,’ he said.
Prof Whitty said at a Downing Street press conference earlier this week that people should limit and prioritise social contact in the coming days amid a growing wave of coronavirus infections.
His comments went beyond what Mr Johnson said, with the Prime Minister advising the nation to be cautious over the festive period.
Joy Morrissey said on Twitter that England’s Chief Medical Officer should ‘defer’ to what MPs and Boris Johnson decide when it comes to slowing the spread of Omicron
Ms Morrissey, who is a Government parliamentary private secretary (PPS), the lowest rung on the ministerial ladder, suggested Prof Whitty was behaving like the UK is a ‘public health socialist state’
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