So where were Sir Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty? No10 scientific advisers are notably absent as Boris Johnson gives latest Covid address – hours after SAGE chief snubbed PM’s return-to-work plea
- The experts have become familiar faces at Number 10 podium during the crisis
- Instead, Mr Johnson was joined by NHS test and trace chief Dido Harding
- Sir Patrick has hinted disapproval of clarion call for people to go back to work
- Him and Prof Whitty will later appear before the Lord’s science committee
Signs of a rift between Boris Johnson and his top scientific advisers deepened today after they were sidelined from his Downing Street address.
Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty were notable absentees from this morning’s press conference.
The experts have become familiar faces at the Number 10 podium during the crisis, regularly flanking the PM for big announcements.
Instead, Mr Johnson was joined by NHS test and trace chief Dido Harding during his clarion call for workers to go back to offices to rescue the ailing high street.
He also gave the green light for casinos, bowling alleys and ice rinks to reopen next month.
But much of the attention was focused on the break-up of the so-called ‘three amigos’ which came after Sir Patrick yesterday hinted disapproval of the government’s haste to unlock the economy.
Signs of a rift between Boris Johnson (pictured today) and his top scientific advisers deepened today after they were sidelined from his Downing Street address
Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance (left) and chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty (right) were notable absentees from this morning’s press conference (pictured at an earlier press conference)
Sir Patrick told MPs he thought people should continue to work from home if they can can, putting him at loggerheads with the PM who is banging the drum for offices to reopen.
Speaking to the Commons science and technology committee, he said: ‘Of the various distancing measures, working from home for many companies remains a perfectly good option because it’s easy to do.
‘I think a number of companies think it’s actually not detrimental to productivity. And in that situation, [there is] absolutely no reason I can see to change it.’
But his concerns did not put the brakes on the PM, who pressed ahead with lifting restrictions today.
At the live Number 10 press conference, Mr Johnson was grilled on how his blueprint married up to Sir Patrick’s comments.
Instead, Mr Johnson was joined by NHS test and trace chief Dido Harding during his clarion call for workers to go back to offices to rescue the ailing high street
He said: ‘I totally agree with Sir Patrick Vallance on what he’s saying. Obviously it’s not for government to decide how employers should run their companies or whether they want their employees in the office.
‘What we’re saying is if employers think it would be better, more productive for employees to come into the office and work in a safe and Covid-secure way then there should be discussions between the employers and employees and people should take a decision.
‘And we want to encourage people to think it is safe to come into work provided employers make their businesses Covid-secure.’
Sir Patrick will once again be before parliament this afternoon when he and Prof Whitty attend the Lords science and technology committee.
They will likely be pressed on whether they endorse the PM’s latest road map.
The experts have become familiar faces at the Number 10 podium during the crisis, regularly flanking the PM for big announcements (pictured on July 3)