It’s sticks and carrots from the Health Secretary as he attempts to boost face-to-face surgery appoinments.
His in-tray features: Covid, mental health, NHS reform…and social care. He’s set to be the most pressured Health Secretary since Lansley.
His exit was coming. But there’s a risk for Johnson of a media ramp, with other Ministers vulnerable to a feeding frenzy.
“I want to reiterate my apology for breaking the guidance, and apologise to my family and loved ones for putting them through this.”
The former Health Secretary uses Twitter to push the Government’s message on vaccines, the NHS and building back better as he goes.
A brief apology doesn’t justify him remaining in post. It’s now up to him to do so live. This is one for Andrew Neil, assuming he’s available.
The decision on lifting the remainder of lockdown will be based on many factors. But that’s the question at the heart of it.
If more former Ministers stayed in the Commons, it would be a more effective chamber.
Cummings has said he will hand over material to the inquiry. Will the committee ask the Government to do likewise?
Yesterday, he bent the passage of time – by giving the Commons the chance to carry out a Covid reckoning before the inquiry is up and running.
If we impose yet more draconian prison sentences to win a political arms race, the burdens on the taxpayer will become unsustainable.
As Johnson put it yesterday: “we can’t think of this just as a project for us and us alone”.