As the coronavirus death tolls continue to rise in the UK, the British Government have found themselves in the middle of a PR disaster in recent days. The Dominic Cummings scandal has dominated the news cycle, despite the best efforts of the Tory Party to change the topic of national conversation.
One such effort came in the early release of details surrounding the country's 'trace and track' system. It was thought this would be released on June 1st, the same date as the accompanying app, with some feeling this is an effort to take the attention away from Dominic Cummings and his questionable eyesight.
That was the question put to Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Sky News this morning, who went on to laugh his way through the interview.
“It’s priceless Kay, I’m usually accused of delaying these things and bringing them in too slowly.”@MattHancock denies claims the government has rushed in its test and trace system to take the spotlight off Dominic Cummings. JM #KayBurley pic.twitter.com/jmEHVxSmh0
— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) May 28, 2020
It's priceless, I'm normally accused of delaying these things and bringing them in too slowly. I committed to getting this system in in mid-May. You can't accuse of me of rushing it and delaying it...
I can't quite work out if you're telling me we've gone too slow or too fast, I think we've gone at just the right pace.
We brought it in at just the right speed. The app is helpful and it is working on the Isle of Wight. The reason we haven't brought it in right at the start is that asking people to isolate even if they're healthy because the NHS has got in contact, that is quite a big change.
Certainly not a good look.
Considering the crisis that continues to grip the UK, many were appalled with the demeanour displayed by Hancock when discussing a subject that has the potential to cost or save lives.
For nearly two minutes, Matt Hancock smiles and laughs as @KayBurley asks serious questions about the timing and introduction of test and trace mobile app. He just sits there and laughs. We’re being taken for mugs. Disgraceful behaviour! #TrackAndTrace pic.twitter.com/xyWvLl8Sx7
— Dominic Buxton (@DominicBuxton) May 28, 2020
The laughter from @MattHancock is nothing short of disturbing. pic.twitter.com/bwPS8a2nzc
— Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir) May 28, 2020
Why are you laughing?
— Sue Perkins 💙 (@sueperkins) May 28, 2020
Strange sense of humour, as thousands die through your incompetence. Imagine how the bereaved feel watching this. You callow man
— Lucy McDonald (@lucymcdonald) May 28, 2020
It’s not a laughing matter @MattHancock you could have introduced this pen and paper and phone trace and track system 3 months ago. I’m speechless that with 40,000 deaths many needless due to your policies you think it’s funny
— Gable Oak! 🌈🏳️🌈Girth Wind and Fire (@pdunnery) May 28, 2020
Kay Burley got it in one
Hancock is an extremely unpleasant man way out of his depth, & sneering laughter was the only response he had to counter her accusation of cynical manipulation to hide a major health & political scandal— Beware False Prophets (@Sonnet_Lumiere) May 28, 2020
This came soon after Hancock was presumably unaware of the irony of telling the British public to stay at home in order to do their 'civic duty'.
You. Are telling us our civic duty. You?
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) May 28, 2020
You’re the Health Secretary and destroyed your own message with your craven support for someone who obviously broke the rules. And you want to be taken seriously? Forget it.
— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) May 28, 2020
