Lockdown files: Matt Hancock's attempt to fire SAGE scientist 'shocking' 

EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Responding to reports in the Telegraph that Matt Hancock tried to fire a SAGE scientist for publicly criticising the Government during the coronavirus pandemic, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

“It’s one thing to reject expert advice, but actively trying to fire SAGE experts for raising concerns over how the pandemic was being handled is shocking. 

"Holding this Conservative Government to account for their decision making during the pandemic is crucial. The public trusted them to get this right.

"The more leaks there are, the more we can see the chaos and contempt that engulfed the government as countless lives were needlessly lost."

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Telegraph story here.

Jeremy Farrar quit SAGE in November 2021. In June 2020 Farrar warned Ministers that Covid was spreading too fast to lift lockdown and reccomended waiting for a robust test and trace system to be put in place first.