* PM following doctor’s advice to letter & won’t be back any time soon
* Ministers believe scientists are in charge - in PM’s absence there’s no appetite for political risk
* Ministers turning on Hancock over test target
thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/c…
‘He will have been told very clearly that he risks killing himself if he goes back to work too soon’
‘He is being very careful not to try to be the prime minister,’ one ally said. ‘He doesn’t want to be seen as overstepping the mark.’
Therese Coffey, work and pensions secretary, warned of long-term impact on people’s mental health of people being cooped up for so long
‘Never assume electorate is stupid,’ one minister said. ‘They are highly intelligent and can digest message as well as any cabinet minister’
They wanted to avoid building up expectations
Ministers say they were ‘bounced’ into specifying 3 weeks by Nicola Sturgeon
He was said to be behind hardening message on ruling out transition extension
In No 10 there’s an increasing conviction we are heading for no-deal
'The two sides are a million miles away from each other'
Several are highly critical of Matt Hancock and his 100,000 tests target, warning it could erode public trust