Jenrick tells LBC: PM acted 'in best interests of the country' after Cummings' evidence

27 May 2021, 08:37 | Updated: 27 May 2021, 09:33

Ferrari to Jenrick: 'Did tens of thousands die who didn't need to?'

By Will Taylor

Boris Johnson was acting in the UK's best interests and worked "day and night" as the coronavirus outbreak began, a Government minister has insisted.

Speaking to LBC in the wake of Dominic Cummings' explosive testimony to MPs on Wednesday, when he claimed tens of thousands of people needlessly died due to the Government's response, Robert Jenrick said Mr Johnson had apologised for Covid deaths.

The Communities Secretary said the Prime Minister had responded to some of ex-adviser Mr Cummings' claims at Prime Minister's Questions.

"He said then he was deeply sorry for the loss of life, that he wished he could have done even more to support the country through that time but that at every turn he was acting in the best interests of the country as he saw it and I thought that was a very fair statement," Mr Jenrick told LBC's Nick Ferrari.

"Entirely reflects the Prime Minister I know and saw in those early weeks and months of the pandemic."

Among a series of explosive statements in his Commons committee appearance, Mr Cummings blasted Mr Johnson as "unfit for the job" and characterised the Government as lions being led by donkeys.

Read more: Dominic Cummings says Boris Johnson was 'unfit' for the job

Read more: The key quotes from Boris Johnson's ex-adviser

"Why should we have confidence in the Prime Minister?"

Cummings: Boris Johnson "unfit for the job" in October 2020

But Mr Jenrick insisted his memory of Mr Johnson's response was that he was focused on tackling "an unprecedented pandemic, who worked day and night who himself almost died as a result of the pandemic".

The people in Government he worked with were extremely capable and got many things right, but under huge pressure, the minister said.

He also claimed he worked well with Mr Cummings, who "tried his best in Number 10".

But he added: "I never think it's fruitful to get into tit for tat… but there will come a time next year in the public inquiry where all of us who have been involved in this will lay out events as clearly and honestly as we can."

During his testimony, Mr Cummings repeatedly savaged Health Secretary Matt Hancock, saying he could have been sacked for a number of reasons and lied repeatedly.

Mr Jenrick insisted Mr Hancock, who is due to speak in Parliament on Thursday morning, had refuted allegations.

He insisted the Department of Health worked hard and that when some aspects of the early strategy against coronavirus were realised to be ineffective, the plan was changed.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Emergency services were called just after 7pm on Friday amid reports a woman had suffered serious injuries

'Screaming, shouting, crying': Landlady breaks silence after woman shot dead at village pub - as manhunt continues

Exclusive
Jonathan Reynolds told LBC’s Iain Dale that NATO is ‘a highly effective integrated defensive structure’, and that US requests for higher European spending on the alliance are ‘not unreasonable’.

Europe must ‘work closely’ with US to face Russia, Business Sec tells LBC ahead of emergency Ukraine summit

.T. Miller #10 of Team USA and Colton Parayko #55 of Team Canada fight during the first period in the 4 Nations Face-Off game at the Bell Centre on February 15, 2025

Gloves off: Three fights in first nine seconds as USA beat Canada to reach 4 Nations ice hockey final

Exclusive
Europe must boost defence spending if it wants peace, Ukraine's former PM has told LBC.

‘If you want peace, pay for it', says ex-Ukrainian PM as Starmer to 'overrule' Reeves and boost defence spending

Lucy Letby was ‘shocked and distressed’ during the investigation into the deaths of babies that she was later found guilty of murdering, and ‘deserves an Oscar’ if she was lying, her former boss said.

Lucy Letby was 'innocent', distressed and ‘deserves an Oscar if she was acting’ says former boss

Jockey Michael O'Sullivan at Ascot Racecourse. Picture date: Friday November 22, 2024.

Cheltenham-winning jockey Michael O'Sullivan dies aged just 24 after fall in race

Prime Minister Keir Starmer Meets With Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves At Downing Street

Starmer to 'overrule' Reeves and call for increased defence spending ahead of meeting with Donald Trump

images shared on social media show police arresting a man following the attack.

'Laughing' Syrian asylum seeker who stabbed boy, 14, to death was motivated by 'Islamic terrorism'

Axel Rudakubana has been jailed for 52 years.

FBI joins investigation into Southport killer amid claims he wiped internet search history

Heavy Rush In Trains For Last Amrit Snan On Prayagraj Kumbh

At least 15 dead in train station stampede in New Delhi

Pope Francis Attends The Weekly General Audience on Wednesday.

Pope Francis to miss Sunday prayer due to 'absolute rest' order after bronchitis diagnosis

Udoka Godwin-Malife

Burton Albion defender allegedly target of racist abuse by fan

Applegreen petrol station in New Town, Uckfield, Sussex.

Teenager dies after car overturned at Sussex petrol station

Starmer, Trump and Putin.

'Once in a generation moment': Starmer warns against NATO division ahead of emergency summit on Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and United States President Donald Trump (right).

US officials heading to Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia

People look into a cordoned off area where a 23-year-old man stabbed several people in the southern Austria city of Villach,.

Boy, 14, killed and five injured after Syrian asylum seeker goes on knife rampage in Austrian town