Government's advisors accuse PM of 'trashing' lockdown by backing Dominic Cummings

A member of the Government's advisory group on behavioural science has said Boris Johnson "trashed" all the advice he had been given on building the public trust need for lockdown to work.

Professor Stephen Reicher is on the Independent Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours (SPI-B) that feeds analysis and advice to the scientists on the Government's emergency panel.

Following the Prime Minister's defiant defence of his chief adviser, Prof Reicher tweeted that he had completely undermined efforts to get the public to stick to lockdown rules.

"I can say that in a few short minutes tonight, Boris Johnson has trashed all the advice we have given on how to build trust and secure adherence to the measures necessary to control Covid-19," he wrote.

In a second tweet, Prof Reicher said: "Be open and honest, we said. Trashed.

Professor Stephen Reicher of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours slammed Boris Johnson (NTU)

"Respect the public, we said. Trashed. Ensure equity, so everyone is treated the same, we said. Trashed.

"Be consistent we said. Trashed. Make clear 'we are all in it together'. Trashed."

He added: "It is very hard to provide scientific advice to a Government which doesn't want to listen to science.

Mr Johnson continues to defend his chief aide Dominic Cummings (Getty Images)

The Prime Minister is facing calls to sack Mr Cummings (10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty)

"I hope, however, that the public will read our papers and continue to make up for this bad Government with their own good sense."

Prof Reicher's post had been retweeted more than 20,000 times in less than two hours, including by other scientists on SPI-B.

Robert West, professor of Health Psychology at University College London (UCL), said: "I am sorry to have to say that as another member of SPI-B I have to agree."

Prof West's UCL colleague Susan Michie, director of the university's Centre for Behaviour Change, said: "As another member of SPI-B, I completely agree."

Earlier in the evening, Prof Reicher, who is professor of social psychology at the University of St Andrews, said: "It feels increasingly as if we are living through a Greek drama.

"The kingmaker Cummings' fatal flaw of hubris brings down both him and the king... what makes it tragedy is that such incompetence and turmoil will bring the people down as well."