Boris Johnson slammed for 'parading' around hospital unmasked as he dodges sleaze debate

Boris Johnson has been slammed for "irresponsibly parading" around a hospital without a face mask, as he avoided the sleaze debate in the Commons.

The Prime Minister was pictured with the sleeves of his white shirt rolled up, and his tie tucked into his shirt, pacing through Hexham hospital, Northumberland earlier today.

The Shadow Health Secretary blasted Mr Johnson for not only opting to walk around maskless, but for also being too cowardly to show up to the Commons.

Boris Johnson claimed he couldn't make the Commons sleaze debate because of this visit to Hexham hospital (PA)

Jonathan Ashworth said on Twitter : "So not only is Boris Johnson too cowardly to turn up to Parliament to defend the sleazy corrupt government shenanigans of recent days.

"He's now irresponsibly parading round a hospital without a mask.

"Patients and NHS staff deserve better than this."

The PM was even pictured elbowing NHS staff as he greeted them still not wearing a face covering.

Official guidance for Hexham hospital, which is part of the Northumbria NHS Trust states: "Anyone attending our hospitals and community settings must continue to wear a face-covering at all times to protect patients, visitors and staff."

All other members of staff were pictured wearing their face masks in the hospital, with the PM walking closely beside them without one (PA)

Mr Johnson's official spokesperson insisted he was following the rules.

A No 10 spokesman said: "I am confident he will have been abiding by the rules in place."

And a spokesperson for the trust backed the PM, and said: "The Prime Minister followed strict measures, including wearing a mask, in each clinical area he visited."

But it comes amid a string of incidents showing the PM opting to follow one rule and leaving the British public to follow another.

Mr Johnson decided not to show up to the critical Commons debate on sleaze following his handling of the Owen Paterson scandal leaving many Tory MPs "beating themselves up".

Aaron Bell, the Tory MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme rebelled against the Tory party line and opposed the amendment to rip up MPs standards.

He told the Commons he feared friendship made Mr Owen Paterson’s allies help lead the Commons “into the extremely unfortunate decision it took last Wednesday” which left many feeling "miserable".

Just last week, Mr Johnson found himself in hot water over face masks as he was pictured without a face mask sitting next to Sir David Attenborough at Cop26.

When asked why he decided not to wear one at the crunch climate summit, the PM said: "It's up to people to make a judgement about whether they're at a reasonable distance from someone and whether they're with someone they don't normally meet."