Matt Hancock was quick to hit back at Alastair Campbell on GMB today as the pair clashed over the public inquiry into coronavirus.
The Health Secretary was on the programme ahead of the Queen's Speech later today, which will lay out the government's plans for this year.
Alastair and his co-host Susanna Reid grilled Mr Hancock about plans for social care reform and when the public inquiry into coronavirus would be.
Alastair asked Mr Hancock which was more important, social care or electoral reform.
Mr Hancock said: "Oh come on both are important.
"We need to make sure that we have a robust electoral system in place.
"I think both are very important."
Alastair said: "Why can't you just say that social care is a bigger priority."
Mr Hancock said: "Social care reform is very important and I'm proud it's in our manifesto and that Boris Johnson spoke about it at Downing Street."
Susanna and Alastair then moved onto the inquiry into the coronavirus crisis as they asked when the inquiry was going to happen.
Mr Hancock said: "We've been learning all the way through this, we learned the virus spreads without symptoms early on."
Susanna said: "The question was when are we going to have a public inquiry."
Mr Hancock said: "Well there'll be a time for that, for now the job is that we make sure we get out of this covid pandemic and that we deliver the levelling up agenda that we were elected on."
Susanna said: "I can see the long grass over there and you're kicking the inquiry into that."
Alastair then suggested to Mr Hancock the government were working on the Fixed Term Parliament Act so they could hold an election earlier and then have the inquiry after that.
But Mr Hancock hit back and said: "Well that might have been the approach you took when you were in Downing Street, but it's not how we do things Alastair thanks."
Alastair said: "Oh really okay, so you're above suspicion and the Nolan principles of honesty, openness, objectivity, selflessness, integrity, accountability and leadership by example, Boris Johnson does those things every day does he?"
Mr Hancock said: "What we do is we deliver everyday and that's what we're getting on with."
*GMB continues at 6am on ITV tomorrow
