Matt Hancock was left squirming at the end of his interview on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday after the matter of Boris Johnson's damning WhatsApp messages about him was raised.
After his explosive accusations against the Government as he gave evidence to the Commons Health and Social Care and Science and Technology Committee s last month, Johnson's former chief aide, Dominic Cummings, shared WhatsApp messages between himself and the PM last week.
And the one that made headlines saw Johnson label Health Secretary Hancock as "f***ing useless," before going onto float the possibility of replacing him with Michael Gove.
Millions of phone users could receive emergency messages
Hancock appeared on GMB to answer questions from hosts Adil Ray and Susanna Reid on everything as to why the whole of the Scottish football team aren't being forced to isolate after player Billy Gilmore tested positive for coronavirus, to ongoing confusion on overseas travel for Brits and whether having two Covid jabs could soon make all the difference for trips abroad.
But then, right at the death, Adil stuck the knife in by asking: "How can you work for a boss that thinks you're completely utterly useless?"
Appearing via video link from central London, Hancock responded: "Well I don't think that that's the case," as Adil interrupted: "We've seen the WhatsApp messages Mr Hancock!
"The whole world has seen the WhatsApp messages, so that is the case isn't it?
The Health Secretary responded: "No, that was ancient history and, more importantly, it was time of enormous challenge and frustration and we were working together to get the testing capacity up.
"And by the way I delivered that increase in testing capacity."
Asked if Johnson had apologised, Hancock answered: "I'm not going to go....unlike others I'm not going to go into private conversations.
"The best thing is to say is that the Government is running really effectively and efficiently now.
"Over the last six months I think the public has noticed that we are working as a cohesive team and its that team spirit that's going to get us out of this pandemic and then deliver on all the commitments we've got."
