Piers Morgan and Matt Hancock clashed live on TV this morning over the UK's death toll and concerns over PPE.
The Health Secretary appeared on Good Morning Britain following the announcement of England’s roadmap out of lockdown.
Piers was in no mood for niceties as he grilled Mr Hancock over the recent ruling that he had broken the law over Covid contracts.
The Health Secretary fired back at the host and insisted his team should be ‘thanked’ for their hard work during the outbreak.
In response to Piers Morgan’s question about the Health Secretary sounding exasperated, Mr Hancock replied: “I sound exasperated for two reasons, Piers. One, because I think we should be on this programme thanking my team, they work so hard.”
Piers quickly interrupted as both men attempted to talk over each other in a heated exchange.
Keep up to date with the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine in your area by using your postcode below
The GMB host said: “Really? Really? Let’s just analyse that shall we?
“I’m sorry, if you want to play that game with us, you and your team have presided over a woeful handling of this pandemic that has led to us having the worst death toll in Europe, 130,000 people dead.
“So I’m sorry if my first thought when you come on Health Secretary is not to thank you and your team for your brilliant handling of the pandemic because I don’t think 130,000 deaths shows that you’ve handled it well. I’m sorry I’m not thanking you and applauding you.”
Mr Hancock replied: “Well, the second reason I’m exasperated and answering this way is because as soon as I start answering a question you cut in and when I said ‘can I answer the question’ you said ‘no’, so what’s the point in coming on if you’re not going to let me answer the question. “
Piers interjected once again saying: “Because you say there was no national shortage (of PPE), then you see pictures of health workers shows there’s a shortage, there’s an inconsistency there.”
Mr Hancock fired back, adding: “No, it’s totally obvious and all your watchers know what I’m saying. Yes there were individual problems, I know that and that’s what the team were sorting.”
Piers replied: “It’s called a shortage and it was happening in very large numbers in parts of the country, I call that a national shortage.
Mr Hancock said: “I’ll just keep finishing the answers.
Piers raged at the MP, saying: “Don’t be so patronising Health Secretary. We’re giving you a chance to answer but when you give a completely disingenuous answer we’re going to call you out on it.”
