Piers Morgan ordered a 'dithering' Matt Hancock to take decisive action and use lockdown as a 'blunt instrument' to prevent a national emergency.
On the day that outspoken host and co-presenter Susanna Reid returned to Good Morning Britain after their Christmas break, they were joined via video link by the Health Secretary, as pressure mounts on the Government to put the country into a full lockdown again to stop the alarming rates of coronavirus infections and deaths across the country.
The emergence of a second, more contagious, variant has seen the virus spike again in a number of areas and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called on the Government to lockdown again immediately.
And, speaking to Matt Hancock, Piers took the same stance.
After the Health Secretary told him and Susanna that staying apart and staying at home wherever possible was "so important," Piers told him: "None of us want a national lockdown, none of us want a lockdown at all.
"It's a horrible intrusion on all our lives. However, if we look at how we can control this, at least with a national lockdown there is clarity, I felt that back in March/April.
"Everyone was in the same boat and in terms of the same rules applying to everyone, there was a concerted effort.
"No-one really understands the difference in rules between the tiers."
Urging Matt Hancock to lockdown, Piers added: "A national lockdown, as horrible as it is on the economy, as horrible as it is on the management of other public health issues it is the blunt instrument that was most effective.
"And right now it seems that we are in a national emergency that could well eclipse anything from the first wave."
Responding to Piers' pleas, Matt Hancock replied: "We are prepared to take the action required, sometimes very rapidly. When we found out the new variant spread so much faster we moved within just over 24 hours to bring in tier 4.
"We look at the data all the time."
Interrupting, Susanna told him: "Tier 4 is no suppressing the virus! So surely a lockdown is something you inevitably have to bring in? Why aren't you doing it quickly?"
He responded: "We are prepared to do things quickly and we are prepared to to take whatever action is necessary. We often get criticised for moving too quickly. We will take the action needed on Public Health advice."
Signing off the interview, Piers told him: "Keir Starmer is right and you guys are dithering again. Please take decisive action, our lives depend on it."
