Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak do quick U-turn and will now self-isolate
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have been forced to make a U-turn and will now self-isolate after being pinged by the NHS Test and Trace app last night.
The pair U-turned just two-and-a-half hours after first saying they were taking a part in a pilot that meant they would not self-isolate, after being in contact with a positive case.
Johnson said he and Sunak only looked “briefly at the idea of us taking part in the pilot scheme”, despite the fact Downing Street officially announced they would not be self-isolating.
“I know how frustrating it all is, but I really do urge everybody to stick with the programme and take the appropriate cause of action when asked to do so,” he said.
Sunak tweeted that he understood that “even the sense that the rules aren’t the same for everyone is wrong”, after a fierce backlash over their decision to not self-isolate as a part of the pilot.
“The Prime Minister has been contacted by NHS Test and Trace to say he is a contact of someone with Covid,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.
“He was at Chequers when contacted by Test and Trace and will remain there to isolate. He will not be taking part in the testing pilot.
“He will continue to conduct meetings with ministers remotely. The chancellor has also been contacted and will also isolate as required and will not be taking part in the pilot.”
Johnson and Sunak released a statement at 8am this morning saying they would both be participating in a trial that would preclude them from self-isolating, after being in close contact with Covid-positive health secretary Sajid Javid.
Downing Street said they would both be taking part in a trial, which would allow people to go to work and then isolate the rest of the time.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer slammed Johnson before their U-turn and said the Prime Minister should be “setting an example”.
Speaking after the U-turn, Starmer told the BBC: “This Conservative government is in chaos.
“Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have been busted yet again for thinking the rules that we are all following don’t apply to them.”