Boris Johnson news – live: Medical experts gagged over Dominic Cummings scandal as Keir Starmer says PM ‘too weak’ to fire aide

Dominic Cummings, Special Advisor to Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, departs his home in London: EPA
Dominic Cummings, Special Advisor to Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, departs his home in London: EPA

Boris Johnson has been accused of gagging his chief scientific and medical officers after refusing to allow them to answer questions that referred to Dominic Cummings.

Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance flanked the PM as he announced his plan to ease lockdown restrictions in England, including by allowing groups of six people to meet outdoors.

It came as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer warned the row over the adviser's alleged breaches of lockdown had “undermined” the government’s public health advice as ministers set out plans for England’s test and trace system – and claimed Mr Johnson was "too weak" to sack his most senior aide.

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