Boris Johnson says it's 'time to move on' from Dominic Cummings row and put 'national interest' first

• Coronavirus latest news: Test and trace launch - 'Next stage of our fight' starts tomorrow

• ​The Government's test and trace programme explained

• Coronavirus positive: Good news round-up - we'll meet again, possibly quite soon

• Cummings' Tory critics need to grow a spine and stop being the Left's useful idiots

• Subscribe to The Telegraph, free for one month

Boris Johnson has said it is time "to move on" from the Dominic Cummings row "and make progress" fighting the coronavirus, during a 90-minute grilling before the Liaison Committee this afternoon.

The Prime Minister, appearing before the committee for the first time since becoming Prime Minister last July, was challenged over putting his "political priorities" ahead of public health.

But he told MPs: "My choice is the choice of the British people - to lay aside political point scoring and put the national interest first.

"This conversation has illuminated why it is so important to move on and be very clear with the British people about how we want to move on and make progress."

He added: "What we need to do now is set aside this row... Insofar as it is correct to say it is a distraction, now is the time to leave it alone."

The Prime Minister shrugged off suggestions for an inquiry into what happened, saying: "I am not certain right now an inquiry into that matter is a very good use of official time."

Mr Johnson also unveiled the new 'test and trace' system, under which people will be asked to self-isolate if they come into contact with an infected person, with Matt Hancock giving further details of the new programme during the Downing Street press conference.

“This will be voluntary at first because we trust everyone to do the right thing, but we will make it mandatory if that’s what it takes," Mr Hancock said. It was everyone's "civic duty", the Health Secretary said.