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Boris Johnson’s former chief adviser Dominic Cummings has claimed the department of health was a “smoking ruin” while trying to run key parts of the UK’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The coronavirus vaccination programme only succeeded because it was taken away from Matt Hancock’s department, Mr Cummings said as he called for an urgent inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic .
The department’s initial response to the crisis had been an “absolute total disaster”, he said as he gave evidence to MPs.
Mr Cummings, who left Downing Street last year after losing a power struggle at the heart of government, was scathing about what he said were failings in the ability to procure personal protective equipment.