Boris Johnson AXES daily coronavirus press conferences after three months saying they will now only be held when there are ‘significant announcements’
- Tonight’s Downing Street briefing, chaired by PM, will be last scheduled update
- In future they will only be held for ministers’ ‘significant announcements’
- Daily briefings launched in early March when the pandemic began to take hold
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Boris Johnson today called a halt to three months of daily coronavirus press conferences on live television.
Downing Street announced this afternoon that tonight’s 92nd briefing, chaired by the Prime Minister, will be the last regular appearance.
In future they will only be held when ‘significant announcements’ are to be made.
Mr Johnson launched the daily briefings in early March when the pandemic began to take hold.
It has allowed ministers and scientists to brief reporters and the public on developments.
But they have left ministers blinking in the headlights having to account for serious blunders.
Their disappearance may fuel critics who say that ministers are avoiding scrutiny as the UK heads cautiously out of lockdown.
Acting Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said: ‘On the day the Prime Minister has announced the next crucial stages of exiting lockdown, it beggars belief ministers are now dodging scrutiny.
Downing Street announced this afternoon that tonight’s Downing Street briefing, chaired by the Prime Minister (pictured today), will be the last regular appearance.
Mr Johnson at a pre-social distancing press conference with Prof Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance on March 3
‘At a time when millions of people are worried about how they go back to a more normal life, the Government should be making themselves more accessible to the public, not less.
‘Combined with their refusal to hold an inquiry to learn the lessons before a potential second wave, it seems the Government are simply running away from all the tough questions.’
The press conferences were held seven days per week until May, when they were reduced to weekdays only.
A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘From today, the press conferences will no longer be daily.
‘We’ll continue to hold press conferences to coincide with significant announcements, including with the PM.
‘We will be publishing all of the data which has previously been included in the press conference slides on gov.uk every week day.’