‘These promises aren’t cutting it’: Piers Morgan lays into Brandon Lewis as he defends government’s testing ‘shambles’ with just seven days to reach 100,000-a-day pledge
- Brandon Lewis was grilled over testing capacity on Good Morning Britain today
- Piers Morgan also quizzed Tory MP on care home workers being tested for virus
- It comes as seven days remain for government to reach 100,000-a-day pledge
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Piers Morgan lashed out at Brandon Lewis today over the government’s testing ‘shambles’ as just seven days remain to reach the 100,000-a-day pledge.
The Good Morning Britain host grilled Mr Lewis over claims the government has capacity for 40,000 tests are only managing to do 22,000 a day.
Piers also questioned the Northern Ireland Secretary over only one in four care home workers who fear they have coronavirus being tested.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis pictured above during his appearance on Good Morning Britain today. The Tory MP was grilled over the government’s testing capacity
The presenter asked: ‘Here’s the reality – capacity for 40,000, doing 22,000, as of yesterday.
‘One in four care home workers have been tested, it is an absolute disgrace, and for you to keep talking about capacity when we’ve got three quarters of our care workers who think they are infected unable to get a test is a national disgrace, isn’t it?’
The Conservative MP replied: ‘Well that’s why we’re so determined and actually what I’ve been focused on about talking to you Piers is how we increase the number of people who can access those tests, and that’s why I’m making the point.
‘We want to make sure that we build on that 18,500 care workers get more than the ability to access it by having more test centres, not having to go through their employer to get that test in the first place.’
Piers also questioned the Northern Ireland Secretary over only one in four care home workers who fear they have coronavirus being tested (both pictured on the show this morning)
The Good Morning Britain presenter later posted about the exchange on Twitter, saying it is ‘important we hold them to the original pledge’
Piers interjected: ‘But how do you feel on a human level that care workers can’t get tests?
‘People are desperate for a test, I’m sure you do care that people aren’t being tested. People will die because you can’t get them.’
Mr Lewis responded: ‘I’m agreeing with you, it’s dreadful we can’t get more people tested. We need to upscale the ability for people to get the tests.
‘We are determined to deal with this. The health department have done an amazing job, across private and health service it has been phenomenal.’
He added: ‘You’re right we need to give more people access to the tests.’
Piers said: ‘These promises aren’t cutting it.’
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