Matt Hancock ‘not frankly interested’ in Michael Gove not wearing a mask at Pret A Manger

"Those photographs were taken before I announced the change in policy"
Imogen Braddick15 July 2020
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Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he is "not frankly interested" in his colleague Michael Gove being pictured in a shop without a mask.

Mr Gove, who had earlier sparked confusion by suggesting face coverings would not be mandatory in shops in England, was photographed uncovered in Pret A Manger despite insisting it was "basic good manners" to wear a mask.

Ahead of face coverings becoming compulsory in shops in England from July 24, the senior Cabinet Office minister's maskless face was in stark contrast to that of International Development Secretary Liz Truss, who minutes earlier had left the same cafe in Westminster wearing a face covering.

"Those photographs were taken before I announced the change in policy to the House of Commons yesterday afternoon," Mr Hancock told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

"And it’s absolutely straightforward that from July 24 we’re making it mandatory to wear a face covering in a shop in the same way it’s mandatory on public transport and in the NHS."

However, the pictures were taken on Tuesday morning, after the policy was announced in a press release to journalists.

Pressed on whether Mr Gove does not know what the rules are or whether he wants to send a signal that he does not agree, Mr Hancock said: “I’m not frankly interested.

"What I’m interested in is controlling the virus and we’ve got a very clear straightforward policy that has been very widely communicated and successfully communicated over the past 24 hours."

The law change announced in the Commons on Tuesday afternoon came after a period of confusion about the rules.

Michael Gove and Liz Truss took different views about wearing a mask in Pret A Manger

On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Government was looking at “stricter” rules.

But on Sunday Mr Gove said he did not believe they should be mandatory and that it was better to "trust people’s common sense".

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland then said masks should be "mandatory perhaps" and shoppers should decide whether to wear them in supermarkets based on how busy they are.

However, the Cabinet disagreement was won by those in favour of masks, and failure to wear face coverings in shops in England can be punished with a £100 fine from July 24.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Hancock ruled out mandatory face masks in offices, adding to the growing confusion around the guidance as ministers encourage people to get people back to work.

The Health Secretary insisted ministers “will not be recommending masks in the office”, despite widespread reports that the measure is only days away.

On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to set out his plans to get workers back to offices to help reboot the economy, with sources suggesting face masks could become compulsory in workplaces and public places.

But Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday morning: "We will not be recommending masks in the office."

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