Matt Hancock’s nine firing offences – according to Dominic Cummings

Dominic Cummings was invited to appear in front of MPs today to talk about the government’s coronavirus response in the early stages of the pandemic. A neutral observer might suggest though that the true purpose of Cummings’s visit was to demolish the health secretary Matt Hancock. Near the beginning of his evidence Cummings suggested that there were ‘at least 15 to 20’ different reasons Hancock should have been fired since the outbreak and described him at various points as a ‘serial liar’, ‘stupid’, ‘disgraceful’ and even, ‘criminal’.

By Mr Steerpike’s count, Dominic Cummings has so far given nine reasons that Hancock should have been given the chop, and suggested that several people in Number 10, including the Prime Minister, considered replacing the health secretary. (Mr S should note that Cummings has made some serious allegations about the health secretary, which Hancock will no doubt respond to in time.)

Below are the nine firing offences Cummings has suggested Hancock is guilty of.