Sunday shows round-up: Coronavirus vaccine ‘still many months off’

John McDonnell – Priti Patel likely ‘on the way out’

The Shadow Chancellor joined Sophy Ridge, and the conversation quickly turned to Home Secretary Priti Patel. Yesterday the Home Office’s top civil servant Sir Philip Rutnam, accusing Patel of bullying, resigned and announced his intention to sue the government for unfair dismissal. McDonnell suggested an investigation into Patel’s conduct, but made clear what he thought the result would be:

“When you get a civil servant going public like this, it’s unprecedented”@johnmcdonnellMP tells @SophyRidgeSky Priti Patel is on the way out of Cabinet, following explosive allegations levelled against her by Home Office boss Sir Philip Rutnam#Ridge : https://t.co/7B8NSPlR4a pic.twitter.com/IPPFlzVndk
— Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge (@SkyPoliticsHub) March 1, 2020

JM: [It’s] interesting this morning what I hear from No. 10 – that the Prime Minister only has confidence in his cabinet, not specifically Priti Patel. It looks as though she’s on the way out.

We need more direction from PM

McDonnell also called for greater leadership from the Prime Minister over the response to halting the spread of coronavirus, especially in chairing emergency meetings in the Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBRA):