The extra time would be used to speed up Britain's vaccination programme - already one of the world's furthest advanced - by shortening the recommended time between doses for those aged over 40 to eight weeks from 12 weeks.

'Set to lift lockdown restrictions by July 19th', says PM Boris Johnson

British health minister&nbsp;Matt&nbsp;Hancock&nbsp;said on Thursday "unsubstantiated allegations" from the prime minister's former chief aide, that he had lied to colleagues and the public about the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic were untrue.

Dominic Cummings, who was Prime Minister Boris Johnson's right-hand man until late last year, delivered a withering attack on his former boss and&nbsp;Hancock&nbsp;during seven hours of testimony before a parliamentary committee on Wednesday, saying their ineptitude led to tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pms-ineptitude-led-to-tens-of-thousands-of-covid-deaths-says-ex-aide-387648">UK PM's ineptitude led to tens of thousands of Covid deaths, says ex-aide</a>

Johnson, Cummings said, was unfit for his role, while his greatest criticism was reserved for&nbsp;Hancock&nbsp;who he said had repeatedly lied to such an extent that the country's top civil servant lost confidence in his honesty.

"These allegations that were put yesterday ... are serious allegations and I welcome the opportunity ... to put formally on the record that these unsubstantiated allegations around honesty are not true, and that I've been straight with people in public and in private throughout,"&nbsp;Hancock&nbsp;told parliament.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-health-minister-hancock-to-face-questions-after-cummings-brands-him-a-liar-387788">UK's health minister Hancock to face questions after Cummings brands him a liar</a>

With almost 128,000 deaths, the United Kingdom has the world's fifth highest official COVID-19 toll, far higher than the government's initial worst-case estimates of 20,000.

One of the most damning allegations from Cummings was that&nbsp;Hancock's statement that the government had thrown a "protective ring around" care homes at the start of the pandemic was nonsense, and that instead people had been sent back from hospital who had contracted the coronavirus.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/matt-hancock-defends-uk-governments-handling-of-covid-variant-385419">Matt Hancock defends UK government's handling of covid variant</a>

The opposition Labour Party says if he had lied, he should lose his job.

"I've been straight with people in public and in private throughout,"&nbsp;Hancock&nbsp;said. "Every day since I began working on the response to this pandemic last January, I've got up each morning and asked, 'what must I do to protect life'. That is the job of a health secretary in a pandemic."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ex-aide-brands-uks-johnson-unfit-to-be-pm-over-covid-failures-387601">Ex-aide brands UK's Johnson 'unfit' to be PM over Covid failures</a>

Lawmakers from the governing Conservative Party rallied around&nbsp;Hancock, while Jeremy Hunt, a co-chairman of the committee at which Cummings had appeared, said the allegations from the former aide should be treated as unproven until evidence was provided to back them up.

Hancock&nbsp;is also due to face questioning from media at a news conference later.

Johnson told parliament on Wednesday nobody could credibly accuse him or his government of complacency, and that the government had always sought to minimise loss of life.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britains-prime-minister-boris-johnson-rejects-ex-aides-criticism-over-coronavirus-response-387789">Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejects ex-aide's criticism over coronavirus response</a>

"I think it is (wrong)," housing minister Robert Jenrick told BBC radio when asked about the allegation from Cummings that tens of thousands of people had died unnecessarily.

"Nobody could doubt for one moment that the prime minister was doing anything other than acting with the best of motives with the information and the advice that was available to him."

British health minister Matt Hancock said on Thursday "unsubstantiated allegations" from the prime minister's former chief aide, that he had lied to colleagues and the public about the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic were untrue.

British health minister Matt Hancock said on Thursday "unsubstantiated allegations" from the prime minister's former chief aide, that he had lied to colleagues and the public about the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic were untrue. Dominic Cummings, who was Prime Minister Boris Johnson's right-hand man until late last year, delivered a withering attack on his former boss and Hancock during seven hours of testimony before a parliamentary committee on Wednesday, saying their ineptitude led to tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths. Also Read | UK PM's ineptitude led to tens of thousands of Covid deaths, says ex-aide Johnson, Cummings said, was unfit for his role, while his greatest criticism was reserved for Hancock who he said had repeatedly lied to such an extent that the country's top civil servant lost confidence in his honesty. "These allegations that were put yesterday ... are serious allegations and I welcome the opportunity ... to put formally on the record that these unsubstantiated allegations around honesty are not true, and that I've been straight with people in public and in private throughout," Hancock told parliament. Also Read | UK's health minister Hancock to face questions after Cummings brands him a liar With almost 128,000 deaths, the United Kingdom has the world's fifth highest official COVID-19 toll, far higher than the government's initial worst-case estimates of 20,000. One of the most damning allegations from Cummings was that Hancock's statement that the government had thrown a "protective ring around" care homes at the start of the pandemic was nonsense, and that instead people had been sent back from hospital who had contracted the coronavirus. Also Read | Matt Hancock defends UK government's handling of covid variant The opposition Labour Party says if he had lied, he should lose his job. "I've been straight with people in public and in private throughout," Hancock said. "Every day since I began working on the response to this pandemic last January, I've got up each morning and asked, 'what must I do to protect life'. That is the job of a health secretary in a pandemic." Also Read | Ex-aide brands UK's Johnson 'unfit' to be PM over Covid failures Lawmakers from the governing Conservative Party rallied around Hancock, while Jeremy Hunt, a co-chairman of the committee at which Cummings had appeared, said the allegations from the former aide should be treated as unproven until evidence was provided to back them up. Hancock is also due to face questioning from media at a news conference later. Johnson told parliament on Wednesday nobody could credibly accuse him or his government of complacency, and that the government had always sought to minimise loss of life. Also Read | Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejects ex-aide's criticism over coronavirus response "I think it is (wrong)," housing minister Robert Jenrick told BBC radio when asked about the allegation from Cummings that tens of thousands of people had died unnecessarily. "Nobody could doubt for one moment that the prime minister was doing anything other than acting with the best of motives with the information and the advice that was available to him."

UK health minister says ex-PM aide's COVID-19 lies claim are untrue

Britain's health minister&nbsp;Matt&nbsp;Hancock&nbsp;will face questions in the House of Commons on Thursday (May 27) after the prime minister's former top adviser Dominic Cummings said he should have been fired for lying in government meetings on COVID-19 .

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pms-ineptitude-led-to-tens-of-thousands-of-covid-deaths-says-ex-aide-387648">UK PM's ineptitude led to tens of thousands of Covid deaths, says ex-aide</a>

"I think that the Secretary of State for Health (Hancock), should have been fired for at least 15, 20 things including lying to everybody in multiple occasions in meeting after meeting in the cabinet room and publicly," Cummings told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday (May 26).

Asked for an example, Cummings said&nbsp;Hancock&nbsp;had said that all patients got the treatment they needed during the first peak of the virus. Cummings said that was contrary to briefings from the government's health experts, who had said some patients had not received necessary treatment.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-covid-disaster-to-be-laid-bare-by-pm-johnsons-ex-chief-adviser-dominic-cummings-387398">UK's Covid 'disaster' to be laid bare by PM Johnson's ex-chief adviser&nbsp;Dominic Cummings</a>

He also said&nbsp;Hancock&nbsp;had told ministers that the supply of personal protective equipment was under control in April, but that had later proved not been the case. Cummings also said the country's top civil servant had told him he had lost confidence in&nbsp;Hancock's honesty.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virus-sceptic-boris-johnson-considered-injecting-himself-with-covid-says-former-aide-cummings-387473">Virus-sceptic Boris Johnson considered injecting himself with Covid, says former aide Cummings</a>

A spokesman for&nbsp;Hancock&nbsp;rejected the extensive criticism from Cummings, saying he will continue to work supporting the National Health Service (NHS).

"We absolutely reject Mr. Cummings' claims about the Health Secretary," the spokesman said. "The Health Secretary will continue to work closely with the prime minister to deliver the vaccine rollout, tackle the risks posed by variants and support the NHS."

Britain's health minister Matt Hancock will face questions in the House of Commons on Thursday (May 27) after the prime minister's former top adviser Dominic Cummings said he should have been fired for lying in government meetings on COVID-19 .

Britain's health minister Matt Hancock will face questions in the House of Commons on Thursday (May 27) after the prime minister's former top adviser Dominic Cummings said he should have been fired for lying in government meetings on COVID-19 . Also Read | UK PM's ineptitude led to tens of thousands of Covid deaths, says ex-aide "I think that the Secretary of State for Health (Hancock), should have been fired for at least 15, 20 things including lying to everybody in multiple occasions in meeting after meeting in the cabinet room and publicly," Cummings told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday (May 26). Asked for an example, Cummings said Hancock had said that all patients got the treatment they needed during the first peak of the virus. Cummings said that was contrary to briefings from the government's health experts, who had said some patients had not received necessary treatment. Also Read | UK's Covid 'disaster' to be laid bare by PM Johnson's ex-chief adviser Dominic Cummings He also said Hancock had told ministers that the supply of personal protective equipment was under control in April, but that had later proved not been the case. Cummings also said the country's top civil servant had told him he had lost confidence in Hancock's honesty. Also Read | Virus-sceptic Boris Johnson considered injecting himself with Covid, says former aide Cummings A spokesman for Hancock rejected the extensive criticism from Cummings, saying he will continue to work supporting the National Health Service (NHS). "We absolutely reject Mr. Cummings' claims about the Health Secretary," the spokesman said. "The Health Secretary will continue to work closely with the prime minister to deliver the vaccine rollout, tackle the risks posed by variants and support the NHS."

UK's health minister Hancock to face questions after Cummings brands him a liar

Reports in British media revealed that Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would 'let the bodies pile high in their thousands' than impose a third lockdown. While Johnson's remarks have garnered criticism, WION's Palki tells you how other world leaders have balanced the choice between life and livelihood.

Gravitas | Boris Johnson: Let the bodies pile high

The study of patients in London hospitals is consistent with emerging evidence that this lineage is more transmissible than the original COVID-19 strain.

UK Covid variant doesn’t lead to severe illness, death: The Lancet

International travel is currently banned except for a handful of permitted reasons. This has created massive pent-up demand for summer holidays abroad.

UK to announce new traffic light system for international travel

About 50% UK firms are eyeing up opening offices in the UK for the first time after being badly hit by Coronavirus pandemic. The firms are looking towards hiring new staff in order to resume the operations.

Over 50% UK firms plan to hire new staff

Speaking at the government's daily coronavirus briefing, Patel said: 'A minority of people are putting the health of the nation at risk by not following the rules.'

UK Covid-19: 'Rules are very clear and tough enough', says Home Sec Priti Patel

United Kingdom's Prime Minister Boris Johnson will likely to take stock of the current crisis in the nation. So far, the prime minister’s management of Britain’s COVID-19 crisis has been disastrous.

UK PM Boris Johnson expected take stock of the current pandemic situation

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