UK Health Minister Matt Hancock should have been sacked for lying at government meetings about COVID-19, former senior adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings, said on Wednesday.

“I think Secretary of State for Health (Hancock) should have been sacked for at least 15, 20 things, including lying to everyone repeatedly in meeting after meeting in the cabinet room and in public.” Cummings told a parliamentary committee.

Asked about an example, Cummings said Hancock said all patients received the treatment they needed during the virus’s first peak. Cummings said this ran counter to briefings from government health experts, who said some patients had not received the treatment they needed.

He also said Hancock told ministers the provision of personal protective equipment was under control in April, but that was not found to be the case afterwards. Cummings also said the country’s top official told him he had lost faith in Hancock’s honesty.

A spokesperson for Hancock dismissed Cummings’ many criticisms, saying he would continue to work to support the National Health Service (NHS).

“We absolutely reject Mr Cummings’ claims regarding the Secretary of Health,” the spokesperson said. “The Health Secretary will continue to work closely with the Prime Minister to ensure vaccine deployment, address risks posed by variants and support the NHS.”

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