A row has broken out over Boris Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings attending meetings of the senior scientists advising the Government on the coronavirus outbreak.
Mr Cummings was among 23 attendees at a key meeting of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) on March 23, according to the Guardian.
Ben Warner, a data scientist who worked with Mr Cummings on the Vote Leave campaign during the Brexit referendum, was also said to have been present.
Downing Street has since confirmed their attendance at Sage meetings, though said they were not members of the group and that its actions are not impacted by their attendance.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the disclosure that Mr Cummings had been attending Sage raised “significant questions” about the credibility of Government decision-making.
“Dominic Cummings has no place on the Government’s scientific advisory group on the coronavirus,” he said.
“He is a political adviser, not a medical or scientific expert. If the public are to have confidence in the Sage, the Government must make clear Dominic Cummings can no longer participate or attend."
A former government chief scientific adviser, Sir David King, told the Guardian he was “shocked” to find that there were political advisers involved in Sage meetings.
The Government has never released a list of Sage members or attendees – although individual members can disclose they are part of the group.
a No 10 spokesman said: “It is not true that Mr Cummings or Dr Warner are ‘on’ or members of Sage. Mr Cummings and Dr Warner have attended some Sage meetings and listen to some meetings now they are all virtual.
“They do this in order to understand better the scientific debates concerning this emergency and also to understand better the limits of how science and data can help government decisions.
“Occasionally they ask questions or offer help when scientists mention problems in Whitehall. Others also listen to meetings without being ‘on’ or ‘a member of’ Sage.
“Sage provides independent scientific advice to the government. Political advisers have no role in this.
“The scientists on Sage are among the most eminent in their fields. It is factually wrong and damaging to sensible public debate to imply their advice is affected by government advisers listening to discussions."
