Ministers at war over face masks: Gillian Keegan slaps down Jacob Rees-Mogg and says ‘you can get Covid from anybody’ after he claimed Tory MPs do not have to wear coverings in the Commons because they ‘know each other’
- Sajid Javid suggested that Tory MPs should be wearing masks in the Commons
- Jacob Rees-Mogg said masks not needed because Tory MPs ‘know each other’
- No10 refused to take sides and said masks are a ‘matter of personal judgement’
- But Care Minister Gillian Keegan today rebuked Commons Leader Mr Rees-Mogg
- The minister said that ‘everybody knows that you can get Covid from anybody’
The Government’s stance on wearing face masks descended further into chaos today as a minister rebuked Jacob Rees-Mogg for arguing that Tory MPs do not need to wear coverings in the House of Commons.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid ignited a row earlier this week when he suggested MPs and ministers should wear a face mask in the crowded Commons.
Mr Rees-Mogg then claimed yesterday that they are not necessary because Tory MPs ‘know each other’ and have a ‘convivial, fraternal spirit’.
Downing Street declined to back Mr Javid, insisting that masks are a matter of ‘personal judgement’.
But Care Minister Gillian Keegan has now slapped down Mr Rees-Mogg as she said that ‘everybody knows that you can get Covid from anybody’.
Care Minister Gillian Keegan today said ‘everybody knows that you can get Covid from anybody’
Her comments were in response to Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg suggesting Tory MPs did not need to wear masks in the chamber because they ‘know each other’
Health Secretary Sajid Javid suggested earlier this week that MPs should wear masks in the packed Commons. The chamber is pictured on Wednesday
Current guidance in England is to wear masks in crowded and enclosed spaces where individuals ‘come into contact with people you don’t normally meet’.
Mr Javid, the Health Secretary, had called on Wednesday for Tories to set a good example by masking up to help avoid Covid restrictions being reimposed.
Number 10 appeared surprised that Mr Javid issued the call and declined to back his advice.
Mr Rees-Mogg was grilled on the subject in the Commons yesterday, replying: ‘There is no advice to wear facemasks in workplaces.
‘The advice on crowded spaces is with crowded spaces with people that you don’t know. We on this side know each other.’
The Commons Leader added that ‘we on this side have a more convivial, fraternal spirit, and therefore are following the guidance of Her Majesty’s Government’.
Ms Keegan was asked this morning on Sky News if a ‘convivial, fraternal spirit’ would prevent people from catching coronavirus.
She said: ‘No, everybody knows that you can get Covid from anybody.’
The return of mandatory face coverings in certain settings is one of the measures contained in the Government’s ‘Plan B’.
Health bosses have urged ministers to implement that plan now amid fears of a winter crisis in the NHS as Covid-19 cases continue to spike.
But ministers are resisting pulling the trigger on the plan, insisting they remain focused on the vaccine rollout.
Asked what the downsides are of compulsory face masks, Ms Keegan said: ‘I think there’s a downside to many of these things. Some people do find mask wearing difficult.
‘It is a personal choice but most of us are wearing masks. On the Tube most of us are wearing masks, I don’t know if you have seen that.
‘I think as more and more it gets into winter, I have had a cough so I have been wearing a mask. Having a cough is socially unacceptable now, you feel terrible, so I think it is a personal choice.’
Ms Keegan said ‘we are not the sort of country that tells you what you need to wear’ but she appeared to go further than Number 10 as she said the Government expects people to do the ‘right thing’ on masks.
She said: ‘We all know the pros and cons of this. We spent 18, 19 months educating ourselves. So we all know what to do.
‘It is not for the Government really to mandate it. Of course it is there as a back up and it is there as part of Plan B.
‘But we expect that people will do the right thing and actually most people are doing the right thing.’
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