Matt Hancock is set to appear before the Covid Inquiry again today, after accusing Dominic Cummings yesterday of creating a “culture of fear” in Government that undermined the pandemic response. 

The former health secretary painted Boris Johnson’s ex-chief adviser as a “malign actor” who subjected his staff to abuse as they grappled with the emergence of Covid.

Mr Hancock said that Mr Cummings sought to grab power from Mr Johnson, while shutting out ministers from key meetings.

He said Mr Cummings had attempted to exert influence over decision-making in a way that was “inappropriate in a democracy”.

“He didn’t invite any ministers. He didn’t regard ministers as a valuable contribution to any decision-making as far as I could see in the crisis or, indeed, any other time,” he said. 

“There is a proper Government emergency response system and it was actively circumvented and in one of these early meetings the chief adviser said decisions don’t need to go to the prime minister.”

Follow the latest developments below.