The message behind Raab’s solo press conference

In a change of government approach, Dominic Raab appeared alone at Monday night’s Downing Street press conference: he was not flanked by a medic or a scientist. This is only the second time a minister has appeared on their own, and the first time it happened government sources said it was because the chief nurse was stuck in traffic. In reply to a question from Jane Merrick of the i, Raab made clear that government ministers would now be flying solo more frequently. He said that scientists would still attend from time to time, but ministers would also appear with school leaders and the like as the country reopened.

The move away from having the scientists present at every press conference will please Tory MPs. As I wrote on Saturday, they felt that the format had handed the scientists an effective veto over policy changes on issues such as the two-metre rule.