PM Boris Johnson was ‘missing in action’ during early phase of pandemic, claims Labour

Shortages of PPE set to continue and testing behind schedule after Gove admits Johnson missed key Cobra meetings

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Boris Johnson’s government has come under pressure to defend its handling of the coronavirus pandemic after Michael Gove was forced to admit that the prime minister had missed five key emergency meetings when the crisis first hit.

With ministers warning that shortages of protective medical gear could continue, test rates remaining stubbornly low and the hospital death toll rising on Sunday to 16,060, some Conservative MPs have expressed private concern that Downing Street does not have a strong grip on the crisis.

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