Video
Tory minister admits she's 'clueless' about new coronavirus restrictions during 'car crash' interview
Gillian Keegan during one of her broadcast interviews - Credit: Sky News
A Tory minister has admitted she does not know what lockdown restrictions were being applied in North East England during an interview on national radio.
Apprenticeships minister Gillian Keegan said she was unaware of what restrictions were in place across the North East because she was not a local MP.
Appearing on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Keegan was asked if people in areas where new lockdown measures were being tightened could continue to book a table at a restaurant or meet with another households in a pub garden.
Keegan, who was heard umm-ing and ah-ing, said she could not "clarify" the statement.
"I know that in the rest of the country, generally, you can meet in a pub and you can book a table and the restrictions are indoors."
When asked if she had the answer, Keegan replied, bluntly: "No, I don't know the answer to that question. I just don't have the details for those seven areas."
The presenter shot back: "If you can't give us the answer to that then how do you expect people to keep up to date with the latest rules when even you as a government minister can't answer that question."
Most Read
- 1 Boris Johnson proposes saving United Kingdom with 'Project Love' plan
- 2 The only Brexit export boom is from UK businesses rushing to Europe
- 3 The stench of scandal seeping out from Britain
- 4 Former Brexit secretary 'privately agreed' with Gina Miller's court action over Article 50
- 5 MEPs again refuse to ratify Brexit deal amid concerns No 10 is flouting conditions
- 6 How the vaccines have shifted opinions over Brexit
- 7 PRINCE PHILIP: Why this Danish, Greek, German immigrant epitomised Britain
- 8 Tory candidate under fire after describing Brexit chaos as a 'hiccup'
- 9 Major and Blair were right about Brexit and Northern Ireland
- 10 Government loses bid to block financial services bill amendment in House of Lords
"I'm sorry I can't answer that question" Keegan responded, adding: "I'm sure there are many people who could. I don't represent the North East."
The presenter interjected: "But you're a government minister and you're on the air this morning and this is a new restriction coming into place this evening."
Keegan chimed in: "It will be laid out and clear for everyone in those areas. It will be communicated clearly what they are."
She then said she would rather admit she did not know than give out the wrong information.
The Sun political editor Harry Cole tweeted: "Oh god... tough listening on R4 as Gillian Keegan gets filleted on North East regs. That was brutal."
One user wrote: "Absolute car crash. Makes Helen Whately look competent."
"At least she didn’t try and pretend she did know the answer," wrote Stephen Ridgway, a media lawyer.
This is not the first time Keegan has come under fire. In August, she was criticised for being on holiday during the A-Levels fiasco.
She defended herself by saying she was not the minister responsible for A-Levels and GCSEs, but instead dealt with BTecs and technical qualifications and had brought her government PC to continue working during her break in France.
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
