REMEMBER when the Prime Minister repeatedly told us he was “following the science?” Remember those televised press conferences when he was flanked by the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser providing the expert advice on what we all needed to know and do to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the deadly coronavirus?

There was no press conference, no updates on the gov.uk website, no sign of Chris Whitty or Patrick Vallance, when the Prime Minister announced in Parliament on February 9 2022 that he was planning to bring forward an end to England’s rules on self-isolation later this month.

“Following the science” — but the scientists and medical experts of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) didn’t meet until the day after this announcement. And by that time the press was reporting that it wouldn’t just be self-isolation that would end — the days of free testing and even the “gold standard” ONS Coronavirus Infection Survey are limited.