The chief nursing officer has confirmed that she was dropped from a Downing Street briefing at the height of the controversy over Dominic Cummings ' lockdown jaunt.
Ruth May said she was not told why she was suddenly pulled from the press conference - but insisted it was common for experts to be "stepped up and stepped down" at short notice.
Reports at the time said Ms May had been dropped from appearing beside Matt Hancock, the health secretary, after failing to show support for Mr Cummings' decision to drive to Durham at the height of lockdown.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee, she said: "It is indeed true I was dropped from a briefing but that happens to many of my colleagues as well.
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