Health minister Nadine Dorries says only ‘a crystal ball’ could have predicted need for second lockdown

Minister sparks criticism because Sage scientists recommended circuit break on 21 September

A health minister is under fire after claiming only “a crystal ball” could have predicted the need for a second lockdown – despite scientists calling for it six weeks ago.

Nadine Dorries became embroiled in a Twitter spat after criticism that every government action is “at least three weeks too late”.

“If only we had a crystal ball and could actually see how many over 60s would be infected, the positivity rate, the infection rate and the subsequent lag giving us the 14-day anticipated demand on hospital beds on any particular day, three weeks in advance,” the mental health minister protested.

However, the Sage advisory group of scientists recommended – as long ago as 21 September – that a “circuit break” lockdown of 2-3 weeks was needed, to curb rising Covid-19 infections.

Alex Norris MP, a Labour health spokesman, said: “The government didn’t need a crystal ball – it just needed to listen to the scientists who warned repeatedly this would happen.

“The government ignored calls for a short, sharp two-week circuit breaker – and, as a result, we now face an extended lockdown that will damage the economy and which ordinary people will pay the price for.”

Ms Dorries claimed it was “a surprise” that Covid-19 was no spreading so quickly in over-60s, putting hospital beds capacity under such pressure.

“I have no more information than you do,” she told one critic. “Anyone can take a look at the Covid dashboard on gov.uk and plot the trajectory of the virus.”

The controversy came as the Cabinet prepared to hold an emergency meeting at 1.30pm on Saturday – ahead of a press conference led by the prime minister at 4pm.

The hurried announcement immediately fuelled speculation that a fresh lockdown will be imposed even earlier than expected.

Ministers are expected to be briefed by government scientists ahead of the remote meeting, which follows a leak of plans for new, harsher coronavirus restrictions.

The prime minister was expected to hold a press conference on Monday, with the measures to come into force on Wednesday, but the timetable may have been derailed by the leak.

Any announcement that the restrictions – either a national lockdown, or tougher ‘tier 4’ measures in hot spot areas – are coming in before the Commons sits on Monday would be hugely controversial.

Tory MPs opposed to a new shutdown won a promise that they would be able to vote on such a proposal in advance.