MATT Hancock has been dubbed the "Death Secretary" as public anger spills over about the UK's excess death rate.
New figures put the UK's rate of excess deaths during the pandemic at the highest in the world.
The findings are based on countries with comparable data.
A total of 59,537 more deaths than usual have been recorded across the UK since the week ending March 20 - before lockdown began.
This equates to 891 people per million.
The overall number is higher than anywhere else in Europe and second only to America, according to analysis by the Financial Times.
READ MORE: UK has world's worst coronavirus death rate, analysis suggests
This morning Hancock, the UK Health Secretary, laughed and grinned during an interview about his role in tackling the pandemic on Sky News.
The appearance provoked strong reactions from viewers and the Johnson ally has now been nicknamed the 'Death Secretary' on social media.
The sight of Hancock, the Death Secretary, laughing himself stupid, could be the straw that break's the nation's back.
— Alan Ford #FBPE (@alafreeman) May 28, 2020
Laughing away whilst Britain has the highest death rate in the world.
— Unicorn Stopping on Sofa 🎪 🏴 🐟🇪🇺 (@LenoreSimson) May 28, 2020
Hancock the Death Secretary #DeathSecretary pic.twitter.com/TPhYvCSBhX
Matt Hancock, the Death Secretary, just said on @bbcr4today that he had no problem with the government’s public health messaging being completely blown out of the water by Cummings.
— Tim Walker (@ThatTimWalker) May 28, 2020
WATCH: Matt Hancock laughs his way through interview on testing failures
During the interview, Hancock defended the UK Government's progress, saying work to provide continued protection is moving at "just at the right speed".
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel