A TORY minister has sparked yet more uncertainty in England about face mask rules after declaring he would "perhaps" support making them mandatory when in public.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland also confused matters further when urged to explain why Home Secretary Priti Patel had taken her face mask off during a meeting with her French counterpart.

Earlier this morning, Buckland was asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme whether he was in the "mandatory perhaps" or "mandatory never" camp in terms of insisting people don face coverings. He replied: "I think I'm 'mandatory perhaps'."

On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson hinted non-surgical masks could become compulsory in English shops, saying he wanted to be "stricter" on insisting people wear them. But Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said yesterday it was "best to trust people's common sense" rather than force them to adopt face coverings.

READ MORE: Michael Gove: English good manners mean face mask laws aren't required

Quizzed on the different responses and whether they signalled a split in opinion at the top of Government, Buckland told the BBC: "He [Gove] took the view as he was answering the question that he thought we should encourage good sense – I agree with that.

"If it becomes necessary to nudge people further by taking further action then of course we will consider that. I think the matter is under careful and daily review."

Later on Sky News, Kay Burley asked the minister about Patel, who had been pictured with a mask on as she met French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin in Calais. However, a photo taken when the pair were inside showed they had taken their coverings off.

Buckland, who had told Burley he wears face masks in enclosed spaces, explained Patel’s decision by saying “people are still learning how to use face masks”.

Labour have demanded "clarity" on the Government's position and has requested that Health Secretary Matt Hancock come to the Commons on Monday to provide Parliament with a "clear message".

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon praises Scots for wearing face masks in shops

Shadow health minister Justin Madders told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour: "We need Matt Hancock to come to the House and say this is what the science says, this is what we believe you should be doing and then let's move on.

"Have a clear message and we all know where we stand."

The call for ministers to make face coverings mandatory in shops in England has been growing following First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's decision to change the rule in Scotland as of Friday.

Dr Venki Ramakrishnan, president of the Royal Society, told Good Morning Britain that the evidence on face coverings had "shifted".

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) member said: "It's (evidence) now quite strongly in favour of using face coverings in enclosed spaces where we're likely to come into contact with strangers.

"I think that the Government should be very clear. It's not consistent to make it mandatory on public transport and not make it mandatory in other enclosed and busy public spaces because the behaviour of the virus is the same in all of these spaces."