The deputy prime minister has defended Boris Johnson, after the PM was pictured not wearing a mask during a visit to a hospital.

“He followed all the advice and all the guidance that he got at all times, I think that’s the right thing for all of us to do,” Dominic Raab told Kay Burley.

Mr Johnson has been criticised after pictures emerged of him not wearing a face covering at Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland, although images showed that he did wear a mask at some points during his visit.

Matthew Taylor from the NHS Confederation told Sky News it was “unfortunate” that the PM was seen without a mask.