The UK government's screeching U-turn on coronavirus testing is laid bare in two internal memos leaked to BuzzFeed News over the last 24 hours.



On Wednesday, a "lines to take" briefing note — which are sent to ministers and MPs every morning to help them handle questions from the media — instructed government spokespeople to dismiss criticisms of the UK's testing record.

If asked why the UK was not following World Health Organisation advice to "test test test" like Germany, ministers and MPs were yesterday told to reject the WHO guidance.

"When the WHO talks about testing, it is addressing the global system. Not all countries have the same infrastructure as the UK and there are countries that the WHO needs to press on testing," Wednesday's internal memo told ministers to say.