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A reporter claims Boris Johnson 'grabbed' his phone and put it in his pocket after he tried to show him pictures of a sick four-year-old boy on the floor of an overcrowded A&E.

Jack Williment-Barr - who has suspected pneumonia - was forced to lie on a pile of coats as he tried to sleep on the floor of a Leeds hospital.

The photo highlights the shocking state of the NHS under Tory rule.

ITV political correspondent Joe Pike wrote on Twitter that he had tried to show a picture of young Jack during an on-camera interview with the Prime Minister today.

(Image: joepike/Twitter)

"The PM grabbed my phone and put it in his pocket," he wrote, also sharing video footage of the interview leading up to the incident.

A Tory source said Mr Johnson did not "grab" the phone, but took it when it was offered to him and looked at it before it went into his pocket.

The leader was challenged on whether he really cares after taking the reporter's phone that had a photo of the boy on a hospital floor.

Mr Johnson dodged talking about the phone "grab", instead insisting he was putting more money into the NHS.

The Mirror revealed the four-year-old boy's plight today.

(Image: joepike/Twitter)

Sarah Williment covered her son Jack with coats to keep him warm as he waited for a bed at Leeds General Infirmary, where she had taken him on Tuesday fearing he had pneumonia.

He was eventually moved to a ward, where he waited for five hours on a trolley before a bed was found at 3am, Ms Williment told the Mirror.

Jack was diagnosed with flu and tonsillitis and was allowed to be taken home at lunchtime.

It comes as the stretched NHS takes centre-stage as a key election issue.

Asked about the incident during an interview on LBC this morning, the Prime Minister said : "Of course I sympathise very much and I apologise to everybody who has a bad experience.



"By and large I think the NHS do an amazing job and I think that they deserve all praise for the service they provide - but they do need investment and that's why we're doing it now.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said: "I don't know whether many of you saw that picture of a child this morning being treated for pneumonia on the floor."That's how bad it's got after 10 years of austerity. We need to tackle that emergency.

"It's happening in our hospitals, our GP surgeries, our clinics right the way across the country.

"He urged voters to pick Labour on Thursday to "save the NHS" and the climate, adding: "These next few days are absolutely key in making sure we stand any chance of addressing them."That's why our children and grandchildren, if we don't rise to this challenge, I don't think they'll ever forgive us. And they'd be right."

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said of the clip of Mr Johnson was an "utter disgrace", adding: ""Do you really want this man running the country for next 5 years?"