

DOMINIC Raab has been appointed as “designated survivor” if Boris Johnson catches coronavirus.

Downing Street has drawn up the emergency plans to ensure the government can continue to fight the outbreak if the PM or his top aides fall ill.

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4 Dominic Raab has been appointed as “designated survivor” if Boris Johnson catches coronavirus Credit: EPA

DESIGNATED SURVIVOR

Britain's coronavirus death toll has reached 281 with the number of people infected with the killer bug more than quadrupling to 5,683 in just six days.

No10 knows it is crucial to keep steady hands on the wheel if the PM does become unwell.

But the decision to keep the Foriegn Secretary waiting in the wings has caused a ferocious cabinet clash - with Michael Gove and Matt Hancock reportedly upset they were overlooked, the Sunday Times reports.

Mr Johnson has no symptoms of covid-19 while Mr Raab has tested twice negative after a cough.

The designated survivor plan echoes the plot of the TV drama starring Kiefer Sutherland, who becomes the president of the US after a terror attack.

If Boris can’t do his job because he is incapacitated, a lot of people think that Michael should be running the show, not Raab. Tory minister

Mr Raab, Mr Gove, Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, and Mr Hancock, the health secretary, are all playing a role in No10’s response to the outbreak.

Ministers have been "wrestling like cats in a sack" of the succession plan, according to one insider.

One minister told the Times: “Michael thinks the Cabinet Office [which he runs] should be co-ordinating everything.

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“Matt thinks that since he’s running the lead department he should be allowed to get on with it.”

Another minister said: “If Boris can’t do his job because he is incapacitated, a lot of people think that Michael should be running the show, not Raab. One of these people is Michael, of course.”

Opening scene from Designated Survivor Season Two sees Kiefer Sutherland stunned as Capitol Building is blown up during State of the Union

4 Boris Johnson has has show no symptoms of coronavirus Credit: AFP

4 The designated survivor plan echoes the plot of the TV drama starring Kiefer Sutherland Credit: Getty - Contributor

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