In a new series of allegations, the former chief aide claimed Boris Johnson joked that elderly people could "get Covid and live longer”. The purported remarks were made in a private WhatsApp chat with Mr Johnson’s team October 15, just two weeks before the second lockdown came into force.

       In messages shown to the BBC by Mr Cummings, Mr Johnson said: "I must say I have been slightly rocked by some of the data on Covid fatalities.

       "The median age is 82 – 81 for men 85 for women. That is above life expectancy. So get Covid and live longer.

       "Hardly anyone under 60 goes into hospital (4 percent ) and of those virtually all survive.

       “And I no longer buy all this NHS overwhelmed stuff. Folks I think we may need to recalibrate."

       BBC News reported that Downing Street said the Prime Minister had taken the "necessary action to protect lives and livelihoods, guided by the best scientific advice" throughout the pandemic.

       A spokesperson added that the Government had prevented the NHS "from being overwhelmed through three national lockdowns”.

       During an explosive interview, Mr Cummings told BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg he and the Government had fallen “disastrously short of the standards that the public has a right to expect”.

       Dominic Cummings: The Interview will be broadcast on Tuesday evening at 7pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

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