Coronavirus: ‘I was really worried we might lose the prime minister,’ says Dominic Raab

Dominic Raab has said he was “really concerned” that the prime minister may have died from Covid-19 after he was admitted to intensive care in the spring.

The chancellor replaced Boris Johnson during his stay in intensive care and while he recovered.

Speaking to the Conservative Party conference, Raab said the virus “nearly took the life” of the prime minister.

Raab also said he was concerned about the prime minister’s fiancee, Carrie Symonds, but “always had faith” that she would “get by.

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Johnson spent three nights in intensive care at London’s St Thomas Hospital in April after contracting coronavirus.

Speaking about his experience after leaving the hospital, the prime minister said that “it could have gone either way” and thanked health workers for saving his life.

Raab told the virtual conference that the coronavirus “has hit us hard, claiming lives on a tragic scale.”

“He almost took the life of our prime minister, our friend and our leader.

“They ask me a lot how I felt when I covered it.

“Well, I was really worried that we might lose him, and I was worried about Carrie (Symonds), pregnant with baby Wilf.

“But I always had faith that with the excellent care he received from the NHS and his fighting spirit, he would come through.”

Acknowledging there would be “lessons to be learned” from the government’s handling of the crisis, the Foreign Secretary added: “I have to say that for every obstacle we faced, with every heartbreaking loss, there was also a story of courage, a moment of inspiration “.

Mr Raab also spoke about the prospect of a post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and the EU.

The UK and the EU have pledged to “work hard” to resolve their differences and reach an agreement.

But Raab said that although the government wanted a free trade agreement with the EU, “any agreement must be fair.”

“The days of being held on a barrel by Brussels … are long gone,” the foreign secretary said.

He added that “there is no doubt that the government will control our fisheries.”

Both sides have been asking the other to engage on key issues, including fisheries and government subsidies.

Leeds Headquarters

Also speaking at the conference, Michael Gove outlined the government’s plans to move more Civil Service jobs out of London, part of its “leveling off” agenda to extend investment and opportunity beyond London and the South East of England. .

The Cabinet Office minister said “too many government posts” were based in Westminster and Whitehall.

Mr. Gove added: “We have an incredible Civil Service and it has drawn its resources and people from many different communities; I think now we must give back to those communities as well.”

Plans were also announced to open a second headquarters in Leeds.

The new headquarters will provide the party “a base in the heart of the blue wall,” party co-chair Amanda Milling said, referring to the northern constituencies that voted for the party for the first time in the December general election.