Dominic Raab has defended Boris Johnson's decision not to wear a mask when he visited Hexham General Hospital yesterday.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice said that the Prime Minister had followed "all the protocols and procedures" when at the hospital.

Johnson visited Hexham as he announced a £284m investment into the NHS, with technology to modernise diagnostics and help tackle patient waiting lists to be rolled out over the next year.

Additionally, he saw the new CT scanner and met staff receiving their Covid-19 booster jab.

However, he faced criticism for not wearing a face mask when all other members of staff around him were.

What did Dominic Raab say to defend the Prime Minister?

When presenter Sally Nugent asked Raab on BBC Breakfast what type of message Johnson's choice sent out, he said that the Prime Minister took advice on the clinical setting he was in.

He added: "He followed all the protocols and procedures that were applied there and that's what everyone should do."

Nugent then brought up guidance from Hexham General Hospital itself saying that vistors should wear face coverings at all times.

Raab responded: "Well my understanding is that the Prime Minister followed all the guidance that was given to him from the moment he was at the hospital and obviously the different settings that he visited."