Chris Grayling: Government sends health secretary to answer Brexit ferry questions instead of transport chief

Beleaguered transport secretary Chris Grayling faced fresh criticism when the health secretary instead answered MPs’ questions about the Brexit ferries fiasco. Matt Hancock fielded queries in the Commons over Friday’s shock £33m payment to Eurotunnel to settle controversy over cross-Channel contracts. Labour condemned the decision, claiming Mr Hancock would be acting as Mr Grayling’s “human shield” on Monday. But Downing Street said “the supply of medicines” was a key part of the no-deal cargo that the ferries would bring to Britain.