Health secretary Matt Hancock told Piers Morgan on Wednesday’s Good Morning Britain that a scotch egg “absolutely can be” classed as a substantial meal.
Scotch eggs have been the topic on everyone’s lips since it was announced that pubs would only be allowed to serve alcohol alongside a “substantial meal”, leading many to wonder if the classic British snack counted as one.
After a calm and collected discussion about the newly-approved Pfizer Vaccine, Piers couldn’t help but ask Matt about the ongoing scotch egg debate.
Hancock told him: “The truth is, a substantial meal is a well known concept in hospitality. It’s a standard concept. A scotch egg absolutely can be.”
Matt Hancock said a scotch egg ‘absolutely could’ count as a substantial meal (Image: ITV)
As Piers pushed for more, he explained: “It means a meal you sit down to. A meal, for instance, including a starter.
“A scotch egg can be a substantial meal but there’s a concept that can be a substantial meal – people in hospitality know what it is.”
He added: “The rules are really clear around that.”
Piers asked him for a definition, to which Hancock replied: “It means a meal that you sit down to.”
The interview on GMB had started well but soon descended into a bit or an argument (Image: ITV)
But the Good Morning Britain presenter wasn’t happy with the response, telling him he was wrong.
Susanna Reid explained she’d found the definition on a legal blog, saying it cited a substantial meal as a “substantial sandwich accompanied by pickles”.
Eventually, Hancock just urged the public not to try and find loopholes or take advantage of the guidelines.
It seems the confusion is still rife – but viewers were more concerned with the actual interview itself, which had started out in a civil manner before turning into something more argumentative.
One tweeted: “Ah yes Piers and Susanna let’s ruin an enjoyable interview by throwing a tantrum over a substantial meal.”
Another wrote: “Well it started well, but Piers couldn’t help himself could he? Same old, same old.”
A third said: “He was spot on in his reply – people need to be sensible and stop looking for loop holes to get around restrictions.”
While a fourth added: “I get it, grill the politician – totally agree. But not today – he has a lot to do rather than just PR.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
