Jonathan Van-Tam QUITS – PM suffers another blow as deputy chief medical officer leaves day after No10 party fiasco

PROFESSOR Sir Jonathan Van Tam has QUIT as deputy chief medical officer at the worst possible time for Boris Johnson.

Allies insist his departure is long-planned and has no bearing on the current political "partygate" storm engulfing the PM.

Mr Johnson tweeted: "I would like to thank Jonathan Van-Tam for his extraordinary contribution to our country and his invaluable advice throughout the pandemic. Wishing him the very best for the future."

But the timing could not be worse for the PM who is battling to stay in post after Tory MPs publicly broke ranks to demand his resignation.

In major developments:

• Cabinet Minister Brandon Lewis insisted BoJo will win the next election
• A poll put the Tories at their lowest rating in almost a decade
• Mr Johnson cancelled a planned visit to a vaccination centre
• Sajid Javid prepared to make a Covid statement in the Commons

Prof Van Tam is leaving his secondment at the Department of Health in March and returning to his post at Nottingham University.

Confirming the news, he said "My time as DCMO have been the most challenging of my professional career, especially the Covid response.

"We all wish Covid had never happened. Notwithstanding, it has been the greatest privilege of my professional career to have served the people of the UK during this time."

Sajid Javid hailed him a "national treasure" and praised his "one-of-a-kind approach to communicating science" to the masses.

Former Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi paid tribute to his "heroic shift" during the pandemic.

The top doc, affectionately nicknamed JVT by ministers, is a familiar face at Covid briefings and was recently knighted in the New Year's Honours.

His clear explanation of the pandemic situation - often through fun footballing metaphors - won him a legion of supporters.

The Boston United megafan also continued working in vaccination centres despite holding the high-profile role.

His departure comes as Omicron infections appear to have past the peak, with ministers increasingly hopeful of easing restrictions in a few weeks.

But it will be viewed as a blow to Mr Johnson who loses one of his most respected scientific aides as he fights for his political career.

The PM yesterday apologised for attending a booze bash in the Downing St garden in the jaws of the first lockdown.

Issuing a "heartfelt" apology he told MPs: "I certainly wish that things would have happened differently on the evening of May the 20th and I apologise for all the misjudgements that have been made, for which I take full responsibility."