Ashfield MP Lee Anderson ‘recuperating well’ and ‘followed all Covid guidelines when meeting Prime Minister’

His office said this in response to criticisms as to why the Nottinghamshire MP did not appear to be wearing a face mask and keeping at least two metres away from Boris Johnson in a picture they took together.

Office Manager Melanie Darrington said: "At all times, government guidelines were followed. Lee was in a workplace and followed all the laws on Covid – keeping a safe distance at all times.

"No other person at the meeting has had symptoms. Lee wears a facemask whenever the guidance is for him to do so."

She also said Mr Anderson is recuperating well.

On Sunday night (November 16), Mr Johnson was forced to self isolate after meeting Mr Anderson in a breakfast meeting they held with a few other MPs.

The Conservative MP tested positive for Covid-19 after losing his sense of taste, according to a statement posted on his Facebook page on Sunday evening.

The picture, posted by Mr Anderson on Thursday, showed both that both him and Mr John appeared to be standing next to each other at the Prime Minister's Office less than two metres apart.

Neither of them was wearing a face mask.

The Prime Minister, who was admitted to intensive care with Covid-19 in April, said he was notified by the NHS Test and Trace on Sunday that he must self-isolate.