Sky News reports that it has been told by Turkish sources that the UK Government only made a formal request to Turkey over a consignment of personal protective equipment on Sunday – the day after a cabinet minister announced the “very significant additional shipment” was already heading to the UK.
On Saturday, Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, said at the daily Downing Street press briefing that 84 tonnes of the gear, including 400,000 urgently needed clinical gowns, would arrive in the UK from Turkey on Sunday. When it did not arrive, no explanation was given.
Two sources told Sky News that no formal request was made to the Turkish authorities – who were not supplying the shipment, but whose help was sought to get it to the UK – until Sunday.
Full story from Sky News, 21 April 2020