Share The push was likened to the 'little ships' which helped during the Dunkirk evacuation in the Second World War. But the Government was accused of failing to act on offers of help when they were first made which meant the UK was always struggling to gain ground. The slow uptake of the offers was blamed by some in Whitehall on Public Health England's alleged 'control freakery' but ministers did eventually U-turn and seek support from small labs. Mr Hancock then claimed victory at the end of April as he said the target had been hit only for it to emerge that the Government had included postal kits in the figures on the day they were sent out rather than when they were processed.