LABOUR slammed the government for wasting huge amounts of time and money on the NHS’s coronavirus contact tracing app that Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced today will be ditched.

At the daily Downing Street press conference, Mr Hancock defended the decision to abandon developing the NHSX app — in favour of joining forces with the Apple and Google project.

He said trials on the Isle of Wight uncovered a “technical barrier” in that the app recognised most Android devices but not iPhones.

Specifically, the software registered about 75 per cent of nearby Android handsets but only 4 per cent of iPhones.

By contrast, the Apple-Google model logged 99 per cent of both Android mobiles and iPhones, but distance calculations were weaker.

Mr Hancock also said that the government had always “backed both horses” on the app, when previously it had insisted that it had no interest in pursuing the Apple-Google model.

He added that he could not say when the Apple-Google contact app would be ready in Britain.

Mr Hancock told the briefing: “We’re not going to put a date on it I’m afraid because I’m absolutely determined that, while this technology can help, it’s got to be working effectively.”

By the time the app is launched, it may not incorporate contact tracing and may only be limited for reporting symptoms and ordering Covid-19 tests.

Baroness Dido Harding — who heads the wider Test and Trace programme — will only approve the Apple-Google app if she decides it has been made fit for purpose, which is not the case at present. 

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the latest announcement is “unsurprising” and that it is “yet another example of where the government’s response has been slow and badly managed.”

He added: “It’s meant precious time and money wasted.

 “For months tech experts warned ministers about the flaws in their app which is why we wrote to Matt Hancock encouraging the government to consider digital alternatives back in May.

“Ministers must now urgently prioritise building a fully effective test, trace and isolate regime lead by local expertise to break the chains of transmission of this deadly virus.”