Boris Johnson is “mentally able to make decisions” and remains “accessible” to his government team, according to the former defence minister.

The prime minister has now spent three nights in intensive care with the coronavirus.

Doubts have been expressed as to whether the cabinet will be willing to make major decisions before Mr Johnson recovers, including when the UK lockdown could be lifted.

But with the PM’s condition said to be improving, the former defence minister Tobias Ellwood indicated that he remains capable of signing off any big decisions.

Asked on Sky’s Kay BurleyBreakfast who would be responsible should another significant challenge emerge, Mr Ellwood said: “The prime minister is mentally able to make decisions.

“He’s accessible as well.

“What we’re going through is unorthodox, we’ve not been here before, but I have been given assurances that the decision-making process can work in this difficult scenario.”