Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson will undergo two days of questioning at the Covid inquiry, where he will have the opportunity to defend his handling of the pandemic. Anticipations suggest that Mr. Johnson will issue an apology and acknowledge that his government made mistakes in managing the pandemic during the inquiry.
Sources close to Mr. Johnson, as reported by the BBC, have indicated that he will present the argument that, despite admitted errors, he made crucial decisions that ultimately saved lives. The Covid inquiry has witnessed significant criticism of Mr. Johnson from former colleagues who worked alongside him during the onset of Covid-19.
Lee Cain, his ex-director of communications, asserted that the pandemic exposed the “wrong crisis” for Mr. Johnson, citing indecision and delays in critical choices. Former chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance accused Mr. Johnson of allowing himself to be “bamboozled” by scientific data. Additionally, ex-chief adviser Dominic Cummings reiterated his past criticisms, describing Mr. Johnson as “the trolley” due to his tendency to shift viewpoints.
UK’s pandemic response
Contrarily, some key figures involved in the UK’s pandemic response have come to the defense of the former prime minister and his governing style. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove rejected claims that Mr. Johnson was “incapable of making decisions,” emphasizing a preference for “gladiatorial decision-making” where he presents opposing arguments.
Former health secretary Matt Hancock accused Cummings of seeking power and fostering a “toxic” government culture that undermined the pandemic response Boris Johnson now has the opportunity to present his version of events during the Covid inquiry.
A spokesperson for Mr. Johnson expressed his eagerness to contribute to the inquiry’s crucial work. Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK hopes to challenge the ex-prime minister on what they perceive as “clear falsehoods.” Bereaved individuals, such as Lorelei King and Helen Brewer, seek answers regarding the timing of the first lockdown and allegations of comments made by Mr. Johnson about letting bodies pile high. The ex-prime minister has previously denied making such statements in relation to a third lockdown.