BORIS Johnson has arrived at the Covid Inquiry where he’ll soon face a showdown grilling on his leadership during the pandemic.
The ex-PM is expected to explain to senior lawyers that he got the big calls right.
AFPBritain’s former Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, in West London[/caption]
AFPThe ex-PM is expected to tell Inquiry lawyers that he got the big calls right[/caption]
But he will also apologise for getting some things wrong.
Boris was told the public could quickly tire of being stuck at home and defy the rules by mixing and spreading the virus.
Decisions he took in early 2020 will be among those examined as he appears before the official probe for two days of evidence
But Boris is set to talk up those he got right, such as the roll-out of the vaccine programme.
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The UK administered the first Covid-19 jab in the world in December 2020 after emergency authorisation was granted by British regulators.
As regards the timing of the first lockdown, BoJo was also warned of the impact on schoolchildren, the knock-on effects on the economy and mental health implications.
Chief medical adviser Sir Chris Whitty told him: “You can’t go too late, but there are also risks with going too early.”
Sir Chris attended an emergency Cobra meeting on March 9, 2020, saying the timing of any restrictions was “crucial” to public support.
At a press conference that day, Sir Chris said: “If we go too early, people will understandably get fatigued and it will be difficult to sustain this over time so getting the timing right is absolutely critical to making this work.”
Mr Johnson is expected to admit ministers made a host of mistakes but decisions made by Whitehall did save lives.
He is set to issue an unreserved apology when he takes the stand in London.
And he is expected to explain that scientists wanted to pursue a strategy of “herd immunity” which would let the virus rip through the country.
Other claims are also set to be addressed by him.
Ex-aide Dominic Cummings said Boris asked scientists whether blowing a “special hair dryer” up noses could destroy the virus.
He also alleged Mr Johnson said he would rather “let the bodies pile high” than have the economy hit by any further restrictions.
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