Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson Grapples with COVID-19 Inquiry: A Deep Dive into Britain's Pandemic Response

In one of the key moments of the U.K.'s public inquiry into the government's response to COVID-19, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended his efforts to balance the health and economic impacts of the pandemic. The 'Eat Out to Help Out' program, delays in imposing a second national lockdown, and a high COVID-19 death toll were among the critical issues scrutinized during his testimony. The inquiry not only aims to learn from COVID-19 for future pandemics but also brings to light revelations that could further damage Johnson's reputation, already tarnished by previous scandals.

Boris Johnson's Testimony: A Spotlight on the U.K.'s Pandemic Response

The U.K. has had 325 COVID deaths per 100,000 citizens, one of the highest death rates in Western Europe, raising questions about the government's initial hesitancy to implement lockdowns. The U.K. did not legally enforce lockdown measures until March 26, 2020, a delay for which Johnson faced substantial criticism. (source)

During the inquiry, Johnson acknowledged his government's mistakes in understanding the pandemic's extent. He admitted that his advisers failed to raise a loud enough alarm about the pandemic and that his government “got some things wrong” in its response. According to Johnson, they underestimated the scale and the pace of the challenge when reports of a new virus began to emerge from China in early 2020. (source)

Johnson's most explicit apology for his handling of the coronavirus crisis came during the inquiry where he admitted being too complacent and having 'vastly underestimated' the risks posed by the virus. He also confessed to reading the minutes of the government's key scientific advisory group only on a couple of occasions despite the conclusions leading to the biggest restrictions on freedoms in Britain since World War Two. (source)

Johnson's Decisions and the Inquiry's Implications

Despite the harsh scrutiny, Johnson stood by his decision not to chair meetings of the government's COBRA crisis committee at the start of the pandemic. His appearance comes after weeks of damning testimony from lower level officials describing a toxic work culture, indecision, and chaos under his leadership. (source)

One of the most controversial points raised during the inquiry was the suggestion that a factory reset had been carried out on Johnson’s phone, resulting in an estimated 5,000 WhatsApp messages missing from the investigation. Johnson vehemently denied doing such a thing. His supporters, however, have pointed out that the U.K. had one of the earliest vaccine rollouts in the world and was the first nation to deploy an approved vaccine for the virus. (source)

Beyond the revelations and the scrutiny, Johnson also expressed his regret for the pain, loss, and suffering caused to the families of the victims. As the inquiry continues, it sheds light on the extent of the U.K.'s pandemic response and the crucial role leadership plays during a crisis. (source)