✕CloseBoris Johnson shown all the times he said 'let Covid rip' in uncomfortable inquiry moment
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Rishi Sunak is set to be questioned on his actions during the Covid-19 pandemic when he appears before the inquiry on Monday.
The prime minister, who was chancellor during the pandemic, is expected to be challenged over claims the Eat Out to Help Out scheme spread the disease.
The plan formed part of Mr Sunak’s summer economic update in July 2020, and provided 50% off the cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks.
WhatsApp messages shown to the Covid-19 Inquiry have revealed that government advisers referred to Mr Sunak as “Dr Death” during the pandemic, because of concerns about the impact of his push to keep economic activity going.
Professor Sir Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, is said to have privately referred to the scheme to boost the restaurant industry as “eat out to help out the virus”.
The PM is the latest member of the Covid-19 cabinet to face the inquiry. Last week, former prime minister Boris Johnson defended his actions and hit out at “dramatic” representations of the Partygate revelations.
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Show latest update
Will Rishi Sunak’s covid evidence make a political difference to him?
Given everything else that’s gone wrong more recently, probably not much.
As so often, the public will regard the furlough scheme as no more than they were due, and take the view that the government had no alternative other than to support the economy.
Sunak won’t get much thanks for the good things he did, but plenty of criticism for ideas such as Eat Out to Help Out that, in hindsight, were unwise in both economic and public health terms.
Far from “following the science”, it looks as if Sunak and the Treasury sometimes went out of their way to exclude the medical and scientific experts, and even the health secretary, from decision-making.
That doesn’t accord with what Sunak was telling people at the time, or with his “reasonable guy” image.
Sean O’Grady11 December 2023 00:101702249830
Did Rishi consult experts on Eat Out to Help Out?
There will be much focus on Eat Out to Help Out as Rishi Sunak faces the Covid-19 Inquiry tomorrow and whether the Treasury and Sunak sought any medical or scientific advice about its efficacy or prospective risks.
Chris Whitty, Jonathan Van-Tam and Patrick Vallance all say that they knew nothing about it before it was launched.
Johnson stated in his witness statement that Whitty and Vallance “were properly consulted” but under cross-examination admitted that was only his assumption.
But Professor Sir Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, is said to have privately referred to the scheme to boost the restaurant industry as “eat out to help out the virus”.
Sir Patrick Vallance, who was chief scientific adviser, said he and Sir Chris could not recall being consulted in advance about the scheme that cost hundreds of millions of pounds.
Giving evidence to Baroness Hallett’s inquiry, Sir Patrick said the scheme was “highly likely” to have fuelled deaths.
Athena Stavrou10 December 2023 23:101702246230
What is the Covid-19 Inquiry?
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry is a public inquiry that has been set up to examine the UK’s response to and impact of the pandemic.
The inquiry’s terms of reference, published in June 2022, set out a series of aims including examining the public health response to the pandemic, the response of the health and care sector to the pandemic and the economic response to the pandemic including government interventions.
The inquiry is being chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett, a retired judge and crossbench peer who also led the inquests into the 7 July London bombings.
Public hearings began in June 2023 and are expected to continue until 2026.
Athena Stavrou10 December 2023 22:101702242630
Key takeaways from Boris Johnson’s testimony
While the current prime minister, Rishi Sunak, is set to face the Covid-19 Inquiry on Monday, the former prime minister gave his evidence last week.
Boris Johnson delivered two days of highly-charged Covid testimony, forcing him to face up to his administration’s failings during the crisis.
He stuck to his guns on lockdowns, describing the decision to impose a national lockdown in March 2020 as “probably timely”, adding: “I do not believe it should have been made earlier.”
However, he admitted the “possibility” that earlier interventions could have been introduced.
Mr Johnson did also admit in his statement that his tiered local lockdown system was a failure and admitted to “not remember any specific consideration” being given to the question of testing hospital patients before they were discharged to care homes in March 2020.
The former prime minister did however defend the decision for him to not chair the Cobra meetings held at the start of the pandemic.
Boris Johnson faced two days of questioning at Covid-19 inquiry (UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA)
(PA Media)
Athena Stavrou10 December 2023 21:101702239030
Rishi Sunak thought government should ‘let people die’, Covid inquiry told
Rishi Sunak is set to face the Covid inquiry tomorrow, but he has been mentioned in the hearing multiple times since it began several weeks ago.
In one of the most explosive claims heard at the inquiry so far, the now prime minister, who was chancellor at the time, allegedly believed it was time to “just let people die and that’s okay” in the autumn of 2020.
The accusation, made by former chief of staff Dominic Cummings, was documented in Sir Patrick Vallance’s diary and was heard by the inquiry on November 20.
WhatsApp messages shown to the Covid-19 Inquiry also revealed that government advisers referred to Mr Sunak as “Dr Death” during the pandemic, because of concerns about the impact of his push to keep economic activity going.
Athena Stavrou10 December 2023 20:101702235430
What questions could Rishi Sunak face at the inquiry?
The prime minister is due to face the Covid-19 Inquiry tomorrow and respond to claims that his economic policies spread the disease further.
These are some of the key questions he will most likely have to answer:
– Did he seek medical or expert advice on Eat Out to Help out?
– Why was £800m was spent on East Out to Help Out which lasted just over a month, but just £385m was spent on the self-isolation support scheme in total throughout its 18-month existence?
– Was there a trade-off between public health and the economy?
– Why wasn’t more done for those required to self-isolate under government rules?
Athena Stavrou10 December 2023 19:101702231802
Rishi Sunak to face claims Eat Out to Help Out scheme spread coronavirus
Rishi Sunak is set to face the Covid-19 inquiry on Monday and respond to claims his Eat Out to Help Out scheme spread the disease.
The prime minister was chancellor at the time of the crisis and has been referred to as “Dr Death” in Whatsapp messages seen by the inquiry between government advisers.
The plan formed part of Mr Sunak’s summer economic update in July 2020, and provided 50% off the cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks.
Professor Sir Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, is said to have privately referred to the scheme to boost the restaurant industry as “eat out to help out the virus”.
Athena Stavrou10 December 2023 18:101702018822
Eat Out to Help Out scheme set to be scrutinised
Prof Edmunds told the inquiry on Thursday the Dr Death reference “could well be” about the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which was devised by then-chancellor Mr Sunak and deployed a month earlier in a bid to kickstart the restaurant industry following lockdown.
The announcement that Mr Sunak will face a whole day of questioning on Monday came as former prime minister Boris Johnson began his second day of questioning.
Baroness Hallett’s inquiry has heard that scientists and then-health secretary Matt Hancock were left out of discussions around the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which offered discounted meals in summer 2020 to help the hospitality trade after lockdown measures were lifted.
Mr Hancock told the inquiry he was not told about the scheme until the day it was announced and “argued very strongly” against the possibility of extending it at the end of August 2020.
The inquiry has also heard that former Government chief scientific adviser Professor Sir Patrick Vallance, England’s chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty and their former deputies Dame Angela and Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam were also not told about the scheme.
Rishi Sunak during Thursday’s ‘emergency’ press press conference in Downing Street
(PA)
Sam Rkaina8 December 2023 07:001702015222
Sunak to face Covid-19 inquiry questioning on Monday
Rishi Sunak will be questioned about his actions during the Covid-19 pandemic when he appears before the hearing on Monday.
The Prime Minister was chancellor during the crisis and is likely to be questioned about the impact of his policies such as the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
Government advisers referred to Mr Sunak as “Dr Death” during the pandemic, WhatsApp messages shown to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry have revealed, because of concerns about the impact of his push to keep economic activity going.
The correspondence between epidemiologist Professor John Edmunds and Professor Dame Angela McLean – now chief scientific adviser to the Government – took place during a meeting in September 2020.
Dame Angela messaged Prof Edmunds, referring to “Dr Death the Chancellor”, the inquiry was told.
Sam Rkaina8 December 2023 06:001702011622
Boris booed – again
Boris Johnson was jeered as he left the Covid-19 inquiry after two days of giving evidence.
Protesters outside shouted “murderer” and “shame on you” as he left Dorland House in west London to his awaiting car.
Sam Rkaina8 December 2023 05:00NewerOlder✕
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