Former British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, appeared before an official inquiry on Wednesday to provide a detailed account of his government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. In his opening statement, Johnson expressed his apologies for the pain, suffering, and loss experienced by those who died from the virus and their families. He acknowledged the difficult questions that the families of the victims have been rightfully asking and expressed hope that the inquiry would provide answers.
One of the main concerns raised during the inquiry was whether Johnson had acted too slowly in imposing a lockdown as the virus spread rapidly across Britain in March 2020. Additionally, questions were raised about Downing Street social gatherings that violated lockdown rules, which ultimately led to Johnson's resignation after a parliamentary committee found that he had deliberately misled lawmakers regarding his attendance at these parties. Johnson was expected to admit to mistakes made during the early stages of the pandemic, but he also intended to highlight the successes of the vaccine rollout and the decision to reopen the economy in the summer of 2021.
The former prime minister's testimony was highly anticipated as it marked a crucial moment in the Covid-19 inquiry, a comprehensive examination of Britain's response to the pandemic led by former judge Heather Hallett. The inquiry, set to continue until 2026, aimed to shed light on the government's actions and identify lessons to prevent similar missteps in the future. However, some experts expressed concerns that the focus on internal conflicts within the government had overshadowed the inquiry's purpose of providing valuable lessons for future pandemics.
While Johnson's appearance was highly anticipated, he was not the only prominent figure set to testify. Rishi Sunak, the current prime minister and former chancellor of the exchequer, was also expected to face questioning regarding his performance during the crisis. The two days of testimonies were crucial for Johnson to explain how he balanced conflicting advice from ministers and aides, such as Sunak and Dominic Cummings, who advocated for different pandemic response strategies.
Critics of Johnson highlighted his inconsistent and erratic decision-making throughout the pandemic, which they believe contributed to the high death toll in the UK. Devi Sridhar, a professor of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, criticized Johnson for his lack of clarity and accused him of prioritizing Brexit over pandemic response. However, Johnson can point to successful aspects of his government's response, such as the rapid vaccine rollout and the decision to reopen the economy.
Johnson's demeanor and handling of potentially hostile questioning during the inquiry were seen as critical. His previous appearance before a parliamentary committee, where he was accused of lying about lockdown-breaking parties, did not fare well for him. This time, Johnson faced the added challenge of testifying in front of individuals who had lost relatives to the pandemic. As a charismatic communicator known for his humor, his ability to maintain a serious and contrite demeanor would be crucial during the intense questioning he was expected to face.
While the inquiry had generated significant public interest, there were concerns about whether it would provide meaningful lessons for future pandemics or become a platform for blame-shifting and political maneuvering. Some experts believed that the focus on individual personalities and internal conflicts within the government overshadowed the need for a comprehensive analysis of the systemic failures.
In the coming days, Rishi Sunak's testimony was eagerly anticipated. As a serving prime minister, his appearance before the inquiry was unprecedented and was expected to provide further insights into the government's decision-making process. Sunak's policies, such as the controversial "Eat Out to Help Out" program, were likely to come under scrutiny. The inquiry aimed to hold accountable those responsible for the government's response to the pandemic and provide valuable lessons for the future.
