Boris Johnson shown all the times he said 'let Covid rip' in uncomfortable inquiry moment
Boris Johnson has admitted to calling his own rules “stupid” as he made a significant backtrack on his own witness statement.
Putting a diary entry in Sir Patrick Vallance’s evening notes to Mr Johnson, Covid inquiry counsel Hugo Keith KC asked: “You exclaim in frustration, but plainly perhaps not to be taken too seriously, ‘Who made these stupid rules?’” The former prime minister replied: “Yeah.”
Mr Johnson also denied claims by Sir Patrick and Sir Chris Whitty that they were not consulted about the Eat Out to Help Out scheme before it was launched. Backtracking from an assurance in his statement, Mr Johnson said he “assumed” it must have been discussed by them, adding that he was “perplexed something as significant as that” avoided mention.
Mr Johnson is being grilled for a second day at the UK Covid inquiry on Thursday. Angry bereaved families continue to protest outside after the crowds booed the former prime minister.
During his first day of testimony, Mr Johnson’s apology to the nation was interrupted by four people who staged a protest in the hearing room.
