Covid inquiry: Boris Johnson had no updates on Covid during half-term – openDemocracy

Boris Johnson did not receive any updates about the escalating Covid crisis during a school half-term break just weeks before he announced the first lockdown.

The Covid inquiry today heard that over ten days between 14 February and 24 February 2020, the prime minister received no information from his staff, including from the two COBRA meetings that took place.

Johnson spent the break during which parliament was in recess at Chevening House, a grace-and-favour Kent mansion. He was labelled a part-time prime minister by then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and accused of sulking in a mansion while coronavirus unfolded and large parts of the UK were devastated by flooding. Johnson insisted the government had been working flat out.

When asked today why he did not update the PM with any information on Covid, Johnsons former parliamentary private secretary (PPS) Martin Reynolds said he could not recall.

The Covid-19 public inquiry is a historic chance to find out what really happened.

Hugo Keith, chief counsel to the inquiry, told him: There were no emails. There were no notes put in his red box. You don't appear to have been in touch with him about coronavirus, or anybody else.

To what extent did you think to yourself weve gotemails about a viral pandemic coming our way? Why was nothing done in terms of keeping the prime minister in the loop in those ten days? he asked.

Reynolds responded: I cannot recall why and whether there was any urgent business to transact over that period with the PM.

When asked whether it was because it was half-term, Reynolds said he was happy to accept it was half-term.

The day before the PMs ten-day information blackout, a cabinet reshuffle had taken place that saw the resignation of chancellor Sajid Javid, who was replaced by Rishi Sunak.

By 27 February, the governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies had discussed the reasonable worst case scenario in which 80% of the UK population became infected, with a 1% fatality rate which would mean up to 500,000 deaths.

The PMs top aide added he probably should have done more to keep the prime minister updated on the biggest crisis since the Second World War.

Reynolds agreed that little had been done between the middle of February and early March.

He also agreed that the ten-day gap in pandemic planning was an untoward delay which contributed to the virus being out of control by 13 March.

The inquiry continues. openDemocracy is fundraising to pay reporters to cover every day of the public hearings. Please support us by donating here.

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Covid inquiry: Boris Johnson had no updates on Covid during half-term - openDemocracy