Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Cummings: Johnson's Covid handling was 'widespread failure'

Dominic Cummings painted a troubling picture of Johnson’s attitude and response to Covid

Cummings: Johnson's Covid handling was 'widespread failure'

FORMER prime minister Boris Johnson's ex-senior adviser on Tuesday (31) criticised his handling of the Covid pandemic, as an inquiry heard he believed claims that the virus was "nature's way of dealing with old people".

Dominic Cummings, his former-top aide, painted a troubling picture of Johnson's attitude and response to the health emergency as it unfolded in 2020.


He was testifying at the Covid-19 public inquiry examining the government's performance dealing with the virus, which led to nearly 130,000 fatalities being recorded in Britain by mid-July 2021.

The toll is one of the worst official Covid-19 death counts in the world.

Giving his evidence, Cummings reiterated past descriptions of Johnson as a broken shopping "trolley" that would veer in all directions on issues, most notably Covid.

"Pretty much everyone called him a trolley, yeah," Cummings told the inquiry, referring to former colleagues in government.

Turning his fire on Westminster's pandemic response more broadly, the former top aide said it featured "widespread failure" alongside "pockets of excellent teams doing excellent work within an overall dysfunctional system".

Johnson and his government faced criticism for not taking the threat seriously enough in the early stages of the outbreak, and of not having enough protective equipment for frontline medical staff.

In newly-disclosed diary entries submitted to the inquiry, the government's chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance noted he had "quite a bonkers set of exchanges" with the then-prime minister.

"He says his party 'thinks the whole thing is pathetic and Covid is just nature's way of dealing with old people -- and I am not entirely sure I disagree with them'," Vallance wrote in December 2020 of a conversation with Johnson.

The "whole thing" referred to lockdowns Britain was enduring to curb the virus.

Chaired by retired senior judge Heather Hallett, the inquiry's first phase focused on the UK's resilience and preparedness and is now looking at decision-making and political governance.

It is to interview Johnson and current prime minister Rishi Sunak, who was finance minister during the pandemic, later this year.

Johnson was ousted last year by Tory MPs after a string of scandals, including the so-called "Partygate" controversy around lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street.

He quit as an MP in June after lawmakers found he had deliberately misled them about the affair.

In his testimony, Lee Cain, Downing Street's ex-communications chief, said Covid was the "wrong crisis" for Johnson's skill set, admitting that he became "exhausted" by his alleged indecision and oscillation in dealing with the pandemic in early 2020.

"He's somebody who would often delay making decisions, would often seek counsel from multiple sources and change his mind on issues," Cain said of his former boss during several hours giving evidence under oath.

Pressed about expletive-filled messages from Cummings to Cain in early 2020 criticising Johnson's performance, the former communications chief acknowledged that the prime minister frustrated his senior aides.

(AFP)

More For You

Sri Lanka forms committee to address UK sanctions
Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Sri Lanka forms committee to address UK sanctions

THE Sri Lanka government on Wednesday (2) formed a committee to recommend measures regarding the UK's decision to impose sanctions on three former military commanders who led the campaign that crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.

Health minister Nalinda Jayatissa told reporters that foreign minister Vijitha Herath, justice minister Harshana Nanayakkara and deputy minister of defence Aruna Jayasekara would comprise the committee that would consult experts for the purpose.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gujarat-blast-ANI

The blast caused the factory’s concrete roof to collapse, scattering debris and body parts across the area, officials confirmed. (Photo: ANI)

ANI

Death toll rises to 21 in Gujarat firework factory explosion

AN EXPLOSION at an illegal firecracker factory in Gujarat's Deesa town killed 21 people and injured several others on Tuesday, officials said.

The blast caused the factory’s concrete roof to collapse, scattering debris and body parts across the area, officials confirmed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Child benefit payments set to rise for UK families

Child benefit, normally paid every four weeks directly into bank accounts, has undergone significant changes in recent months (Photo: Getty Images)

Child benefit payments set to rise for UK families

MILLIONS of British families are set to receive a financial boost as child benefit payments increase from April 7, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

From next week, parents will receive £26.05 per week for the eldest or only child, amounting to £1,354.60 annually - up from the current rate of £25.60. For each additional child, payments will rise to £17.25 weekly, totalling £897 per year - an increase from the present £16.95 rate. This represents a 1.7 per cent increase across all payment categories.

Keep ReadingShow less
Anant Ambani Walks 140 Km in Spiritual Tribute on 30th Birthday

Anant’s padyatra is a reflection of the larger cultural fabric of India

Getty

Anant Ambani embarks on a 140-kilometer spiritual journey on foot to celebrate 30th birthday

Anant Ambani, a director of Reliance Industries Limited and a prominent figure in Indian industry, has chosen a unique and spiritual way to mark his 30th birthday. As part of his celebrations, he is currently undertaking a padyatra—a traditional pilgrimage on foot—from Jamnagar to Dwarka, covering a distance of approximately 140 kilometres. The journey reflects his devotion to Lord Dwarkadhish, the presiding deity of the Dwarkadhish Temple in the city of Dwarka.

Anant began his journey from his family’s residence in Moti Khavdi, Jamnagar, and has been progressing steadily for the past five days. Walking an estimated 10-12 kilometres each night, he travels under the protection of Z+ security and local police, ensuring his safety during this significant journey. The padyatra is expected to take between seven to nine days in total, with plans to conclude at the Dwarkadhish Temple in time for his birthday on April 10.

Keep ReadingShow less
New TB action plan proposed as cases surge

Government urged experts to come forward to help draw up a new five-year TB action plan. (Photo: Getty Images)

New TB action plan proposed as cases surge

BRITAIN on Wednesday (2) urged health experts and sufferers of tuberculosis (TB) to come forward to help draw up a new five-year action plan as it deals with record rises in the disease.

In 2023, England recorded its largest annual increase (11 per cent) in cases since enhanced surveillance began in 2000.

Keep ReadingShow less