‘People will die anyway’: Pressure on Boris Johnson over Covid messages

[Social Media]

 

Boris Johnson asked why damage was being inflicted on the economy during the pandemic “for people who will die anyway soon” in a meeting with Rishi Sunak, the Covid inquiry was told on Monday.

At the start of what is set to be a bruising week for the former prime minister, with former political aides and senior civil servants to give evidence on his government’s handling of the pandemic, the diary of a former private secretary revealed the damaging remarks made in March 2020.

 

The note was from a meeting during which Johnson was believed to have said: “We’re killing the patient to tackle the tumour. Large ppl [taken to mean large numbers of people] who will die, why are we destroying economy for people who will die anyway soon.”

 

Imran Shafi, the official who wrote the memo, told the inquiry he thought it was Johnson who made the comments. It came after a series of diary entries and WhatsApp messages suggested the low regard in which the former Tory leader was held by senior advisers.

Whitehall’s highest ranking civil servant, Simon Case, complained that Johnson “cannot lead” and wanted to “let it rip” when it came crucial choices over how the UK should handle Covid-19, the UK inquiry into the pandemic heard.

The WhatsApp message was sent to Dominic Cummings, at the time Johnson’s chief adviser, by the cabinet secretary, who confided in the midst of an oscillating government response to the pandemic: “I am at the end of my tether.”

“He changes strategic direction every day (Monday we were all about fear of virus returning as per Europe, March etc – today we’re in ‘let it rip’ mode cos [sic] the UK is pathetic, needs a cold shower etc.)” added Case, who is due to appear as a witness at the Inquiry at a later date.

 

FULL STORY

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

‘We were going to be great’: UK’s Covid failings laid bare in week of damning testimony

 

Evidence from Downing Street insiders during inquiry paints devastating picture of response to pandemic

 

"As Italy took the drastic step of imposing a nationwide lockdown in early March 2020, senior officials in Downing Street sat “laughing” as Britain’s European neighbour desperately tried to contain the spread of Covid-19.

 

The revelation came as a series of damning testimonies to the UK’s official pandemic inquiry this week laid bare a “toxic” and “macho” culture at the heart of government that hampered Britain’s response to the health crisis.

 

In the weeks before the UK’s first lockdown, with the country unprepared for the pandemic, then prime minister Boris Johnson, other ministers and Whitehall mandarins went on holiday, the inquiry heard."

 

https://www.ft.com/content/791e6d5e-c42a-4012-b159-299aad34bc36

 

 

Edited November 3, 2023 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Red Phoenix]

Johnson was a weak man bowing under pressure from the fear-mongers, most of whom had an agenda.  

Just look at Sweden, the lone rational voice, that refused to lock-down and close schools.  And history has of course proven Sweden right.

[owl sees all]

Boris is a 'toft' masquerading as a fool. Unfortunately for many, a very dangerous one.

 

 

 

[VocalNeal]

On 10/31/2023 at 9:14 AM, Social Media said:

why are we destroying economy for people who will die anyway soon.”

 

Like my mother learning to drive a coach. Do not swerve to avoid a dog. You are responsible for the 45 people sat behind you.🤔

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The gift that keeps on giving:

 

COVID inquiry: Boris Johnson's veteran aide confirms ex-PM said 'let the bodies pile high'

Mr Johnson denied making the remarks on numerous occasions - both on television and in the House of Commons.

 

7 November 2023

 

"Boris Johnson said he would rather 'let the bodies pile high' than impose another lockdown in September 2020, according to one of his most veteran aides."

 

https://news.sky.com/video/covid-inquiry-boris-johnsons-veteran-aide-confirms-ex-pm-said-let-the-bodies-pile-high-13002839

 

Edited November 8, 2023 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Eleftheros]

On 11/5/2023 at 8:06 AM, Red Phoenix said:

Johnson was a weak man bowing under pressure from the fear-mongers, most of whom had an agenda.  

Just look at Sweden, the lone rational voice, that refused to lock-down and close schools.  And history has of course proven Sweden right.

To militant woke activists, there seems to be no limit to the collateral harms that were accepted as mere roadkills on the highway to social justice heaven. Warnings of collateral harm of Covid interventions were dismissed as exaggerated, speculative, without evidence, etc.

 

Now that we know that the interventions were a colossal blunder causing generational damage, everyone is flailing around and pointing the finger at everyone else.