In a recent discussion on LBC Radio, Rachel Johnson addressed the findings of a report led by judge Baroness Heather Hallett, describing the UK’s response as “too little, too late.” Johnson highlighted the extensive nature of the report, spanning 800 pages and costing £200 million, equating to £160,000 per day. The report attributed 23,000 deaths to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to implement a lockdown a week behind schedule, based on data from Professor Neil Ferguson, a former government scientist under scrutiny.
The report shed light on a chaotic and toxic environment within Johnson’s government during the pandemic response, impacting decision-making quality and advice. It noted a failure to promptly address rule-breaking, leading to public disregard for lockdown measures. According to Baroness Hallett, Johnson should have recognized the emergency sooner, emphasizing the need for strong leadership to enhance the response’s urgency.
Furthermore, the report revealed that UK officials had been warned about a potential worst-case scenario where up to 80% of the population could be infected, resulting in significant loss of life. However, they underestimated the likelihood of this scenario unfolding.
Responding to the report, Johnson criticized the conclusions, dismissing them as exaggerated and lacking foresight. She defended her brother, Boris Johnson, against accusations of negligence and emphasized her belief that lockdown measures were ineffective and detrimental. Johnson asserted that safeguarding vulnerable populations should have been prioritized over widespread lockdowns, which she deemed one of the worst policy decisions post-World War II.