Great Britain
“This guy makes governing impossible”: Boris Johnson in the crossfire of the Corona Commission
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson is said to have said that he would rather “let the corpses pile up” than announce a new lockdown
© UK Covid-19 Inquiry / PA Media / DPA
Too timid, too chaotic, too erratic: the criticism of Boris Johnson’s government course during the pandemic is enormous. The ex-prime minister now admits mistakes in front of the British Corona investigation commission. Will he get away with it?
Johnson’s statement on Wednesday reminded many people in Great Britain once again of the mood of the first year of the pandemic in 2020. Johnson’s government reacted too late, too hesitantly and too erratic – These are the accusations that rain down on the conservative politician. He seems focused, his blonde hair is less messy than usual.
Boris Johnson apologizes for the Corona suffering
Johnson’s answers are of little help in terms of content. Yes, in retrospect he made mistakes. Yes, he recognized the danger too late. That he shook hands with corona patients? He probably wouldn’t have done it better, but he wanted to encourage people. What Johnson ultimately says: Nobody was prepared for what came. He always followed the suggestions of his scientific advisors; it was an exceptional situation. He keeps saying he can’t remember exactly.
Right at the beginning, the 59-year-old apologizes extensively for the immense suffering of the people. When he later talks about the spring of 2020, when he himself had to be temporarily cared for in the intensive care unit, he even seems to be in tears.
Former British Prime Minister
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But relatives of the victims do not believe he is remorseful. Four listeners were expelled from the hall because they had jumped up and held up posters. “The dead cannot hear your apologies,” it says. A personal meeting does not take place: Johnson arrives hours before the questioning, it is still dark. Media suspect that he wanted to avoid demonstrators.
Witness statements do not paint a good picture of the Johnson government
For weeks, the “Covid-19 Inquiry”, which Johnson launched as prime minister, has been questioning high-profile witnesses under the chairmanship of former judge Heather Hallett. Former ministers testified, as did the government’s scientific advisers and Johnson’s ex-chief adviser Cummings. He was once considered a “grey eminence”, but has long since had a warm dislike for his former superior – and didn’t leave Johnson in good stead. The former head of government is like a shopping cart that wanders around: he tends to constantly turn around and change his mind.
But other witness statements did not paint a favorable picture either. Johnson’s ex-communications chief Lee Cain, for example, said that the pandemic was the “wrong crisis” for Johnson’s “abilities”; he accused him of hesitating and delaying. Former health minister Sajid Javid said Cummings was the real prime minister – just not according to the title. Former chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance said Johnson was confused by research data. Apparently he once seriously asked whether you could stop the coronavirus by blowing your nose with a special hairdryer.
Explosive WhatsApp messages also became known. In it, the top government official Simon Case wrote about Johnson: “Governing isn’t actually that hard, but this guy makes it really impossible.” His verdict: “I have never seen a group of people less qualified to govern a country.”
The content is sometimes so drastic that the television stations broadcasting it permanently display a warning: “possibly offensive expressions”. Cummings, for example, once insulted the cabinet as “useless damn pigs.” And that’s still at the bottom of the list of insults. The chats point to a culture of deceit and contempt in the seat of government, commented the broadcaster Sky News.
“Corona is nature’s way of dealing with old people” – Johnson is said to have said
Johnson outwardly dismisses the criticism calmly. Everyone was under stress and only wanted the best. People are more critical and clearer. Debates under former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher were certainly “pretty juicy”. That was much better than if only respectful people had been around him.
But some of Johnson’s comments are also likely to raise questions. The then Prime Minister is said to have said in the fall of 2020 that he would rather “let the corpses pile up” than announce a new lockdown – which he did soon afterwards. According to ex-advisor Vallance, Johnson said another time, “Corona is nature’s way of dealing with old people.” They should accept their fate.
Questions about this are expected later in the questioning; a total of two days are scheduled for Johnson’s statement. In particular, relatives of the 227,000 people who died of Covid-19 in the UK according to death certificates will be listening closely. “A country will watch and wait: for control, accountability and answers,” commented the BBC.