Sunak prompt ‘handling the scientists’ and never virus, Covid probe is informed | EUROtoday

Rishi Sunak was overheard saying the Government ought to concentrate on dealing with its scientific advisers relatively than the unfold of Covid-19, the inquiry into the UK’s pandemic response has been informed.

A collection of diary entries from former chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance was proven to the probe on Monday.

Mr Sunak’s remark was allegedly made in July 2020 as plans have been being made to reopen the nation after the primary nationwide lockdown.

A observe by Sir Patrick on July 2 learn: “In the economics meeting earlier today they didn’t realise CMO (chief medical officer Sir Chris Whitty) was there and CX (then-chancellor Rishi Sunak) said, ‘It is all about handling the scientists, not handling the virus’.

“They then got flustered when the CMO chipped in later and they realised he had been there all along. PM (then-prime minister Boris Johnson) blustered and waffled for five mins to cover his embarrassment.”

Mr Sunak was behind the Eat Out To Help Out scheme, an initiative launched in August 2020 to kickstart eating places and eateries post-lockdown.

Sir Patrick informed the inquiry that scientists have been unaware of the coverage till it was introduced.

But a part of Mr Sunak’s witness assertion was proven to the probe, with the now-Prime Minister saying he didn’t recall “any concerns about the scheme being expressed during ministerial discussions”, together with these attended by Sir Patrick and Sir Chris.

Sir Patrick mentioned: “We didn’t see it before it was announced and I think others in the Cabinet Office also said they didn’t see it before it was formulated as policy. So we weren’t involved in the run up to it.”

He added: “I think it would have been very obvious to anyone that this inevitably would cause an increase in transmission risk, and I think that would have been known by ministers.”

Asked about Mr Sunak’s understanding of the dangers, Sir Patrick mentioned: “If he was in the meetings, I can’t recall which meetings he was in. But I’d be very surprised if any minister didn’t understand that these openings carried risk.”

No 10 wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not the Prime Minister had consulted scientists on the transmission threat of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme earlier than saying it.

The Downing Street official mentioned various individuals might be setting out their views of the interval, however “rather than respond to each one in piecemeal, it’s right that it is looked at alongside other evidence”.

In his witness assertion, Sir Patrick mentioned that the scheme was “not” according to “supressing the number of Covid-19 infections to prevent a large wave”.

“From the perspective of science advice, it was clear that this scheme would increase viral transmission at a time when a number of other (non-pharmaceutical interventions) had also been lifted.”