Picture: for illustration purposes
Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain, former primary advisers to Boris Johnson, the erstwhile UK Prime Minister, have publicly criticised Johnson's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Testifying at a public inquiry on Tuesday, they both highlighted issues with Johnson's approach and response to the health emergency during its early stages in 2020.
Nearly 130,000 fatalities due to COVID-19 were recorded in Britain by mid-July 2021, leading to monumental criticism of Johnson's government for allegedly not taking the threat seriously enough and not providing adequate protective gear for frontline medical staff.
According to diary entries from Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser, he documented exchanges with Johnson where the then-prime minister expressed his disinterest and even apparent indifference concerning the unfolding health crisis.
Cummings painted Johnson as a malfunctioning "shopping trolley" that recklessly veered on issues, with a particular emphasis on his COVID-19 response. Both Cummings and Cain criticised Johnson's indecisiveness and hesitation, saying his usual approach of canvassing extensively for advice and constantly changing his mind became obstacles during the crisis due to the urgency that pandemic response required.
Despite these fierce criticisms, Johnson's current position remains protected. Currently, the UK's public inquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic is examining its decision-making and governance. Johnson and current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are expected to be interviewed later in the year.