The long-awaited Covid inquiry has delivered a damning verdict on the UK government's handling of the pandemic, revealing how catastrophic decision-making led to tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths and the most severe lockdown in British history.
Leadership Failures and Missed Opportunities
According to the recently published module 2 report from the official Covid inquiry, the UK government under Boris Johnson pursued the worst possible path during the critical early months of the pandemic. The investigation confirms that had England followed successful containment strategies demonstrated by countries like South Korea, Denmark, Norway and New Zealand, the nation could have avoided multiple lockdowns and potentially prevented the majority of Covid-19 deaths recorded in 2020.
The report paints a picture of a distracted and absent prime minister working within a dysfunctional Number 10 operation. This chaotic environment meant that from January 2020 onward, when other nations were implementing early action and robust public health measures based on test, trace and isolation systems, the UK government remained dangerously inactive.
Contradictory Policies and Scientific Ignorance
One of the most baffling aspects highlighted by the inquiry was the government's contradictory approach to border controls. While citizens were ordered to stay home and avoid travel beyond limited distances, airports remained fully operational with no meaningful checks on incoming passengers. Experts have compared this nonsensical strategy to trying to empty a bathtub while leaving the tap running.
The situation worsened during summer 2020 when then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak introduced his "eat out to help out" scheme without consulting scientific advisors or devolved governments. This initiative directly triggered a second wave of infections by incentivising people to gather in high-risk indoor environments. Remarkably, the scheme excluded takeaway options that would have supported struggling hospitality businesses while maintaining safety.
The Real Cost of Incompetence
The Covid inquiry has already cost British taxpayers nearly £200 million, with Scotland's separate inquiry adding another £45 million to the total. Most of these substantial costs cover legal teams, contrasting sharply with the independent scientists who provided expert advice pro bono throughout the crisis.
Professor Devi Sridhar, who provided evidence to the inquiry, questions whether the report adds meaningful new understanding beyond what has already been documented in books and analysis. She emphasises that the fundamental requirements for effective pandemic response—agile leadership, smart decision-making, humility and trustworthiness—cannot be captured in a one-size-fits-all plan.
Looking Toward Future Protection
The most shocking revelations may yet come in the inquiry's upcoming report on government procurement. Analysis by the New York Times found that nearly half of 1,200 government contracts worth $22 billion went to companies with connections to Conservative politicians or those lacking relevant experience. The Good Law Project estimates that over £4 in every £5 spent on PPE was wasted or lost.
Professor Sridhar proposes that the inquiry recommend legislation to prevent such profiteering during future crises. Dubbing this potential safeguard the "Dame Michelle Mone Law" after the prominent pandemic profiteer case, she argues that strict rules must be established during peaceful times to protect taxpayer money when disaster strikes.
Ultimately, the Covid story demonstrates the critical importance of voting for competent leadership over entertainment. As nations like New Zealand showed under Jacinda Ardern's detail-oriented governance, effective crisis management requires leaders who combine thorough preparation with decisive action and public trust.
