Senior Conservative minister Michael Gove has issued a public apology for the "mistakes" made by the government during the Covid-19 pandemic, following a devastating report from the official public inquiry.
Damning Findings from the Covid Inquiry
The UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry delivered a stark conclusion, revealing that 23,000 lives could have been saved if the country had entered a full lockdown just one week earlier. The report, released on Friday 21 November 2025, also levelled severe criticism at the culture within Downing Street, describing it as "toxic and chaotic".
It further suggested that an earlier introduction of restrictions might have prevented the need for a total lockdown altogether, highlighting a critical failure in the government's initial response.
Gove's Defence of a 'Toxic' Culture
While offering an apology for the government's errors, Lord Gove also mounted a defence of the working environment within Boris Johnson's Number 10. He argued that placing the sole focus on the former Prime Minister "distorts political decision making".
This defence comes amidst allegations of a deeply dysfunctional atmosphere at the heart of government during the crucial early stages of the health crisis.
Voices of the Bereaved
The campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK responded forcefully to the inquiry's findings. They stated unequivocally that many of their family members would still be alive today if not for the decisions made by Boris Johnson and his ministerial team.
In a poignant and powerful statement, one bereaved daughter directly blamed the former Prime Minister, claiming "Boris Johnson was responsible for my mother's death".
The apology from a senior figure like Gove and the inquiry's stark statistics have intensified the pressure on the Conservative government over its handling of one of the most significant peacetime challenges faced by the nation.
