The long-awaited report from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry into the decisions made by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his senior team is set to be published this afternoon.
A Catalogue of Criticism
Over a series of hearings, the inquiry, chaired by former Court of Appeal judge Baroness Heather Hallett, heard extensive evidence from key figures at the heart of the UK's pandemic response. These included Mr Johnson himself and former health secretary Matt Hancock, who were questioned on their thinking in the critical early months of 2020, leading up to the first national lockdown announced in March.
The probe examined a range of government measures, from the controversial 'Eat Out to Help Out' scheme to testing protocols and social distancing rules. A central theme that emerged was widespread criticism of the former Prime Minister's leadership style, with his administration being described as 'chaos as usual'.
Revealing Messages and a Heated Exchange
Disclosed WhatsApp messages and emails laid bare the significant disagreements and turmoil within Downing Street during the crisis. During his own testimony, Boris Johnson became visibly frustrated, at one point telling the inquiry 'You try' when pressed on the immense pressure of the situation. He maintained that it was 'very unlikely' the first lockdown could have been avoided by taking action earlier.
The findings are being published amidst continued grief and calls for accountability. The group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK issued a statement blaming 'failures by those in power' for the deaths of more than 230,000 people in the country.
The Report and its Aftermath
The full report from Baroness Hallett's inquiry will be made public at 4pm on Thursday, 20 November 2025. Its publication marks a pivotal moment for the UK, offering an official verdict on one of the most challenging periods in the nation's recent history and the leadership at the helm.
