COVID inquiry: Boris Johnson denies he was ‘manipulated or pushed’ into first lockdown

Boris Johnson has informed the COVID inquiry he “would be surprised” if he’d stated he was “manipulated or pushed” into implementing the primary lockdown.

Written proof that the previous prime minister submitted to the inquiry in August has been revealed, with Mr Johnson saying he had mirrored on whether or not the lockdowns “did more harm than good”.

It comes after these near Mr Johnson throughout his time in Number 10 gave proof to the inquiry in individual this week.

Dominic Cummings, his former chief aide, informed the inquiry in regards to the selections made within the early days of the pandemic and claimed scientists tended to be proof against the concept of lockdown in late February or early March.

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In his paperwork to the COVID inquiry, Mr Johnson stated: “I would be surprised if I ever said that I had been manipulated or pushed into the first lockdown or that I had been ‘gamed on the numbers’ or anything to this effect.”

He went on to say that he has “reflected (no doubt out loud and no doubt many times) about whether the lockdowns would do (and did do) more harm than good”.

The former PM added: “I believe that it was the duty of any pragmatic and responsible leader to have such a debate, both with himself and with colleagues.

“We had been between a rock and a tough place, the satan and the deep blue sea.”

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Mr Johnson is predicted to present proof in individual to the COVID inquiry later this 12 months.

In his written proof, he stated: “We simply had no good choices, and it was necessary at all times to weigh up the harms that any choice would cause.

“I used to be very nervous in regards to the financial hurt attributable to the motion we took in opposition to COVID-19 and whether or not it could do extra harm to the nation than the virus itself.

“But I always attached the highest priority to human life and public health.”

Mr Johnson stated that whereas it might have been “possible” to keep away from a lockdown, he couldn’t suppose how this might have been executed and not using a vaccine or medicine and thought it was “highly unlikely”.

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In his proof to the inquiry this week, Mr Cummings stated: “Many journalists now write about March 2020 as if public health experts were longing to do lockdown and bullied the PM into it.

“This story is completely false.

“In fact, public health experts in February-March were overwhelmingly hostile to lockdown, thinking it should not be tried and if tried could not work. Most public health experts only supported lockdown after it was done.”