Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was deemed as “toxic,” “chaotic,” and indecisive, leading to a delayed lockdown that caused approximately 23,000 additional deaths, according to a report from a public inquiry released on Thursday. The UK experienced over 230,000 COVID-related deaths, comparable to rates in the US and Italy but higher than other Western European countries, impacting the nation’s economy.
The inquiry, initiated by Johnson in May 2021, criticized his government’s response to the pandemic, highlighting his lack of swift leadership, violations of rules within his office, and condemning his top aide, Dominic Cummings. Former judge Heather Hallett, chair of the inquiry, described a culture of chaos and toxicity at the heart of the UK government during the pandemic.
The report stated that Johnson underestimated the severity of the virus in early 2020, being preoccupied with Brexit negotiations and failing to grasp the urgency of the situation. Hallett emphasized that Johnson should have taken immediate action to address the emergency and provide essential leadership.
The report highlighted that a delayed lockdown announcement on March 23, 2020, resulted in avoidable deaths, estimating that if the lockdown had been implemented a week earlier, around 23,000 lives could have been saved in the first wave. The inquiry also noted that subsequent delays in responding to rising cases led to additional national lockdowns.
Although acknowledging the difficult decisions faced by Johnson, the report criticized his inconsistent decision-making and failure to act promptly despite a better understanding of the virus. Johnson later expressed regret for the government’s complacency and for underestimating the risks during his testimony before the committee in 2023.