In a recent discussion on LBC Radio, Rachel Johnson commented on the report led by judge Baroness Heather Hallett, which criticized the UK’s pandemic response as “insufficient and delayed.” Johnson quipped that the report, spanning 800 pages, and costing £200 million, concluded that Boris Johnson’s late lockdown decision led to 23,000 deaths, citing data from Professor Neil Ferguson.
The report highlighted a chaotic atmosphere within the government during the pandemic, impacting decision-making. It found that rule-breaking went unchecked, leading to non-compliance with lockdown measures. Baroness Hallett emphasized the need for urgent leadership from the Prime Minister to tackle the emergency effectively.
Additionally, the report revealed that officials were aware of the potential severity of the situation but failed to grasp the escalating risks. Responding to the report, Johnson dismissed the conclusions as exaggerated and criticized the hindsight bias reflected in the findings.
Baroness Hallett also criticized Boris Johnson for his overly optimistic approach and lack of urgency in addressing the crisis. Despite the criticism, Johnson staunchly defended her brother and reiterated her belief that lockdowns were the wrong approach, labeling them as the worst decision post-World War II.
She maintained that protecting the vulnerable should have been the priority instead of imposing broad lockdown measures that she deemed unnecessary and detrimental to the economy and society.