UK Covid inquiry: Boris Johnson denies wanting to ‘let the virus rip’

For two days this week former British prime minister Boris Johnson has answered questions at the UK’s Covid inquiry. On day one, Wednesday, he admitted that he and his advisers felt bewildered and frazzled at the outbreak of the pandemic while maintaining that the big calls he made were the right ones.

In a day where Johnson’s famous theatrics were not in evidence, the session broke for lunch when he became emotional. Many of his former colleagues, as well as Britain’s top scientific advisers have already given evidence about the former prime minister’s actions, some highly damning and on Thursday he defended himself against some of them saying he was not “reconciled” to Covid deaths or thought it wise to “let it rip” in the autumn of 2020.

Irish Times London correspondent has attended the inquiry for both of Johnson’s days and he tells In the News how the former PM’s response to Covid will be his legacy. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.