In testimony at the Covid inquiry, Rishi Sunak revealed that officials advised against implementing Covid restrictions too early to avoid potential resistance from the public. Sunak, who served as Chancellor during the initial outbreak in March 2020, spoke after a critical report from the Covid inquiry scrutinizing the government’s decision-making process during the crisis.
The inquiry highlighted the government’s delayed response as “inexcusable,” leading to unnecessary loss of life and eventual full lockdown measures. Sunak disclosed that the initial guidance from Treasury officials was cautious about early intervention, citing concerns over public acceptance. The medical and scientific community initially believed that voluntary social distancing and school closures would suffice to control the virus before realizing the need for a mandatory lockdown shortly after.
During his second appearance at the inquiry, Sunak expressed condolences to families who lost loved ones to the virus, acknowledging the unprecedented uncertainty surrounding the pandemic when he assumed his role as Chancellor. He emphasized the lack of a definitive strategy for dealing with a pandemic, similar to established frameworks for economic or financial crises.
Regarding the government’s economic response, Sunak acknowledged that not all jobs could be saved but stressed the effort to prevent mass unemployment. He underscored the importance of transparency in communicating the potential economic hardships resulting from the crisis. Sunak praised the government’s success in averting widespread job losses, surpassing initial forecasts, and pointed to the efficacy of the furlough scheme, which preserved millions of jobs at a cost of approximately £70 billion.
This information was shared during a session of the Covid inquiry, shedding light on the decision-making processes and challenges faced by the government amid the unprecedented crisis.