Michael Gove apologises after Covid report alleges ‘toxic’ culture
Former cabinet minister Lord Michael Gove has apologized on behalf of the then government and the Conservative Party for “mistakes” made during the coronavirus outbreak.
In its long-awaited report released on Thursday, Baroness Hallett said then-prime minister Boris Johnson oversaw a “toxic and chaotic” culture at No 10 during Covid.
Lord Gove told the BBC’s Today program that some “attitudes” in Downing Street were “far from ideal” but added that in a crisis “the business of government cannot be run like a Jane Austen novel”.
He also said an earlier lockdown would have been “wiser” but questioned the report’s claim that it would mean fewer deaths.
Responding to the report, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the government would learn from the report and was already “taking measures to ensure not only the NHS but the government as a whole is prepared for any eventuality”.
The 800-page investigative report said a week ago that imposing a Covid lockdown could have saved 23,000 lives in the first wave in England, but that does not mean the overall death toll will fall.
He said the lockdown could have been avoided if the government had introduced restrictions such as social distancing and isolating people with symptoms earlier.
The report described February 2020 as a “lost month” and said the government’s lack of urgency was “inexcusable”.
