Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly took a four-day holiday to ride his motorbike and entertain guests while the UK faced the onset of the deadly pandemic. This alleged minibreak occurred during the February 2020 half-term holidays, as indicated by leaked government documents. Johnson purportedly retreated to the Chevening estate in Kent, stepping away from official duties at a critical juncture. The subsequent covid inquiry highlighted that implementing a lockdown a week earlier could have potentially saved over 20,000 lives, labeling February 2020 as a “lost month.”
During this period, the former Prime Minister seemingly dedicated his time to leisure activities such as walking his dogs and motorbike riding. The covid inquiry pointed out that the government’s response to the virus seemed to stall during the half-term break when Johnson, 61, temporarily left Westminster for Kent. Despite his assertions of continuous work during that time, official records appear to contradict his claims, according to The Guardian.
Documents suggest that Johnson did not engage in official government tasks between February 15 to 17 and the 21st. However, he reportedly found time to engage in personal activities like walking his dog, hosting social gatherings, and enjoying rides on a motorbike gifted by his wife Carrie. Records from February 12 to 24 allegedly do not show the Prime Minister actively addressing Covid-related matters and preparations for the impending pandemic, despite his assertion of discussing the virus with other world leaders.
The recent inquiry concluded that Johnson’s government responded inadequately and belatedly to the pandemic, with suggestions that initiating the lockdown a week earlier could have significantly mitigated the crisis. The inquiry also highlighted a “toxic and chaotic” atmosphere prevailing in Downing Street during Johnson’s leadership, emphasizing the need for urgent prime ministerial intervention in emergencies.
In her closing statement, inquiry chair Baroness Hallett underscored the importance of learning from these missteps and implementing crucial changes to avoid repeating the human and financial toll of the Covid-19 pandemic.