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Tory leadership: Rishi Sunak criticises Covid lockdown response Tory leadership: Rishi Sunak criticises Covid lockdown response
(32 minutes later)
Rishi Sunak has criticised the government's response to Covid - suggesting independent scientific advisers were given too much authority.Rishi Sunak has criticised the government's response to Covid - suggesting independent scientific advisers were given too much authority.
Mr Sunak - chancellor in the pandemic - told the Spectator magazine there had not been enough discussion about the negative side-effects of lockdowns.Mr Sunak - chancellor in the pandemic - told the Spectator magazine there had not been enough discussion about the negative side-effects of lockdowns.
He said he had felt "emotional" when he argued to keep schools in England open.He said he had felt "emotional" when he argued to keep schools in England open.
Downing Street said the economy and education had been "central" considerations in decision-making.Downing Street said the economy and education had been "central" considerations in decision-making.
In his interview, Mr Sunak also hit out at campaign posters showing Covid patients on ventilators, saying it was "wrong" to "scare people".In his interview, Mr Sunak also hit out at campaign posters showing Covid patients on ventilators, saying it was "wrong" to "scare people".
His comments come as the Conservative leadership contest enters its final days, with the results due on 5 September.His comments come as the Conservative leadership contest enters its final days, with the results due on 5 September.
The winner of the contest - Mr Sunak or Foreign Secretary Liz Truss - will replace Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and as prime minister.The winner of the contest - Mr Sunak or Foreign Secretary Liz Truss - will replace Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and as prime minister.
Sunak: I flew home to stop Christmas lockdownSunak: I flew home to stop Christmas lockdown
Covid infections in UK continue to fallCovid infections in UK continue to fall
What are the policies of final two hoping to be PM?What are the policies of final two hoping to be PM?
During the campaign, both candidates have sought to highlight areas where they disagreed with the government in which they served, with Ms Truss saying she was opposed to the rise to National Insurance.During the campaign, both candidates have sought to highlight areas where they disagreed with the government in which they served, with Ms Truss saying she was opposed to the rise to National Insurance.
As chancellor from February 2020 to July 2022, Mr Sunak played a key role in the government's response to coronavirus, including establishing the furlough scheme and the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.As chancellor from February 2020 to July 2022, Mr Sunak played a key role in the government's response to coronavirus, including establishing the furlough scheme and the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
Speaking to the Spectator, Mr Sunak insisted he did not want to blame individuals but said he believes a series of mistakes were made by ministers during the pandemic.Speaking to the Spectator, Mr Sunak insisted he did not want to blame individuals but said he believes a series of mistakes were made by ministers during the pandemic.
He said ministers were not given enough information to scrutinise analysis produced by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) - a group of independent experts advising the government.He said ministers were not given enough information to scrutinise analysis produced by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) - a group of independent experts advising the government.
"We shouldn't have empowered the scientists in the way we did," he is quoted as saying."We shouldn't have empowered the scientists in the way we did," he is quoted as saying.
Mr Sunak says ministers should have talked more about what he described as the "trade-offs" of lockdowns, such as NHS backlogs and the impact on children's education.Mr Sunak says ministers should have talked more about what he described as the "trade-offs" of lockdowns, such as NHS backlogs and the impact on children's education.
'Big silence''Big silence'
"The script was not to ever acknowledge them. The script was: oh there's no trade-off, because doing this for our health is good for the economy."The script was not to ever acknowledge them. The script was: oh there's no trade-off, because doing this for our health is good for the economy.
"Those meetings were literally me around that table, just fighting. It was incredibly uncomfortable every single time."Those meetings were literally me around that table, just fighting. It was incredibly uncomfortable every single time.
"I was like, 'forget about the economy - surely we can all agree that kids not being in school is a major nightmare.' There was a big silence afterwards. It was the first time someone had said it. I was so furious.""I was like, 'forget about the economy - surely we can all agree that kids not being in school is a major nightmare.' There was a big silence afterwards. It was the first time someone had said it. I was so furious."
A bit late in the day?A bit late in the day?
This isn't the first time Rishi Sunak has expressed concerns about his own government's handling of the pandemic.This isn't the first time Rishi Sunak has expressed concerns about his own government's handling of the pandemic.
Early in the leadership campaign, he said he flew back from California when the Omicron variant was spreading rapidly in order to stop a Covid lockdown.Early in the leadership campaign, he said he flew back from California when the Omicron variant was spreading rapidly in order to stop a Covid lockdown.
But in his Spectator interview, he goes further in denouncing the whole approach of the government he served in - what he calls "the fear narrative".But in his Spectator interview, he goes further in denouncing the whole approach of the government he served in - what he calls "the fear narrative".
And the implication is that it was he and not his Tory leadership rival who was asking the difficult questions about the scientific advice.And the implication is that it was he and not his Tory leadership rival who was asking the difficult questions about the scientific advice.
Of course, Liz Truss at the time did not have a domestic portfolio and would not have attended many of the Covid meetings that were held between full cabinet gatherings.Of course, Liz Truss at the time did not have a domestic portfolio and would not have attended many of the Covid meetings that were held between full cabinet gatherings.
Mr Sunak's team insist this was not a planned intervention in the leadership contest - it was simply that the Spectator wanted to ask about lockdown.Mr Sunak's team insist this was not a planned intervention in the leadership contest - it was simply that the Spectator wanted to ask about lockdown.
The point he was making was not attempt to rake over the past, they say. The point he was making was not an attempt to rake over the past, they say.
Instead, it was to emphasise he would do things differently in government - with more accountability and with ministers being given the information they need.Instead, it was to emphasise he would do things differently in government - with more accountability and with ministers being given the information they need.
It is likely, though, that the concerns he expressed in his interview - about school closures, an NHS backlog and the economic impact of the pandemic - will be shared by a significant segment of the Conservative membership.It is likely, though, that the concerns he expressed in his interview - about school closures, an NHS backlog and the economic impact of the pandemic - will be shared by a significant segment of the Conservative membership.
But with just 10 days to go, it may be rather late in the day for him to open a new front in the leadership battle.But with just 10 days to go, it may be rather late in the day for him to open a new front in the leadership battle.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "Throughout the pandemic, public health, education, and the economy were central to the difficult decisions made on Covid restrictions to protect the British public from an unprecedented novel virus.A Downing Street spokesman said: "Throughout the pandemic, public health, education, and the economy were central to the difficult decisions made on Covid restrictions to protect the British public from an unprecedented novel virus.
"At every point, ministers made collective decisions which considered a wide range of expert advice available at the time in order to protect public health.""At every point, ministers made collective decisions which considered a wide range of expert advice available at the time in order to protect public health."
A public inquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic has been set up, with public hearings to begin next year.A public inquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic has been set up, with public hearings to begin next year.
A report from MPs last year said the UK should have acted sooner to stop Covid spreading early in the pandemic.A report from MPs last year said the UK should have acted sooner to stop Covid spreading early in the pandemic.
Mr Sunak and Ms Truss are due to take part in a hustings for Conservative Party members in Norwich on Thursday evening.Mr Sunak and Ms Truss are due to take part in a hustings for Conservative Party members in Norwich on Thursday evening.