Boris Johnson said 'F** you Daily Mail' about COVID rule-of-six - what you missed today

Johnson is facing more questions about the UK's response to the coronavirus pandemic

Harriet Sinclair
·Deputy News Editor
Updated ·3-min read
A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Covid-19 Inquiry shows Britain's former Prime Minister Boris Johnson giving evidence at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, in west London, on December 7, 2023. The former UK leader, who has faced a barrage of criticism from ex-aides for alleged indecisiveness and lack of scientific understanding during the pandemic, is attending the second of two gruelling days in the witness box. (Photo by UK Covid-19 Inquiry / AFP) / XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Daily Mail had probably said something that wound him up.. (UK COVID-19 Inquiry/AFP via Getty Images)

Boris Johnson had said "f*** you Daily Mail" after he was criticised over the COVID 'rule of six'.

Pete Weatherby KC, who represents the Covid Bereaved Families for Justice, who are a core participant in the inquiry, has shown former prime minister Boris Johnson an extract from the diary of Patrick Vallance, his former chief scientific adviser, that talks about the rule of six for social gatherings during the pandemic.

It says: “PM ‘everyone says the rule of six is so unfair, punishing the young but F*** YOU Daily Mail – look this is all about stopping deaths. We need to tell them’.

Johnson apologised for his language but Wetherby interjected, saying: “Well, it’s in shouty capitals and underlined.”

Johnson replied: “Well not by me”. The former PM said he did not recall the tone of the extract being accurate, saying: “What I can tell you, if indeed it is accurate, is that what I would have been saying is that… this is September… you can see the risk that the virus is going to start taking off again and I’m extremely worried and, with great respect to you sir, it looks to me as though what I’m saying here is that the priority is to – and I am sorry to have said this about the Daily Mail – stop death.”

With Thursday's session now over, here are the highlights from Boris Johnson's tough day of questioning:

  • Johnson rejected a suggestion by his former chief of staff Lord Udny-Lister that he had “no real personal relationship” with then-Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

  • Johnson was accusing of backing “bulls**t ‘no surrender’ ideas” from his ministers then come to regret it later, WhatsApps between then-Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, former chief adviser Dominic Cummings and former Downing Street director of communications Lee Cain showed.

  • Johnson referred to the Government’s facemask policy in the summer of 2020 as “f***** up” in messages to Cummings.

  • The former PM said he could not be sure if institutional racism resulted in poorer COVID outcomes for BAME people.

  • Johnson said he regretted the hurt caused by his comments that older people "had a good innings" or "were going to die anyway", but argued he wanted people to speak freely and felt that by using such language he was encouraging this.

  • The former prime minister said that early on he was told that “we did have a very good test and trace system and ample preparations but that turned out not to be true”.

Day one: key moments

You can read more about Boris Johnson's testimony in our blog below.

London, UK. 6th Dec, 2023. Former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, leaves the Covid inquiry. This is the first day of his evidence. He will be back tomorrow for further questioning. Credit: Karl Black/Alamy Live News
Boris Johnson leaves the COVID inquiry following a six-hour grilling on Thursday. (Alamy)

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