Yahoo News WhatsApp reveals Boris Johnson went on 10-day break after warning virus ‘would sweep world’ - what you missed
Johnson said he took 'personal responsibility' for all decisions made by the government during the pandemic
Boris Johnson went on holiday for 10 days in February 2020, after being told that the COVID virus would "sweep the world" WhatsApps reveal.
Speaking at the COVID Inquiry on Wednesday, Johnson said he did not take a long break in February half-term 2020 and was still working.
He said “there wasn’t a long holiday that I took” and agreed he returned to Downing Street three times during that period.
However, a WhatsApp message sent on 6 February showed Johnson took a break after his top adviser Dominic Cummings warned the virus was "out of control now" and would "sweep world".
The session kicked off with several hecklers, who were removed from the inquiry after being told to sit down as Johnson apologised - one later told the press outside that she "did not want his apology".
During the session, which lasted from 10am-4.30pm, Johnson was questioned on the speed of the government's response to the COVID outbreak, as well as in-fighting, lockdowns and WhatsApp messages.
With Wednesday's session now over, here are the highlights from Boris Johnson's tough day of questioning:
Johnson said he was “not sure” whether government decision-making had led to “materially” a larger number of excess deaths as a result of the pandemic - questioning the counsel's description of the UK as among the worst performers in Europe.
Johnson admitted he should not have shaken hands with patients at the Royal Free Hospital in London during the early days of COVID.
The former prime minister said that he regretted not having more women in top positions and it was something that “should have done better”, adding that there were “challenging and competing characters" in his administration.
Johnson admitted questioning why his government was destroying the economy "for people who will die anyway soon
Johnson defended keeping his health secretary Matt Hancock in his post despite being adviser to sack him, although he said he did not recall Hancock asking for an earlier lockdown.
Johnson said Downing Street head official's message saying 'I’ve never seen a bunch of people less well-equipped to run a country' was par for the course in politics.
Government was not as alarmed as it should have been over COVID in early days, Johnson said, as a result of previous memories of viruses such as Sars - which spread less widely.
You can read more about Boris Johnson's testimony in our blog below.
