COVID inquiry live: Boris Johnson shouldn't be 'singled out for criticism'

Michael Gove has defended Boris Johnson from claims that he had oscillated in his decision-making over lockdowns during the pandemic.

The Levelling Up Secretary told the inquiry: “He preferred gladiatorial decision-making rather than inquisitorial. He wanted to see the two cases or the three cases rehearsed in front of him, or even rehearsed in his own mind.

“Any prime minister is entitled to test propositions and to think ‘is the restriction of liberty and the economic damage consequent upon lockdown worth inflicting on people in order to prevent the spread of this virus’?”

Gove also said Johnson’s “principled attachment to maximising individual liberty” meant it was “difficult for him to contemplate something like this”.

“I don’t think that one can single out the prime minister at the time for criticism. We all deserve our share retrospectively of criticism.”

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