Prof Sir Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, expressed concern about potential threats to expert advisers during the Covid inquiry. He highlighted two main concerns: first, universities becoming more hesitant to spare academics for emergency work, and second, the increasing amount of abuse and threats directed towards experts during the Covid crisis. Whitty emphasized the importance of society appreciating and supporting the work of these experts, who often work unpaid. He also acknowledged the need for better planning to prevent pandemics and the importance of having contingency plans in place.
Whitty further discussed the difficulty faced by advisory committees in making radical proposals, such as implementing a lockdown, without external requests from senior politicians. He admitted that more thought should have been given to preventing a pandemic like Covid, rather than just dealing with its consequences. While there were government documents that focused on influenza risks, Whitty clarified that the focus of his own thinking and the advisory group he is a part of extends beyond influenza. He concluded by acknowledging that there should have been more consideration given to stopping a pandemic on the scale of Covid.
In a separate discussion, Penny Mordaunt, leader of the Commons, declined to support calls for Boris Johnson to be removed from the privy council. Although she understood the motivations behind these calls, she explained that the threshold for removing someone from the privy council is much higher, usually involving serious criminal offences. She also emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of these systems while keeping controversies away from the monarchy.
Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, admitted that meeting his pledge to halve inflation has become more challenging. However, he assured that the government is making robust efforts to address this issue. He highlighted the importance of restraint on public sector pay and avoiding fueling wage-price spirals. Sunak acknowledged that his target has become harder to achieve but expressed determination to continue striving towards it.
Following the privileges committee report into Boris Johnson, Sunak’s personal ratings have suffered. His response to the report was criticized, and he has faced backlash for not providing clear guidance. However, he attempted to address concerns through a Twitter thread outlining his plans to combat inflation and support the public with the cost of living.
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