Two of the most senior members of the government displayed “nuclear levels” of overconfidence as the coronavirus loomed, the UK Covid inquiry was told on Wednesday.
Former deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara, then one of the country’s highest-ranking civil servants, said there was a “lack of humanity” at the heart of government actions.
Boris Johnson, prime minister at the time, displayed a “breezy” air that the UK would handle the pandemic well, even as the seriousness of the crisis and the lack of planning was becoming clear, one of the country’s senior civil servants said.
Matt Hancock – who was health secretary at the time – when asked if he needed help, pretended to be a batsman at the crease, batting away the pressures of the job, the inquiry heard.
Ms MacNamara said she had warned that the UK was “heading for a disaster” in which thousands of people would die, 10 days before the first coronavirus lockdown was ordered.
But often the mood inside the cabinet failed to recognise the seriousness of Covid, she said.
On March 13, 2020, she warned of looming tragedy after being told by Department for Health official Mark Sweeney that there were no government plans for a pandemic.
“I think the country is heading for a disaster. I think we are going to kill thousands of people,” she recalled saying in the prime minister’s study at a meeting with Mr Johnson's chief adviser Dominic Cummings and others. Mr Johnson had not been present.
Ms MacNamara said there was a “pattern” of “being reassured that something was absolutely fine” by Mr Hancock before discovering it was “very, very far from fine”.
Mr Hancock has “time and time again”, without “any ambiguity”, told the cabinet that plans were in place during the pandemic, which did not turn out to be the case.
In Ms MacNamara's witness statement, she described asking Mr Hancock if he needed any extra support.
“He reassured me that he was 'loving responsibility' and to demonstrate this took up a batsman's stance outside the cabinet room and said 'they bowl them at me, I knock them away',” the statement read.
The batsman incident demonstrated “nuclear levels” of overconfidence in government during the pandemic, the inquiry heard.
Mr Johnson was dismissive of early warnings early about the seriousness of the pandemic, she told the inquiry.
In January and February 2020, Ms MacMamara said her “injections of caution” about the uncertainty of the situation surrounding Covid-19 “did not register with Mr Johnson”.
“In those early Cabinet meetings in particular Mr Johnson was very confident that the UK would sail through and we should all be careful of over-correcting in advance of something that was unlikely to have a huge impact and for which – in any case – we were well prepared.”
She said Mr Johnson's “breezy confidence” jarred with her.
“It was the day on which there was a question about whether the Prime Minister should shake hands with people on a visit to the hospital and there was a jokey discussion about alternative greetings to handshakes,” she said in a witness statement.
“The Prime Minister felt – not unreasonably – that it was a bit ridiculous for him to suggest alternative greetings.
“But the jovial tone, the view that in implementing containment measures and suspending work and schooling, the Italians were overreacting, and the breezy confidence that we would do better than others had jarred with me.
“I remember saying that I thought that all people wanted to know was what was the right thing to do – and that was not clear.”
The official inquiry aims to learn lessons from Britain's response to the pandemic.
Earlier this week, Mr Cummings and Lee Cain, two former political staffers who worked inside the Prime Minister’s office, gave evidence.
Mr Cummings, who left government after a lockdown-breaching cross-country drive, said Mr Johnson believed Covid-19 was “nature’s way of dealing with old people”.
Mr Johnson will give a “full account” of his actions during the pandemic to the Covid inquiry, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said.
“What I think you are seeing there is very partial, one piece of evidence among many others. I am quite sure that when the former prime minister gives evidence he will give a full account of himself, the cabinet office has given a very full account of how we conducted ourselves,” the minister said.
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
WWE Evolution results
- Trish Stratus and Lita beat Alicia Fox and Mickie James in a tag match
- Nia Jax won a battle royal, eliminating Ember Moon last to win
- Toni Storm beat Io Shirai to win the Mae Young Classic
- Natalya, Sasha Banks and Bayley beat The Riott Squad in a six-woman tag match
- Shayna Baszler won the NXT Women’s title by defeating Kairi Sane
- Becky Lynch retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match
- Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women’s title by beating Nikki Bella
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The full list of 2020 Brit Award nominees (winners in bold):
British group
Coldplay
Foals
Bring me the Horizon
D-Block Europe
Bastille
British Female
Mabel
Freya Ridings
FKA Twigs
Charli xcx
Mahalia
British male
Harry Styles
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Michael Kiwanuka
Stormzy
Best new artist
Aitch
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Mabel
Sam Fender
Best song
Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber - I Don’t Care
Mabel - Don’t Call Me Up
Calvin Harrison and Rag’n’Bone Man - Giant
Dave - Location
Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
AJ Tracey - Ladbroke Grove
Lewis Capaldi - Someone you Loved
Tom Walker - Just You and I
Sam Smith and Normani - Dancing with a Stranger
Stormzy - Vossi Bop
International female
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Camila Cabello
Lana Del Rey
Lizzo
International male
Bruce Springsteen
Burna Boy
Tyler, The Creator
Dermot Kennedy
Post Malone
Best album
Stormzy - Heavy is the Head
Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka
Lewis Capaldi - Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent
Dave - Psychodrama
Harry Styles - Fine Line
Rising star
Celeste
Joy Crookes
beabadoobee
Company%20profile
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Company%20Profile
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The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
25%20Days%20to%20Aden
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