Families who lost loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic are demanding severe consequences for former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, following the publication of a scathing report into his government's handling of the crisis.
Families Demand Accountability and Financial Sanctions
The campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK has issued a powerful statement calling for Mr Johnson to be stripped of the financial benefits and privileges afforded to former prime ministers. The group, which represents approximately 7,000 members across the UK, described his actions as "one of the gravest betrayals of the British public in modern history."
Their demands are explicit: Boris Johnson should have no role in public life and no further entitlement to public funds. This includes the withdrawal of his ministerial pension, his place on the privy council, and his access to the public duty costs allowance.
Inquiry Findings: 'Too Little, Too Late'
The second report from the public inquiry, led by retired judge Heather Hallett and published on Thursday, delivered a devastating verdict on Mr Johnson's leadership. It concluded that his government acted "too little, too late" in its response to the emerging pandemic.
A key finding highlighted that if the UK had entered lockdown just one week earlier in March 2020, approximately 23,000 lives could have been saved. The report criticised the former Prime Minister for his indecisiveness, noting he "repeatedly changed his mind on whether to introduce tougher restrictions and failed to make timely decisions."
Furthermore, the inquiry painted a picture of a dysfunctional Downing Street, stating that Mr Johnson had "intentionally fostered conflict and a chaotic working environment," which severely hampered effective decision-making during a national emergency.
Legal Action and Political Fallout
The bereaved families have declared their intention to pursue "all available legal options" to secure personal accountability for Mr Johnson. They stated, "While our focus has always been on learning lessons to save lives in the future, individual accountability must be part of delivering justice."
The call for financial sanctions is particularly pointed given that Mr Johnson is entitled to claim up to £115,000 a year through the public duty costs allowance, a sum he claimed in full for the 2024/25 financial year. The families labelled this situation "intolerable," stating they should not be expected to "subsidise the lifestyle of the man whose decisions led to the deaths of our loved ones."
In response to the report, former cabinet minister Michael Gove offered an apology for the government's mistakes, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme he was sorry for the "sense of, not just grief, but understandable anger" the findings would provoke. However, he defended Mr Johnson, rejecting the characterisation of a "toxic and chaotic" environment and suggesting that governing during a crisis cannot be conducted like "a Jane Austen novel."
