Rishi prepares for inquiry grilling

POLITICIANS have accused the Covid Inquiry of ignoring the economic and social price of lockdown as Rishi Sunak prepares to be quizzed on his role in the pandemic tomorrow, writes Anna Mikhailova.

The PM is expected to face questions over his claims that scientists had too much power, as well as his rollout of Eat Out To Help Out.

Last night MPs expressed concern that the inquiry’s focus in grilling the then-Chancellor will not be on the economic costs of the lockdowns or furlough, or the amount of money he borrowed to fund them, but are too much of a ‘witch-hunt’ of antilockdown views. Among evidence submitted is an interview Mr

Sunak gave during last year’s leadership contest in which he said scientists were ‘empowered’ too much during the pandemic.

The inquiry’s lead counsel, Hugo Keith KC, is expected to grill the PM on his comments. An ex-Cabinet Minister told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The lawyers are interested in the tittle-tattle of who did what to whom. The whole inquiry is already shaped on, “Why didn’t you lockdown quicker? Why didn’t you stay in lockdown?” and the assumption that lockdown is good. The question should be: were these attempted lockdowns fine, or were they damaging?’ A Government spokesman said: ‘It is important that we learn the lessons of the pandemic. That is why we established the inquiry.’