Prime Minister defends Eat Out To Help Out during six-hour Covid inquiry hearing

Rishi Sunak made an impassioned defence of his Eat Out To Help Out scheme during a six-hour evidence session in front of the Covid inquiry.

The Prime Minister, who served as chancellor during the coronavirus pandemic, introduced the hospitality discount scheme in 2020 to support the hard-hit sector as the UK emerged from coronavirus restrictions imposed during the first lockdown.

Critics have claimed the policy – announced as part of Mr Sunak’s summer economic update on July 8 2020, and providing 50% off the cost of food and/or non-alcoholic drinks – helped the virus to spread.

But Mr Sunak said hospitality settings were “safe” places as