Boris Johnson did not take Covid-19 ‘seriously’ early in pandemic, inquiry told

Boris Johnson was like the “absent manager” of a football team during the pandemic, a public inquiry has heard.

Mark Drakeford, the outgoing Labour First Minister of Wales, heavily criticised the former prime minister, during his appearance at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on Wednesday.

Some 12,300 people died due to the virus in Wales and there were more than 43,000 coronavirus-related admissions to hospital.

Mr Drakeford – who is due to leave his post next week – said the PM was “not taking it seriously” during the early pandemic and accused him of being deliberately unclear when new rules only applied to England.