UK Covid-19 inquiry grills Rishi Sunak over Eat Out scheme

An inquiry into the British government’s handling of the Covid pandemic has revealed what experts really thought of Rishi Sunak when he was chief financial minister.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued a grovelling apology to “those who lost loved ones” as it was revealed government scientists referred to him as “Dr Death” over concerns about his push to keep the economy going during the pandemic.

His apology came as Britons revealed Mr Sunak, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2020 to 2022, handled the pandemic badly, a poll has revealed.

Previously, former British PM Boris Johnson defended his ‘let it rip’ approach to the pandemic.

“It’s important that we learn the lessons so that we can be better prepared in the future,” Prime Minister Sunak told the London inquiry.

“And in that spirit, with enormous respect for all of those who are here today, I look forward to giving evidence and in very constructive candour to help the inquiry with its deliberations.”

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak giving evidence at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, in London, on December 11, 2023. Picture: UK Covid-19 Inquiry / AFP

Mr Sunak is facing accusations his Eat Out to Help Out scheme exacerbated the spread of coronavirus today and is expected to be grilled on whether he believed scientists were handed too much power and if enough consideration was given to the impact of lockdowns.

Messages have revealed that government scientists referred to him as “Dr Death, the Chancellor” over his determined attempts to keep economic activity thriving while leading the Treasury during the pandemic.

The scheme enabled people to buy half-price food and non-alcoholic drinks in restaurants for 12 days in August 2020 to kick start the hospitality business following months of lockdown closures.

More than half — 52 per cent — of those asked in a YouGov survey said Sunak’s flagship Eat Out to Help Out scheme was a “bad idea,” with just a third — 32 per cent — saying it was a good idea.

People hold posters as they protest before the arrival of Britain's Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, at the Covid Inquiry on December 11, 2023 in London. Picture: Getty Images

The Prime Minister said that he did not hand over his WhatsApp communications from around the time of the pandemic because he had changed his phone “multiple times over the last few years”.

“Your phone, you said, doesn’t retain, and nor do you have access to, text messages at all relating to the period of the crisis,” Hugo Keith KC said.

“In addition, you said although on occasion you use WhatsApp to communicate around meetings and logistics and so on, you generally were only party to WhatsApp groups that were set up to deal with individual circumstances such as arrangements for calls, meetings and so on and so forth. You don’t now have access to any of the WhatsApps that you did send during the time of the crisis, do you?”

Mr Sunak replied: “No, I don’t, I’ve changed my phone multiple times over the past few years and, as that has happened, the messages have not come across.”

Britain's Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, arrives at the Covid Inquiry. He was questioned during phase 2 of the Covid-19 Inquiry over government decision-making during the pandemic. Picture: Getty Images

He told the inquiry he saw Boris Johnson more than his wife during the pandemic.

He said: “I mean, I saw the prime minister probably more than I saw my own wife for this period of time.”

Asked whether he had opportunities to make his views on Covid restrictions known to the then-prime minister, Mr Sunak told the Inquiry: “As a general rule, I always felt that I could.”

“We were working very closely together as I was with my other Cabinet colleagues.

“If I was having lunch with my family in the garden at the same time that the prime minister was, on a typical weekend in Downing Street, then we would obviously be chatting as we were barbecuing.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves after testifying at the Covid Inquiry in London, England. Picture: Getty Images

“I think it is genuinely impossible for every single conversation between two cabinet ministers, whoever they are, to be recorded.”

Mr Sunak said he could not recall the Cabinet meeting where it was decided the country would go into lockdown.

“I can’t precisely recall that particular meeting but as I said the track record of all those meetings, 16th, 18th, 20th and 23rd was the government following the scientific advice that was put in about the right NPIs to implement and at what time based on protecting the NHS,” he said.