In a gripping testimony before the UK’s Covid Inquiry, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson candidly addressed the controversial decisions made during the pandemic that impacted children across the nation. With papers in hand, Johnson arrived at the inquiry before sunrise, prepared to answer questions on the far-reaching consequences of school closures.
The inquiry has shed light on the profound effects the pandemic had on student attendance, behaviour, screen time, and speech and language development. Demand for speech and language support has surged, while persistent student absenteeism and record-high school suspensions and exclusions have become stubborn issues.
Johnson acknowledged the school closures as a “personal horror” and a “nightmare idea”, but claimed they seemed like the only viable option at the time. However, the former education secretary, Gavin Williamson, told the inquiry that ministers should have “bitten the bullet” and done more to prepare for such closures.
The chaotic decision-making process at the heart of government was further highlighted by the former children’s commissioner, Anne Longfield, who stated that it was unclear who held responsibility for planning for children’s welfare during the pandemic.
The tension between Johnson and Williamson, the two individuals with the highest responsibility for children’s wellbeing, was palpable. Leaked messages revealed Johnson’s desire to fire those in the Department for Education after the exam results fiasco of August 2020, while Williamson’s expletive-laden rant to his former boss lamented the “abuse” he received for the school closure decision.
Now, Johnson concedes that the lockdowns and social-distancing rules “probably went too far” and that there could have been a way to make children exempt. These are the crucial points that the inquiry chair, Baroness Heather Hallett, will be closely examining in her final report, with an eye towards better preparedness for any future crises.
As the inquiry progressed, the public gallery was filled, and campaigners from various groups, including Long Covid Kids and Clinically Vulnerable Families, made their voices heard outside the building. Johnson, accustomed to addressing large crowds, was visibly eager to finish his testimony and depart, a clear indication that he would be relieved not to return to the inquiry.
