Sajid Javido Today apologized for the government’s Covid ‘failures’ and insisted that a ‘lesson be learned’.
The health secretary insisted he was ‘sorry’ for the loss and suffering – anger erupted after a cabinet colleague refused to apologize 11 times in an interview earlier this week.
But speaking to broadcasters, Mr Javid also appeared to take a dig at the former Matt Hancock Pointing out that he was personally ‘out of government when a lot of important decisions were made’.
Mr Javid, who was removed as chancellor in a reshuffle in January 2020 but brought back as health secretary after Mr Hancock left the relationship with an aide in June this year, said:’ I was a humble backbencher.’
The first major investigation into the Covid crisis was published on Tuesday, concluding that thousands of care home residents died unnecessarily in the pandemic, and ministers were blindsided by ‘groupthink’ among scientific advisers who misrepresented wanted to manage the spread of the virus, rather than suppress it.
The dossier also claimed that the early No10 decisions on lockdown and social distancing rank as ‘one of Britain’s most significant public health failures to date’.
Sajid Javid insists he is ‘sorry’ for the loss and pain – a cabinet colleague sparked anger by refusing to apologize 11 times in an interview earlier this week
Mr Javid also appeared to take a swipe at predecessor Matt Hancock (pictured), pointing out that he was personally ‘out of government when a lot of those important decisions were made’
But Cabinet Office minister Stephen Barkley faced a backlash after he refused to apologize 11 times during an interview on Sky News on Tuesday.
Tory president Oliver Dowden said in a softer tone yesterday, saying he was ‘very sorry’ and admitted ‘we didn’t get everything right’.
Asked on BBC Breakfast this morning if he was sorry for the ‘failures’, Mr Javid said: ‘Yes, of course I am sorry.
‘Obviously I’m new to the role, but on behalf of the government, during a pandemic, anyone, especially anyone, who has lost a loved one, a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, a friend I’m sorry for the loss. Of course I’m sorry for that.
‘Even all those people who haven’t lost anyone but they are still suffering – many people have been suffering from covid for a long time, we still don’t know the effect to that. of course I am.
‘There will be lessons for this government to learn from this pandemic, for governments around the world, there will be lessons. It is important that is done.
‘There’s going to be a public inquiry and I think that’s the best place to learn that lesson.
‘But if you’re asking me if I’m sorry, of course I am.’
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today program what mistakes he was apologizing for, Mr Javid said: ‘What I am saying is sorry for the harm people have suffered and how they have been affected. I don’t think I am in a position right now to go back and see what has been decided and how we can do for that.’
Under pressure if he felt he was wrong as a backbench MP to argue for giving more weight to economic needs during the pandemic, Mr Javid said: ‘No, not me, the information I have and than do I know.’
He added: ‘I have been in this job for 100 days and was out of government when a lot of important decisions were made. I was a humble backbencher.’
Mr Javid revealed that he had not yet read all the Commons Science and Health Committee reports into the pandemic.
‘It is a report and I welcome the report. I haven’t had the opportunity to study every word of the report. I will study it properly later this week,’ he said.
Keir Starmer has said saying sorry is ‘the least the PM can do’ and insisted that a planned public inquiry should be brought forward.
Sir Keir said: ‘The prime minister must take responsibility because the responsibility is his, and he should apologise.’
Mr Johnson has promised that a formal investigation into the government’s response to the pandemic will begin in the spring of 2022, but an exact date has yet to be set. When he announced the investigation, he insisted that the key players be kept ‘under the microscope’.
Labor originally called for the lifting of virus restrictions at No. 10 for the investigation to begin in June this year. There are currently virtually no Covid restrictions on daily life in England.
Dominic Cummings has slammed his old boss for his handling of the pandemic, calling the prime minister a ‘joke’.
The report, published by the Commons Health and Science Committees, is the first to shed light on the list of failures at the top of government.
Among other things, it condemned the ‘chaotic’ performance of the £37 billion test and trace system, although it said the vaccination campaign was a significant success.
Minister Stephen Barkley declined to apologize 11 times for the government’s failures at the start of the pandemic on Sky News earlier this week. Former top adviser Dominic Cummings calls Boris Johnson a ‘joke’
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