Boris Johnson Faces Heckling as He Apologizes for Covid Deaths: Silent Messages to the Departed

During his testimony at the UK's public Covid inquiry, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tried to apologize for the numerous lives lost to Covid-19 during his time in office. However, his apology was disrupted by protesters. Johnson established the inquiry in May 2021.

Johnson's opening statement was interrupted by demonstrators, believed to be relatives of those who died during the pandemic. As Johnson tried to apologize, four people stood up with signs saying "the dead can't hear your apologies," and were subsequently removed from the hearing by inquiry chair Heather Hallet.

59-year-old Kathryn Butcher, who is from London, later told the agency that they did not want his apology. When he attempted to apologize, they stood up. They did not block anybody and were simply following instructions to sit down. Butcher also mentioned that her 56-year-old sister-in-law, Myrna Saunders, tragically passed away from Covid-19 in March 2020. She added that Johnson had seen the demonstrators' signs during the protest.

During the pandemic in the UK, the coronavirus claimed the lives of over 200,000 people, resulting in one of the highest death tolls in Europe. Johnson's government faced extensive criticism for its handling of the situation. "I empathize with the victims and their families, and I offer my sincere apologies for the pain, loss, and suffering they have endured," stated Johnson.

In his opening remarks, the former prime minister expressed his hope that this inquiry will provide the answers to the difficult questions that the victims and their families are rightfully asking.

Ambulances were shown parked outside of the Royal London hospital in London on December 20, 2021. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was under pressure on Monday to implement stricter coronavirus restrictions in order to control the spread of the Omicron variant, despite pushback on doing so before Christmas. On Sunday, the UK reported 82,886 Covid-19 cases as the new variant continues to surge, with the highest number of infections occurring in London.

The Covid-19 inquiry in Britain this week revealed a disturbing mix of misogyny, hairdryers, and foul-mouthed tirades. Although Johnson began with an apology, he refused to discuss any specific mistakes he or his government may have made.

During the pandemic, he defended his actions by stating, "I believe we were making the best decisions based on the information we had at the time." He also acknowledged, "There are certainly things we could have done differently." Johnson's behavior has faced significant criticism, with evidence suggesting that his government hindered the ability to make effective decisions.

The inquiry is investigating the decision-making process of Johnson and his senior team, particularly regarding lockdown implementations and the timing of specific choices. Negative attention has already been drawn to Johnson's evidence in the inquiry, as he was unable to provide WhatsApp messages from his personal phone due to a claimed technical issue. Additionally, some of Johnson's former aides have implied that he was overwhelmed by the science presented to him, while former chief adviser Dominic Cummings has openly criticized Johnson's management style, likening it to an out-of-control shopping trolley.

When asked if it was unusual for advisers and officials to be critical of a leader, including questioning his own competence during the pandemic, the former PM replied, "No, I think this is entirely expected."

While in office, Johnson became the first sitting prime minister to be fined by the police for breaking his own Covid lockdown rules. The "Partygate" scandal, where members of his team and Johnson himself attended events that violated national Covid rules, led to his loss of support from the Conservative Party and ultimately ended his time in office.