Neil Scolding

Don’t rush to judgement on Boris’s handling of Covid-19

Photo by LUCY YOUNG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The verdict is in: Boris Johnson’s handling of coronavirus has been disastrous. Britain’s death toll remains one of the highest in the world, sick patients were discharged back into care homes at the height of the epidemic; and millions of pounds blown on useless PPE which can’t be used by NHS staff. But while it’s true that some things have gone wrong – as Boris himself has conceded – it’s also true that many of those loudly condemning Boris for the way he has dealt with the pandemic have form in criticising Boris. So are they right? And is it fair to blame Britain’s coronavirus blunders on the PM?

The UK is now fourth in the inglorious table of coronavirus deaths, with India sadly catching up fast. The United States, Brazil and Mexico have all fared worse, but then, of course, these countries are much larger. Deaths per head of population would be the more reasonable indicator, it would seem.

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