British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces questioning on Monday regarding his Eat Out to Help Out scheme, an initiative aimed at supporting the struggling hospitality sector during the Covid-19 pandemic. Sunak, who was the finance minister at the time, is scheduled to provide evidence to the public inquiry investigating the UK government’s handling of the crisis. The inquiry has already heard from key figures such as former aide Dominic Cummings and the government’s former chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance.
One government scientific adviser, Angela McLean, referred to Sunak as Dr Death, the Chancellor in a message disclosed to the inquiry, expressing concerns about the scheme’s potential contribution to the spread of Covid-19. The hospitality sector had already been severely impacted by lockdown policies that forced businesses to close.
Cabinet minister Michael Gove defended the scheme, stating it was an effective way to support the hospitality industry during a challenging period. Gove emphasized that it was in line with the social mixing rules in place at the time.
During his appearance at the inquiry, Vallance suggested that Sunak’s scheme likely led to an increase in deaths. In his diary, Cummings recorded a comment from himself, claiming that Sunak believed it was acceptable for people to die. However, Sunak denied making such a statement, and Vallance confirmed he had not heard it either.
According to information shared with the inquiry, it was reported that Sunak mentioned last year that he had not been allowed to discuss the trade-off between the economic and social impacts of lockdowns and their benefits in controlling the virus. He also discussed the challenge of giving policy power to independent scientists.
Sunak’s appearance at the inquiry follows a period of difficulty for the government, including criticism from a sacked minister and the resignation of another over a stalled immigration policy. The impact of the pandemic on the UK has been extensive, with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson stepping down amid public anger regarding lockdown-breaching parties known as Partygate. Sunak’s policy of subsidizing worker wages during the pandemic has cost billions and significantly affected the UK economy.
With a per capita death toll among the worst in Western nations, nearly 130,000 people had died from Covid-19 in Britain by mid-July 2021.
As the inquiry continues, the focus remains on understanding the government’s decisions and actions during the crisis, particularly concerning schemes like the Eat Out to Help Out initiative. The impact on the hospitality sector, the economy, and the overall handling of the pandemic are critical considerations that the inquiry aims to address.
