Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wanted to let Covid "rip" despite the fact people would die, while the then chancellor Rishi Sunak also thought that was "okay", a UK public inquiry has heard.
In further revelations from the pandemic diaries of the former chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance, the inquiry heard of the "shambolic" day on 25 October 2020, when the country was heading towards a second national lockdown.
The diary entry highlights how the former prime minister wanted to let the virus spread, while his most senior adviser, Dominic Cummings (DC), suggested Mr Sunak also thought it was "okay" to just let people die.
The extract read: "PM meeting - begins to argue for letting it all rip. Saying yes there will be more casualties but so be it - 'they have had a good innings'. "Not persuaded by (Jon) Edmunds, (Neil) Ferguson, (Jeremy) Farrar.