Johnson denies using 'let the bodies pile high' phrase during pandemic
Former British prime minister Boris Johnson has denied claims that he used the phrase "let the bodies pile high" during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ex-PM dismissed as "absurd" the claim by former top aide Dominic Cummings in his 233-page witness statement to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry published after he had given verbal evidence yesterday.
He told Heather Hallett's probe: "I am accused - by the usual sources - of saying that I would rather 'let the bodies pile high' than impose another lockdown. "As I have already said on the record, I did not say this.
What makes this especially absurd is that I am supposed to have said it on 31 October 2020, when the decision to lock down had in fact already been taken." Mr Cummings, who has been a frequent and colourful critic of Mr Johnson since leaving Number 10, alleged that Mr Johnson said he would rather "let the bodies pile high" than hit the economy with further restrictions - a claim supported by former senior aide Edward Lister.
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Recovered: 0
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