An investigation into the COVID-19 pandemic uncovered a shocking statement made by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the fall of 2020, where he allegedly said, "Let people die." This statement, revealed in the notes of former chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance, has sparked extensive controversy. The report indicated that Sunak, who was serving as Chancellor at the time, stated, "Let people die, and that's okay," according to the British newspaper "The Independent."
The COVID inquiry heard testimonies confirming that Sunak believed the British government should allow people to die during the pandemic, which was documented in allegations made by former chief of staff Dominic Cummings in October 2020. According to the notes, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended the decision to let everything collapse, after which Cummings, who was his chief adviser at the time, echoed Sunak's comments, which aligned with Johnson's stance.
Although Patrick Vallance mentioned that he had not personally heard Sunak express such an opinion, he stated during the investigation, "That is what Dominic Cummings said." A spokesperson for Sunak confirmed that he would not respond to every allegation piecemeal following the new accusations, pointing out that the public would hear from the Prime Minister when he presents his evidence to the inquiry.
Cummings' unexpected claim was one of several damning allegations about Sunak's role during the COVID crisis, as Vallance also blamed him for fueling the second wave by allowing people to eat outdoors. Vallance stated that it was extremely difficult to be convinced that outdoor dining helped prevent increased virus transmission, noting that he and chief medical officer Chris Whitty were not informed of the decision until it was announced.
In another embarrassing remark in his notes, Sir Patrick revealed that former Chancellor Sunak said, "COVID was about dealing with scientists, not dealing with the virus," in an attempt to reopen the economy after the first lockdown. The notes indicated that Sunak's statements were made during an online meeting in July 2020, and the British newspaper reported that Sunak was unaware that Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris was present on the call.
