Responding to the Prime Minister’s interview with Laura Kuenssberg broadcast this afternoon, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “At last Boris Johnson has admitted what we have all known for sometime – this Government made fundamental mistakes in their handling of the coronavirus crisis. However, to try and minimise this as there were some things they could have done differently is not only an enormous understatement, but it is an insult to all those who tragically lost loved ones to the virus.
“This interview has left people with more questions than answers. With no remorse for the catastrophic mistakes, such as the failure to protect our care homes, or the refusal to put a comprehensive plan in place for a potential second wave, it is clear the Prime Minster has learnt nothing over the course of the last few months.
“Boris Johnson’s comments today prove why an immediate independent inquiry is so essential. The Prime Minister and his Government must be faced with the reality of where they went wrong, so that they can learn from their mistakes which have led to tragic consequences.”