Rachel Johnson criticized the UK government’s pandemic response during an appearance on LBC Radio. She highlighted the report by judge Baroness Heather Hallett, describing the UK’s actions as inadequate and delayed. Johnson emphasized the extensive 800-page report, costing £200 million, which concluded that Boris Johnson’s decision to implement a lockdown a week late resulted in 23,000 deaths. Johnson also questioned the credibility of the data provided by former government scientist Professor Neil Ferguson.

The report outlined a chaotic and toxic environment within Boris Johnson’s government during the pandemic, affecting decision-making and advice quality. It mentioned that rule-breaking was not promptly addressed, leading to non-compliance with lockdown measures. The report suggested that Johnson should have shown more urgency and leadership in response to the emergency.

Baroness Hallett criticized the government for not taking clear advice seriously, which predicted a high infection rate and significant loss of life. In response, Rachel Johnson defended her brother, Boris, dismissing the report as vindictive and emphasizing the challenges of decision-making during a crisis.

Baroness Hallett also noted Boris Johnson’s optimism and failure to grasp the severity of the situation, attributing it to his focus on other government priorities and past experiences with infectious diseases. Despite the criticism, Rachel Johnson stood by her belief that lockdowns were unnecessary and harmful, labeling them as one of the worst policy decisions post-World War II.