Matt Hancock's Covid Inquiry Testimony: Reflections on Lockdown Timing and School Closures

Former UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock testified at the Covid inquiry, stating that school closures in January 2021 could have been avoided if action had been taken earlier in the autumn. Hancock claimed that avoiding a lockdown led to tougher measures later on and accused local leaders, such as Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester, of prioritizing politics over public health. He also revealed WhatsApp messages from October 2020 expressing concerns about pressure from then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak to not take sufficient action. Hancock acknowledged that his breach of social distancing guidelines by kissing his aide damaged public confidence in the rules.