‘Get Covid and live longer’: Boris Johnson said Government should let older people get virus to protect economy

31 October 2023, 13:46 | Updated: 31 October 2023, 13:54

Mr Johnson said 'get covid and live longer' in a text exchange during the pandemic.
Mr Johnson said 'get covid and live longer' in a text exchange during the pandemic. Picture: Covid inquiry/Alamy

By Jenny Medlicott

Boris Johnson said that the Government should ‘let old people get Covid’, as he suggested that people who caught the virus would ‘live longer’, the Covid inquiry has heard.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

A screengrab of a text exchange between Lee Cain and Mr Johnson from October 2020, which was shown to the inquiry on Tuesday, shows the former PM saying “get Covid and live longer”.

The text from Mr Johnson reads: “I must say I have been slightly rocked by some of the data on covid fatalities. The median age is 82 - 81 for men 85 for women. That is above life expectancy. So get COVID and live longer.”

He continued: “Hardly anyone under-60 goes into hospital and of those virtually all survive. Folks I think we may need to recalibrate.”

Mr Cain replies that it is not yet “politically viable” to justify changing policy.

Mr Johnson replies: “It shows we don’t go for nation wide lockdown”.

Notes read from Sir Patrick Vallance, then-chief scientific adviser, at the Covid inquiry on Tuesday also said that Mr Johnson was "obsessed with older people accepting their fate and letting the young get on with life".

The text exchange between Boris Johnson and Lee Cain in October 2020.
The text exchange between Boris Johnson and Lee Cain in October 2020. Picture: Covid inquiry

A further entry read about Mr Johnson said: “He says his party ‘thinks the whole thing is pathetic and Covid is just nature’s way of dealing with old people – and I am not entirely sure I disagree with them.”

According to the notes from Sir Patrick in December 2020, Mr Johnson went on to ‘agree’ with his MPs that the Government should “let the old people get it [Covid] and protect others”.

Mr Cain told the inquiry that Mr Johnson was worried about the damage on society Covid restrictions was having.

He added that he felt Mr Johnson's thoughts at the time were just noise, before he would go on to take the measures he needed to take.

Dominic Cummings, who was Boris Johnson's former chief adviser, is following Mr Cain in giving evidence.

It comes after Martin Reynolds and Imran Shafi gave evidence to the Covid inquiry on Monday.

Notes from Mr Shafi, the former private secretary to the PM for public services, showed that Mr Johnson allegedly asked why we are destroying the economy for people who will die anyway, the Covid inquiry has heard.

Minutes from a meeting revealed someone said: "Why are we destroying everything for people who will anyway die soon?"

Read more: Covid inquiry live: Boris's former adviser Dominic Cummings gives evidence

Read more: What have we learnt from the Covid inquiry so far?

Former Director of Communications Lee Cain gave evidence on Tuesday.
Former Director of Communications Lee Cain gave evidence on Tuesday. Picture: Alamy
Notes heard at the inquiry said Mr Johnson was 'obsessed with older people accepting their fate' during the pandemic.
Notes heard at the inquiry said Mr Johnson was 'obsessed with older people accepting their fate' during the pandemic. Picture: Alamy

Asked by inquiry counsel Hugo Keith KC who said the words, Mr Shafi replied: "I can't say for sure, I think it was the former prime minister."

While Martin Reynolds, who headed the private office of the Prime Minister during the pandemic, admitted to turning on disappearing Whatsapp messages in a group of senior officials because he ‘may’ have been worried about information being leaked.

Mr Reynolds made headlines after it emerged he arranged a gathering in the No 10 garden on May 20 2020 when leaving home without a reasonable excuse was banned.

Later on in the inquiry Mr Reynolds "apologised unreservedly" to "all the families of all those who suffered" for the bash which earnt him his 'Party Marty' nickname.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Donald Trump has said he know's where Iran's supreme leader is hiding

US intervention 'would be recipe for all-out war in Middle East', Iran warns, as Trump calls for 'unconditional surrender'

tyler Perry arrives at the BET Awards on Monday, June 9, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Movie star Tyler Perry facing $260m lawsuit as fellow actor Derek Dixon accuses him of sexual assault

Ariana Grande has paid tribute following the death of her 'beloved' grandmother Marjorie

Ariana Grande announces death of 'beloved' grandma Nonna Marjorie at age of 99

Breaking
Breaking News

Premier League fixtures 2025/26: Full list revealed as Liverpool begin title defence against Bournemouth

Ingrid Lackova, 15.

Police launch urgent hunt for missing girl, 15, not seen since Monday

The UK has a 50:50 chance of seeing temperatures soar to 40C again in the next 12 years

Heatwaves above 40C and scorching weather 'lasting over a month' the future for UK weather, says Met Office

Indonesia

Flights cancelled and villages evacuated after volcanic eruption spews 11km tower of ash into air

Penryn College's deputy headteacher is accused of having sexual relations with a former pupil.

Married deputy headteacher 'had sex with pupil, 16, in her house when dad was away', court hears

The NHS logo.

NHS launches new drive to find more people with deadly pancreatic cancer

Doctor injecting collagen into young womans lip

Warning over 'Wild West' treatments as procedures such as lip injections and butt lifts 'offered in public toilets'

Pamela Anderson arrives on the red carpet at the 2025 Met Gala

Pamela Anderson says filters and AI being used on photos has led to people becoming 'boring-looking'

Iran's ongoing retaliatory attacks with ballistic missiles towards Israel are seen from Tel Aviv, Israel

Trump calls for 'unconditional surrender' from Iran - as US President 'considering US strike on Iran'

A man walks past empty shelves in a branch of the Co-op in Manchester following the major cyber attack.

Major UK supermarket offering 25% off £40 shops in ‘thank you’ to members after cyber attack

Cyclists are sending a record amount of video footage to police after being overtaken too closely by motorists, new figures show.

Cyclists sending record number of videos to police after being overtaken too closely by drivers, figures show

Exclusive
Suspended chief constable Nick Adderley

Disgraced police chief slammed for ‘unacceptable’ role in Harry Dunn case

Grenfell tower cover in white tarpaulin

Government pressed over why Grenfell cladding ‘crooks’ not behind bars