'PM was over-dependent on science in Covid-19 response,' says public health professor

12 May 2021, 14:55 | Updated: 12 May 2021, 16:46

PM had 'over-dependence on science' in his Covid response

By Fiona Jones

Public health expert Professor John Ashton accused the Prime Minister as having an "over-dependence on science" in his pandemic response and not focusing enough on "basic measures" like social distancing.

The professor made his comment after Boris Johnson confirmed there will be an independent public inquiry into the government's handling of the Covid-19 crisis, launching in 2022.

The Prime Minister told MPs in the Commons that there would be a full, public statutory inquiry with the power to make individuals give evidence under oath.

Professor John Ashton said to LBC's Shelagh Fogarty that the Government had an "over-dependence on science" in their pandemic response.

"Science has produced these vaccines, but being over-dependent on science rather than basic measures in important," he said.

Read more: Covid inquiry: What will it examine and when will it start?

Covid: PM confirms the Government will establish public inquiry

He told Shelagh he worked with former cabinet minister Tessa Jowell during Blair's Government and she "really understood public health", as did Yvette Cooper: "But I can say that the others who came through as ministers of public health really didn't.

"It's very important that people in these senior positions as ministers should be grounded in the subject," he said.

He questioned why there was no historian or sociologist in the SAGE team, as knowing how people live their lives is "very important."

"It's not just boffins from back rooms, you have to work with the fabric of society and how people live their lives," he said, "look at all the outbreaks there have been in religious communities with their festivals and so on. You have to find ways to engage and build a trusting relationship and that's been missing so often throughout the last 12 months or so."

Mr Johnson has been under increasing pressure to announce an independent inquiry into the Government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, and sparked outage in April when he said the Government would be too busy to launch an urgent analysis of the response.

He committed to an inquiry in the Queen’s Speech yesterday, but in today’s announcement he put a specific time frame on it for the first time.

More Shelagh Fogarty News

See more More Shelagh Fogarty News

'It makes me angry, it's a bit rich from him'

Jay accuses Robert Jenrick of using youngsters' poverty to chase clicks from the far-right

'How do you get Hamas out? We didn't get the IRA out...'

LBC caller from Northern Ireland warns trauma will perpetuate conflict in Middle East

LBC Caller: 'At least we know where we stand with Reform'

LBC Caller: 'At least we know where we stand with Reform'

LBC callers react to the local election results

LBC callers react to the local election results

Caller Heidi

Caller Heidi can't understand why the Ukraine minerals deal has taken the US so long

LBC caller reveals she was ignored by police when she reported elder abuse of her parents

LBC caller reveals she was ignored by police when she reported elder abuse of her parents

'Unreasonable' of IOPC to hold gross misconduct hearing into Chris Kaba's killer

LBC caller: 'Unreasonable' of IOPC to hold gross misconduct hearing into Chris Kaba's killer

Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle takes part in the Call the Cabinet phone-in on LBC hosted by Shelagh Fogarty.

Online safety laws not up for negotiation in deal to exempt Britain from Donald Trump's tariff plan, Tech Secretary tells LBC

"Pretty terrifying day": Wes Streeting sends "heart out" to those affected as three dead at care home.

'Pretty terrifying day': Wes Streeting sends 'heart out' to affected as three dead at Dorset care home

The Princess of Wales says she edited the photograph that was released to mark Mother's Day.

The insistence that we see Kate is tantamount to stalking, writes Shelagh Fogarty

Caller tells Shelagh his solution to illegal immigration.

LBC caller tells Shelagh Fogarty that the Channel islands are the answer to 'illegal immigration'

'Rishi Sunak chooses to do the self interested party politics': Shelagh Fogarty reflects on Tories' immigration policies

'Rishi Sunak chooses to do the self-interested party politics': Shelagh Fogarty reflects on Tories' migration policies

Shelagh Fogarty

Former Treasury official outlines 'three immediate priorities' likely to be reflected in Autumn Statement

Shelagh Fogarty

Suella Braverman's hardline crime bill seems like she's ‘interviewing' for career at ‘pathetic’ news channels, says caller

Shelagh and caller Sam

Anti-Semitic chants and actions 'delegitimize' pro-Palestinian cause asserts this Shelagh Fogarty caller

Shelagh and Ricardo Dos Santos

'It's sickening': Ricardo Dos Santos speaks to Shelagh Fogarty as two officers sacked over stop and search