Johnson blamed high Covid cases in Wales on 'singing and obesity', diary claims

07 December 2023 , 13:32

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Boris Johnson appeared to mock Wales during discussions about rising cases in the autumn of 2020 (Image: Getty Images)

Boris Johnson blamed high Covid numbers in Wales on the "singing and the obesity", according to diary extracts shown to the Covid Inquiry.

An extract from Sir Patrick Vallance's diary from September 2020 appears to show the-then Prime Minister callously joking about soaring cases of the virus in Wales. Notes from the Chief Scientific Adviser show concern about the virus heading into the winter, with an upward spike in case in care homes. "Here we go again," Sir Patrick wrote.

His notes say hospital admissions were beginning to increase and NHS England boss said Covid admissions were beginning to double. Sir Patrick added: "Wales very high - PM says 'It's the singing and the obesity... I never said that'.

The diary entry also shows Mr Johnson ranted about the Daily Mail, which now pays him a seven figure salary as a columnist. Sir Patrick claims Mr Johnson said, "we need to remember the grim history of March", and called for package of measures. Ex-Health Secretary Hancock is recorded saying "we have care home winter plan".

Notes from Sir Patrick Vallance's diary were shown to the Covid Inquiry today

Sir Patrick wrote: "PM 'everyone says rule of 6 so unfair, punishing the young, but F*** YOU Daily Mail - look this is all about stopping deaths. We need to tell them'".

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Mr Johnson told the Inquiry: "I apologise for my language." He added: "I'm sorry to have said that about the Daily Mail". He said there must have been something the newspaper said about the rule of six at the time that wound him up.

Mr Johnson landed a job as a high-profile columnist for the Daily Mail only days after he resigned as an MP over a damning Partygate report from the Privileges Committee. Before becoming PM in 2019, he was paid more than £250,000 per year for penning columns for the Daily Telegraph, which he had to give up on entering No10.

He is understood to be raking in £1million over two years for his column as he cashes in on his disastrous time in No10. Mr Johnson has also been signed up as a presenter for GB News, where he promised to share his "unvarnished views".

Lizzy Buchan