Boris Johnson was just like the “absent supervisor” of a soccer staff in the course of the pandemic, a public inquiry has heard.
Mark Drakeford, the outgoing Labour First Minister for Wales, closely criticised the previous prime minister, throughout his look on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on Wednesday.
Mr Drakeford – who is because of depart his publish subsequent week – mentioned the PM was “not taking it critically” in the course of the early pandemic and accused him of being intentionally unclear when new guidelines solely utilized to England.
In a written assertion to the inquiry, Mr Drakeford described Michael Gove – the minister for the Cupboard Workplace in the course of the early a part of the pandemic and level of contact between the 2 governments – as “a centre ahead with out a staff lined up behind him, and the place the supervisor was largely absent”.
Addressing the inquiry, Mr Drakeford clarified he was speaking about Mr Johnson.
He mentioned: “The absent supervisor was the prime minister as a result of he was by no means in these conferences or on the desk.”
Whereas he praised Mr Gove, he described him as having “affect quite than the determinative impression” that Mr Johnson would have had within the conferences.
Earlier hearings heard Mr Johnson had determined to not meet heads of the devolved nations to keep away from giving the impression that the UK was federalised or like a “mini-EU”.
Mr Drakeford mentioned he had written to Mr Johnson “frequently” asking for a “predictable sequence of conferences between the heads of the 4 nations” and known as the choice to not meet with the devolved nations an “extraordinary determination”.
The First Minister claimed that mass gatherings, just like the Cheltenham Competition, had solely been saved open in the course of the early levels of the pandemic as a result of Dominic Cummings, the previous PM’s adviser, had refused to cease them.
He mentioned he had made the argument in Cobra conferences – main briefings between the UK authorities and devolved nations – on March 12, weeks earlier than the primary lockdown.
He mentioned: “On this dialogue, the Prime Minister did go around the room, he took views from anyone who needed to contribute, and in that dialogue, I used to be arguing for a four-nation settlement that mass gatherings wouldn’t go forward.”
He added: “The rationale I’ve such a vivid reminiscence of it’s that having gone around the desk the prime minister summed up towards that plan of action by saying ‘Dom says no,’ that was his remaining contribution.
“I didn’t know who Dom was at this level.”
The Welsh authorities was criticised for initially permitting a Six Nations rugby union match to go forward on March 13.
The sport was finally cancelled the day earlier than kick-off.
He additionally claimed that Mr Johnson had been “deliberate” in making it unclear that new Covid guidelines solely utilized to England, regardless of pleas from the heads of the devolved governments.
Mr Drakeford mentioned: “(We mentioned) he should make it clear that what he’s about to say doesn’t apply to Scotland or Wales or Northern Eire and he offers assurance within the COBR assembly that he’ll do his absolute best to ensure that he does that.
“He then heads to the cameras, and he supplies a script through which the one time he refers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Eire is when he says early within the press convention ‘because the Prime Minister of Scotland, Wales and Northern Eire’.
“It’s a very clear indication to those that what he’s about to say utilized to the entire of the UK, and he by no means as soon as says that’s not the case.”
Mr Drakeford described this as a “bleak second” and “deliberate”.
The inquiry additionally heard that Matt Hancock, the then-UK well being secretary, incorrectly acknowledged that public well being was not devolved in an “extraordinary change of messages” with Mr Gove.
In his proof to the inquiry, Mr Drakeford mentioned there was a “lack of readability” over the legislative foundation for powers that may be wanted to take care of the pandemic, which continued via March 2020.
“My perception proper up till March 20 is that the important choices would stay within the fingers of the UK Authorities and that devolved governments can be implementers of these choices,” he informed the listening to.
“Even on March 20 there may be additional confusion over the subsequent couple of days as to the place the power to train public well being powers lie.
“And there may be a rare change of messages between Mr Gove and Mr Hancock on Might 30, through which Mr Hancock says ‘I’ve seen the submission, it’s disgraceful that legal professionals don’t perceive the place these powers lie as a result of public well being isn’t devolved’.”
Mr Drakeford continued: “So right here is the secretary of state for well being in England getting essentially the most fundamental factor completely improper.”
He informed the listening to it was “fairly alarming” that the authorized foundation for which “profoundly consequential choices had been being made” was nonetheless being resolved on March 20.
The inquiry continues.