Boris Johnson: “Medieval” Lockdowns Didn’t Work
Johnson describes the lockdowns as “literally medieval in their savagery and consequences" in his new memoir
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he doubts lockdowns played a significant role in bringing the COVID-19 pandemic to an end.
In extracts released from his new memoir Unleashed, he describes the lockdowns as “literally medieval in their savagery and consequences,” and likened himself to King Canute attempting to “repel the waves of a highly contagious disease.”
He also says he believes the COVID-19 virus did originate in a laboratory in Wuhan, rather than a wet market.
At the British government’s COVID inquiry last December, Johnson said there were “appalling harms on either side of the decision” to lock down the country, and he apologised for any mistakes he and his government made.
These new admissions, however, go much further and indicate a profound change of attitude. Johnson never indicated that he doubted the lockdowns were effective.
Initially, according to the extracts, Johnson said he believe the lockdowns were reducing the spread of the virus.
“It was only later that I started to look at the curves of the pandemic around the world—the double hump that seemed to rise and fall irrespective of the approaches taken by governments,” he writes.
“There were always two waves, whether you were in China, where lockdowns were ruthlessly enforced, or in Sweden, where they took a more voluntary approach.”
He continues: “I am not saying that lockdowns achieved nothing; I am sure they had some effect. But were they decisive in beating back the disease, turning that wave down? All I can say is that I am no longer sure.”
Johnson goes on to say that the lockdowns showed Britain had “barely progressed” from the Elizabethan era, four hundred years ago, when theatres were closed and the number of mourners at funerals were limited to stop the spread of pestilence.
Three national lockdowns took place in Britain, from March 2020 to June 2020, from November 2020 to December 2020 and from January 2021 to May 2021.
Boris Johnson was forced to resign in 2022, after a series of scandals including so-called “Partygate,” when it was revealed the members of the government did not abide by the social-distancing restrictions imposed on the country.
Allies of Mr Johnson, such as Michael Gove, have suggested the lockdowns went totally against the former prime ministers “worldview.”
Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader and MP, said that Johnson had been “basically bullied” by government scientists.
“Boris realises in hindsight that we had been led down the garden path by the scientists,” he said.
“I wrote that this was a mistake—we should have only looked after the most vulnerable.
“His advisors poo-pooed that. The reality is he should have looked at other sources.”
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