UK: One of the two contenders for the position of British prime minister, former finance minister Rishi Sunak, claimed that the drawbacks of lockdowns were suppressed and that it was a mistake to have "empowered" scientists during the coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced to step down after dozens of ministers quit in protest of a string of scandals and gaffes, and the ruling Conservative Party is now choosing a new leader. Sunak or Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, will be chosen by party members.

The government, according to Sunak, "was wrong to scare people" about the coronavirus. He claimed he was forbidden from addressing the "trade-offs" of enforcing coronavirus-related restrictions, such as the effect on missed doctor's appointments and the lengthening of the state-run National Health Service's waiting lists for medical care.
The Spectator magazine quoted him as saying, "The script was not to ever acknowledge them." There was no trade-off because improving our health is good for the economy, according to the script.

Sunak argued that it was wrong to give the roughly 50 scientists who made up the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, a group that assisted the government in responding to the outbreak, such a large amount of power over decisions like closing schools.

We shouldn't have given the scientists the kind of power we did, he said.
When asked why public sentiment indicated a desire for a lockdown, Sunak responded, "We helped shape that: with the fear messaging."
In early 2020, Britain under Johnson took longer to stabilise than the majority of its European counterparts. One of the first significant economies to reopen after beginning the pandemic with some of the highest death rates.

A government representative defended the administration's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, stating that the economy and education played a crucial role in the difficult choices made at the time.

Sunak, who left Johnson's administration last month, thought that schools might have remained open throughout the pandemic. He claimed that he attempted to express his opposition to closing schools during one meeting and that he "got very emotional about it."
Then there was a long period of silence, he remarked. "That was the first time it had been said. I was so enraged.

UK PM race: Cost of living crisis dominates Truss and Sunak's race for PM

Rishi Sunak may head straight to US if he loses battle for UK PM

UK Prime Ministerial Election: Liz Truss continues to lead Rishi Sunak

UK PM Race: Minister shifts allegiances from Rishi Sunak to Liz Truss