Key Takeaways
- Rishi Sunak will face the Covid inquiry for the second time to answer questions about his role in the economic response to the pandemic
- Sunak will be questioned about his time as chancellor and his role in Boris Johnson’s government
- The inquiry has heard praise for interventions made during Sunak’s watch, such as the furlough scheme and loan schemes, but also criticisms that some people and businesses struggled to get the support they needed
- Sunak previously defended his Eat Out to Help Out policy and rejected the characterization of the Treasury as a "pro-death squad"
Introduction to the Inquiry
The Covid inquiry has been ongoing for the past three weeks, with a focus on the economic response to the pandemic. The inquiry has heard from a range of witnesses, including former ministers, treasury officials, and central bankers. Today, Rishi Sunak, the former prime minister and current backbench MP, will take the stand for the second time to answer questions about his role in the economic response to the pandemic. Sunak’s first appearance at the inquiry was in December 2023, when he was still serving as prime minister. During that appearance, he faced tough questioning about his time as chancellor and his role in Boris Johnson’s government.
Previous Testimony
During his previous testimony, Sunak was asked about a range of topics, including missing WhatsApp messages, his attitude towards his former boss, and the characterization of the Treasury as a "pro-death squad". The Treasury was accused of being opposed to public health interventions, and some individuals in 10 Downing Street described it as a "pro-death squad". Sunak rejected this characterization, stating that it was unfair and inaccurate. He also defended his Eat Out to Help Out policy, which was introduced to support the hospitality industry during the pandemic. Sunak claimed that the policy helped protect millions of jobs and was an important part of the government’s economic response to the pandemic.
Economic Response to the Pandemic
The inquiry has heard a significant amount of praise for the economic interventions made during Sunak’s time as chancellor. The furlough scheme, which provided financial support to employees who were unable to work due to the pandemic, has been widely credited as a success. The scheme helped to protect millions of jobs and supported businesses during a difficult period. The parallel scheme to help the self-employed has also been praised, as has the various loan schemes that were introduced to support businesses. However, the inquiry has also heard criticisms that some people and businesses struggled to get the support they needed. Some individuals fell through the cracks, and others found it difficult to access the support that was available.
Expectations for the Second Inquiry
It remains to be seen whether the questioning during Sunak’s second appearance at the inquiry will be as tough as it was during his first appearance. As a backbench MP, Sunak may face less scrutiny than he did as prime minister. However, the inquiry is still likely to ask tough questions about his role in the economic response to the pandemic. The inquiry will want to know more about the decisions that were made during Sunak’s time as chancellor, and whether they were the right ones. The inquiry will also want to know more about the support that was provided to individuals and businesses, and whether it was sufficient.
Conclusion
Rishi Sunak’s second appearance at the Covid inquiry is an important part of the ongoing investigation into the economic response to the pandemic. The inquiry has already heard a significant amount of evidence, and Sunak’s testimony will provide further insight into the decisions that were made during his time as chancellor. The inquiry’s findings will be closely watched, and will likely have significant implications for the future of economic policy in the UK. As the inquiry continues, it is likely that we will learn more about the successes and failures of the economic response to the pandemic, and how they can be used to inform future policy decisions.