Are Covid restrictions coming back this autumn? It’s a far from settled question as we move into the colder, influenza-dominated months. But if there are those calling for tiers and lockdowns in winter, it seems increasingly likely that they’ll be coming up against, among others, the new health secretary.
Gone are the days of the health secretary being in lock-step with Sage. In today’s Policy Exchange fringe event with Sajid Javid, chaired by The Spectator’s Fraser Nelson, the health secretary (now 100 days into the role) had short and sharp words for the scientific advisory committee, particularly when it came to its scenarios earlier this year – which overshot the number of hospitalisations that would result from reopening in the summer, with the majority of the population vaccinated.
Asked by Fraser about Sage scenarios (above) that showed hospitalisations spiralling post ‘freedom day’ Javid said of the independent committee: ‘They’re entitled to come to their own decisions.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in