Lord Sedwill, the former Cabinet Secretary, has issued an apology for suggesting the idea of holding chickenpox-style parties at the beginning of the Covid pandemic. During his testimony at the Covid inquiry, Sedwill referred to his comment as "heartless" and claimed that he was merely proposing the development of herd immunity. He also criticized Matt Hancock, the former Health Secretary, stating that Hancock should have been fired for lying in meetings. However, Sedwill faced backlash for suggesting that his comments should have remained private, as they were revealed by former Number 10 aide Dominic Cummings. Cummings had previously informed the inquiry that Sedwill had advised then Prime Minister Boris Johnson to appear on television and discuss the idea of chickenpox gatherings in March 2020.
Grovelling apology
Sedwill expressed remorse during the inquiry, acknowledging that his remarks had caused distress. He stated, "These were private exchanges, and I certainly had not expected for this to become public. I understand how, in particular the interpretation that has been put on it, it must have come across as someone in my role was both heartless and thoughtless about this, and I genuinely am neither. But I do understand the distress that must have caused, and I apologize for that."
Pushing for Hancock's removal
Sedwill also provided evidence to the inquiry, revealing that he had urged Boris Johnson to dismiss Matt Hancock in order to "save lives and protect the NHS" due to his dishonesty. Sedwill had even sent a WhatsApp message to Simon Case, the former permanent secretary at Number 10, jokingly suggesting that Hancock's removal would be beneficial. He referred to it as a play on the pandemic-era slogan and claimed it was an example of "gallows humour." Sedwill clarified that he had expressed concerns to the Prime Minister but didn't explicitly use the word "sack." However, he did use the term in a WhatsApp exchange with Mr. Case.
Questioning Hancock's truthfulness
During his testimony, Sedwill was asked about Hancock's truthfulness and whether it was a concern shared by others. Sedwill confirmed that multiple individuals had doubts about Hancock's honesty and approach.
Describing Johnson's aides as "feral"
Sedwill also described the aides working for Boris Johnson as "feral," comparing them to wild animals. He stated, "It is like taming wild animals. Nothing in my past experience has prepared me for this madness. The PM and the people he chooses to surround himself with are basically feral." When asked about the impact of working with such individuals, Sedwill replied, "I have the bite marks."
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