‘I would like to see some of them in jail’: Bereaved families protest as Boris Johnson attends Covid inquiry

Families who lost loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic gathered outside Dorland House in central London on Wednesday as Boris Johnson attended the Covid Inquiry.

The former prime minister faces two days of questioning over his government’s response to the pandemic, in which over 200,000 people lost their lives.

Johnson resigned as prime minister in July 2022 after a series of scandals including reports that he, and other officials, had been present at alcohol-fuelled gatherings in Downing Street in 2020 and 2021.

His appearance at the Covid Inquiry has already been caught in scandal as Johnson was unable to provide the probe with any of his WhatsApp messages from February to June 2020 - the period of the first lockdown. He denied he deleted the messages and said it was a technical error.

Bereaved families gathered outside the building to share their anger over Johnson’s handling of the pandemic. Some held placards reading “Johnson partied while people died”, while others held up pictures of their deceased loved ones.

A mobile advertising van was parked outside the building which displayed a giant billboard of some of the victims of the pandemic with a quote saying “ Let the bodies pile high”. 

Johnson is alleged to have said “no more f****** lockdowns – let the bodies pile high in their thousands,” after reluctantly approving a second England-wide lockdown at the end of 2020.

Louise, from Newcastle, who lost her sister to Covid shortly after Christmas 2020 was outside Dorland House.

“I’m still really angry about the way Johnson in particular handled the pandemic,” she told LondonWorld.

“I’m not sure we’re going to get any particular answers today to be honest, but I just feel I have to come here today for some kind of closure. 

“My parents went to see my sister, and I kind of gathered it was going to be her last Christmas because she had been in intensive care with Covid-19 and I couldn’t see her. 

“She had managed to come back out for Christmas, and I chose not to go and see her because it broke the rules, and I feel stupid for doing that while they were all out partying.” 

Peter, who came from Wimbledon to join the gathering, is suffering from long-Covid after experiencing a mini-stroke in his right eye whilst suffering with the disease. 

“I would like to see some of them in jail over what has happened. It’s criminal negligence as far as I’m concerned. 

“I’m feeling sad, particularly sad as I walked up here past all these hundreds of pictures of people who died. It’s very moving. 

“It’s also a feeling of despair, that we have such a lousy government.” 

Lucia Giordano lost both of her parents in 2021 to Covid-19. 

“Within two days of each other they were both admitted to hospital where they both passed away 12 days apart.  

“It’s very emotional standing here, supporting and being amongst other people who have experienced similar tragedies in their lives. 

“In terms of the politicians and those who have been called to the hearing, it’s been very intense. Lots of information which we did not want to hear, and hoped was not true. 

“The truth is coming out. Bodies pile high and that’s very difficult to take.” 

Johnson started out the inquiry by expressing his regret, stating that he was “deeply sorry” to the families who lost family members during the pandemic.  

Other politicians and government advisors have already been questioned, including former Health Secretary Matt Hancock and former government advisor Dominic Cummings.