The consistent attack on the former chancellor and his lockdown policies forgets the human challenges in efforts to tackle the COVID pandemic. It shouldn't be a surprise that, especially within the Treasury, politicians were butting heads with a scientific team that many across the UK and within Westminster had already lost faith in. As many acted recognizing that the purpose of governance at the time was wider than simply shielding adults from the outside world, individuals shouldn't be retrospectively scorned for their attempts to return the majority of the population's life to normal.
Sir Vallance's contributions to the COVID inquiry are a hard listen, and only reaffirm that the complete lack of trust the UK currently holds in its political institutions is justified. If another pandemic occurred tomorrow, the Tory government would undoubtedly be just as disastrous at dealing with it as in 2020. Reforming Westminster to ensure the British population is governed by politicians committed to public service is an immediate priority for the UK.