Emails have revealed how Chris Whitty tried to “navigate a very tricky path” during the pandemic, as he faced claims that he was professionally compromised by Boris Johnson.
In rare political comments from May 2020, England's chief medical officer admitted: "I am trying to navigate a very tricky path through multiple strong competing interests to make sure health goals (not just Covid-19) are central to government policy and the general public hear at least some of the public health messages, and the reasons for them, directly."
It followed controversy as Boris Johnson blocked Whitty from publicly commenting on the scandal over his adviser Dominic Cummings – who had travelled to Barnard Castle during lockdown.
