Rishi Sunak probably knew his Eat Out to Help Out scheme was likely to drive Covid infections, the UK’s top scientific adviser during Covid has told the official inquiry into the pandemic.
Eat Out to Help Out, which incentivised people to return to indoor dining at pubs and restaurants, “completely reversed” all scientific advice that had been given to the UK during the pandemic, Patrick Vallance said today. He also told the inquiry the scheme was “highly likely to have" increased the number of Covid deaths.
Sunak previously told the inquiry he does not “recall any concerns at the scheme being expressed during the ministerial discussions” while Eat Out to Help Out was running.
