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The former PM is taking questions on why he didn’t call for detailed notes from SAGE on scientific matters. 

Boris Johnson says this is a “good question” but believes the advice he got from his chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser – who themselves attended SAGE meetings and would relay the main points of discussion – was enough. 

He says he was “very, very much impressed by and dependent upon” Professor Sir Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance. 

They are “outstanding experts in their field” and “I couldn’t do better than that”, he says.

Johnson pressed on what mistakes were made – but dodges question

The inquiry hears Boris Johnson’s witness statement acknowledging “unquestionably mistakes were made”, which he “unreservedly” apologises for. 

Lead counsel Hugo Keith KC asks which mistakes he was referring to here. 

Mr Johnson says this was broadly around messaging, and particularly different messaging coming from Number 10 and the devolved administrations.

He says the government would need to “sort that out in future”. 

Mr Keith appears not satisfied with this answer and presses Mr Johnson on whether he believes that was the main mistake. 

Mr Johnson says his main point is that “so many people suffered, so many people lost their lives” and he doesn’t want to “anticipate the discussion which I’m sure we’ll get into”.

The lawyer changes tack and begins listing off the key decisions taken during the pandemic, asking whether Mr Johnson takes responsibility for them. 

“Do you take responsibility for lockdown decisions and timeliness?” he asks.

“Of course,” Mr Johnson replies. 

Mr Keith also reels off the decisions around patients being discharged from hospitals into care homes, the general speed of restrictions being eased, the Eat Out to Help Out scheme and the decision not to introduce a circuit breaker or tier restrictions earlier.