UK’s early Covid response 'worst public health failure ever’: What went wrong? - BBC Newsnight

The UK's failure to do more to stop Covid spreading early in the pandemic was one of the country's worst public health failures, a report by MPs says. Please subscribe HERE

The UK's failure to do more to stop Covid spreading early in the pandemic was one of the country's worst public health failures, a report by MPs says.

The government approach - backed by its scientists - was to try to manage the situation and in effect achieve herd immunity by infection, it said.

This led to a delay in introducing the first lockdown, costing thousands of lives, the MPs found.

How did the UK government’s early response to the pandemic go so wrong?

Newsnight's David Grossman reports. Emily Maitlis joined by:

- Fran Hall from the campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK

- Former cabinet minster Rory Stewart

- Conservative MP Aaron Bell

- Government adviser Professor Thomas House

#Newsnight #BBCNews #BBC

Newsnight is the BBC's flagship news and current affairs TV programme - with analysis, debate, exclusives, and robust interviews.