When the Science was Silenced

Former Top Scientific Advisers Speak Out

Former top scientific advisers to the UK government are now able to share the truth about the Covid-19 pandemic response that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson tried to suppress. Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's former Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, and Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, the former deputy Chief Medical Officer, are all giving evidence to the Covid public inquiry. They are joined by the current chief scientific adviser, Professor Dame Angela McLean. This is a significant development that exposes what really happened during the chaotic period when the government was attempting to contain the virus.

Freedom to Speak

The Guardian has described the evidence given by these scientific advisers as "explosive." Finally, they have the freedom to share their insights and experiences without fear of silencing. However, during the pandemic under Boris Johnson's leadership, this was not the case.

A Case of Silencing

One example of silencing occurred in May 2020 when Boris Johnson prevented his chief medical and scientific advisers from answering journalists' questions about Dominic Cummings. Cummings, Johnson's chief adviser, faced backlash and calls for his resignation after taking several trips during lockdown. Johnson defended Cummings and prohibited Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance from commenting on whether others should follow Cummings' example. This move drew criticism, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer calling for transparency and the experts' ability to answer questions.

Revealing the Truth

Now, these scientific advisers have the opportunity to disclose what truly happened during the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Their testimonies provide valuable insights into the decision-making process and shed light on the challenges faced during this unprecedented crisis.

Watch the Video

Watch this 2-minute video that highlights Prime Minister Boris Johnson's attempts to silence his top scientific advisers.

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The post When the Science was Silenced appeared first on Ideas on Europe.

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By: Jon Danzig
Title: When the Science was Silenced
Sourced From: eu-rope.ideasoneurope.eu/2023/11/21/when-the-science-was-silenced/
Published Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2023 11:06:53 +0000