Boris Johnson ‘unbelievably bullish’ over Covid, top civil servant tells inquiry

Then deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara says her attempts to raise concerns were ignored

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A macho and “unbelievably bullish” confidence characterised the early approach of Boris Johnson and those around him when it came to the challenge of Covid, a high-ranking former Downing Street civil servant has told the inquiry into the pandemic.

Helen MacNamara, who was deputy cabinet secretary at the time, also said that Johnson did not understand the basic science behind the disease.