The Covid Inquiry's damning indictment of Boris Johnson and his ilk has confirmed the right's descent into anti-science delusion. The number 23,000 – the estimated death toll due to Johnson's inaction during the pandemic – will forever be etched into public memory as a stark reminder of the price paid for the UK government's refusal to heed scientific advice.
The right-wing coterie that has dominated the UK media landscape has always had a long history of rejecting life-saving interventions, from seatbelts and smoking restrictions to vaccination and climate action. This creed is now being ruthlessly applied to Covid-19, with lockdowns being portrayed as a "mistake" that has led to economic ruin and the erosion of basic freedoms.
The attacks on the latest Covid inquiry module, chaired by Heather Hallett, are nothing short of shameful. Lockdown sceptics have been quick to contest the report's findings, claiming that lockdowns were pointless and even deadly. The likes of Daniel Hannan and Toby Young have been vocal in their opposition, with some even attempting to outdo each other in their criticism.
But what is disturbingly evident is that this anti-science delusion has become a defining feature of right-wing politics in the UK. Johnson's own remarks about "letting bodies pile high" – which he later denied saying – are a stark illustration of his party's cavalier attitude towards public health and safety.
The real question, however, is whether the cost of lockdowns was worth the lives saved. The answer to this complex equation will depend on one's values and priorities. For bereaved families, the answer is clear: no price can be put on the lives lost during the pandemic. But for policymakers, economists, and politicians, the question requires serious consideration.
The House of Commons library has estimated that the cost of lockdowns could have been as high as £410bn – a staggering sum that would have been better spent on protecting public health and safety. The real test will be how this evidence is used to inform future policy decisions, particularly when it comes to tackling the next pandemic.
One thing is certain: the right's predilection for "freedom" over lifesaving measures must always be confronted truthfully. The notion that sacrificing thousands of lives at the altar of ideology is somehow justified is a false and pernicious narrative that must be exposed for what it is.
The right-wing coterie that has dominated the UK media landscape has always had a long history of rejecting life-saving interventions, from seatbelts and smoking restrictions to vaccination and climate action. This creed is now being ruthlessly applied to Covid-19, with lockdowns being portrayed as a "mistake" that has led to economic ruin and the erosion of basic freedoms.
The attacks on the latest Covid inquiry module, chaired by Heather Hallett, are nothing short of shameful. Lockdown sceptics have been quick to contest the report's findings, claiming that lockdowns were pointless and even deadly. The likes of Daniel Hannan and Toby Young have been vocal in their opposition, with some even attempting to outdo each other in their criticism.
But what is disturbingly evident is that this anti-science delusion has become a defining feature of right-wing politics in the UK. Johnson's own remarks about "letting bodies pile high" – which he later denied saying – are a stark illustration of his party's cavalier attitude towards public health and safety.
The real question, however, is whether the cost of lockdowns was worth the lives saved. The answer to this complex equation will depend on one's values and priorities. For bereaved families, the answer is clear: no price can be put on the lives lost during the pandemic. But for policymakers, economists, and politicians, the question requires serious consideration.
The House of Commons library has estimated that the cost of lockdowns could have been as high as £410bn – a staggering sum that would have been better spent on protecting public health and safety. The real test will be how this evidence is used to inform future policy decisions, particularly when it comes to tackling the next pandemic.
One thing is certain: the right's predilection for "freedom" over lifesaving measures must always be confronted truthfully. The notion that sacrificing thousands of lives at the altar of ideology is somehow justified is a false and pernicious narrative that must be exposed for what it is.
the covid inquiry just dropped this report on govts inaction & its literally devastating 23k ppl lost their lives cuz of boris johnson & co 
they always been anti-science & now its like they think lockdowns r a total waste 
i mean wot is wrong with these ppl? cant they jus prioritize lifes over ideology 
its not just about the cost tho, its about all the ppl who got sick or lost loved ones cuz of their actions 
and dont even get me started on the sceptics like dan hannan & toby young 
they need 2 shut up & listen 2 the science 
. It's like they're more worried about their precious "freedoms" than actual human lives 
. Now it seems like the right-wing crowd is trying to deny basic science and common sense, just because it doesn't fit their ideology 
.
. The real question is, how do we balance our desire for freedom with the need to protect people's lives? It's not an easy one, but I think we need to have some tough conversations about this 
. The right-wing crowd just can't handle the fact that their precious "freedom" had to take a backseat to saving lives 
. And let's be real, £410bn is a small price to pay for preserving human life 
. Politicians and policymakers need to stop playing politics with people's lives and just make informed decisions based on science 
. The fact that some folks are still spouting anti-lockdown nonsense is just embarrassing 
. We gotta call out this anti-science delusion for what it is – a bunch of ideological hogwash 
.
23k deaths is crazy, can't believe Boris and co thought they could get away with that 
I mean, £410bn is a small price to pay for thousands of lives 
it's like they're trying to erase what really happened during the pandemic 
can't let anti-science ideologies dictate our policies again 
gotta keep the science in the mix, you know? 
instead of makin assumptions based on media sensationalism 
I'm not saying they didn't have some negative effects on the economy, but come on, 23,000 deaths? That's still a pretty big number, and we can't just ignore the fact that lockdowns likely saved countless more lives. 
like Daniel Hannan and Toby Young are just pushing this narrative that lockdowns were pointless 
, and now they're questioning the whole lockdown thing? it's like, come on guys, 23,000 people lost their lives because of Boris's denial 
.
... unless you're willing to sacrifice thousands of lives at the altar of ideology 
come on, guys, get some perspective here!
. What's even more disturbing is that this kind of anti-science thinking has become a norm in their politics 
. We need to start questioning whether "freedom" really means sacrificing lives 
I'm still shook by this Covid inquiry's findings on Boris Johnson 
. The cost of lockdowns was worth it – we can't put a price on lives lost 
. We need to confront the right's predilection for "freedom" over lifesaving measures and expose ideology-driven narratives that justify sacrificing lives 
.