What Sir Patrick Vallance REALLY thought during Covid: Explosive extracts of No10’s ex-chief scientist, who kept diaries at ‘the end of immensely stressful days to protect his mental health’

• Sir Patrick Vallance, No10’s former top scientist, kept a diary during pandemic
• Snippets shared today reveal clashes with Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty

Fresh extracts from Sir Patrick Vallance’s explosive pandemic diaries were today revealed as part of the Covid inquiry.

The notes by No10’s former Chief Scientific Adviser have been described as ‘a brain dump’, written ‘at the end of immensely stressful days to protect his mental health’.

In snippets published today, Sir Patrick confirmed that he had clashes with England’s Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty, who he described as a ‘delayer’ when it came to bringing in Covid curbs.

In the early days of the pandemic, he said the then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson was ‘bamboozled’ by scientific models.

And Rishi Sunak said was ‘all about handling the scientists’ rather than managing the virus outbreak during a meeting when he was Chancellor, his notes reveal.

Here, MailOnline reveals some of the extracts…

The notes by No10’s former Chief Scientific Adviser (pictured today) have been described as ‘a brain dump’, written ‘at the end of immensely stressful days to protect his mental health’. 

In snippets published today, Sir Patrick confirmed that he had clashes with England’s Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty, who he described as a ‘delayer’ when it came to bringing in Covid curbs. In the early days of the pandemic, he said the then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson was ‘bamboozled’ by scientific models. And Rishi Sunak said was ‘all about handling the scientists’ rather than managing the virus outbreak during a meeting when he was Chancellor, his notes reveal

Sir Patrick also revealed that he had clashes with England’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Sir Chris Whitty (left), who he described as a ‘delayer’

Chris Whitty ‘thought Covid would be contained’

In January 2020: ‘Chris thought would be contained. PM “my gut tells me this will be fine”. MH [Matt Hancock] — desperate to own and lead. PM still optimistic. CW [Sir Chris] more cautious [about the knock-on effects of lockdown] than me.’ 

Boris Johnson is ‘clearly bamboozled’

On May 4, 2020, Sir Patrick wrote: ‘Late afternoon meeting with PM on schools. My God this is complicated and models will not provide the answer. PM is clearly bamboozled.’

No10 didn’t understand science behind 2m rule

On June 11, 2020: ‘No 10. Chaos as usual. On Friday the two-metre rule meeting made it abundantly clear that no one in No 10 or the Cabinet Office really read or is taking time to understand the science advice on two metres. Quite extraordinary.’ 

READ MORE: DOMINIC LAWSON: The Covid Inquiry has cost us £100 million already. I fear it will end up satisfying very few – except for the lawyers running the show

Britain’s Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance attends a press conference to outline the Government’s new long-term Covid-19 plan in 2022

No10 ‘want the science altered’

On June 19, 2020: ‘No10 pushing hard on releasing measures — including clubs and bars. They are pushing very hard and want the science altered. We need to hold on to our hats. There will likely be a second peak.’ 

Rishi Sunak said ‘it is all about handling the scientists’

On July 2, 2020: ‘In economics meeting earlier in the day they didn’t realise CMO [Sir Chris] was there and Cx [then Chancellor Rishi Sunak] said, “It is all about handling the scientists, not handling the virus.” They then got flustered when CMO chipped in later and they realised he had been there all along. PM blustered and waffled for 5 mins to cover his embarrassment.’

Nicola Sturgeon ‘breaks ranks’ with school face mask guidance

On August 24, 2020: ‘Scotland breaks ranks over face coverings and schools despite CMO [Sir Chris] having worked hard to get all CMOs aligned to a very good statement released the day before.’ 

Dominic Cummings said he doesn’t want ‘unrealistic Hancockian timetables’

On September 7, 2020: ‘DC says “we don’t want any unrealistic Hancockian timetables.”‘

Boris Johnson said ‘we are too s**t to get our act together’

On September 20, 2020: ‘5 hr of meetings with the PM. He came back from Battle of Britain memorial service and was distressed by seeing everyone in separated and in masks – “made and spooky, we have got to end it.” Starts challenging numbers and questioning whether they really translate into deaths. Says it is not exponential etc etc. Looked broken – head in hands a lot. “Is it because of the great libertarian nation we are that it spreads so much.” “Maybe we are licked as a species.” “We are to s**t to get our act together.” We went round in circles.’

Boris Johnson said Covid is ‘nature’s way of dealing with old people’

On December 14, 2020, Sir Patrick wrote: ‘PM told he has been acting early and the public are with him (but his party is not). He says his party “thinks the whole thing is pathetic and Covid is just nature’s way of dealing with old people — and I am not entirely sure I disagree with them. A lot of moderate people think it is a bit too much. Wants to rely on polling.’ 

Chris Whitty was a ‘delayer’

On February 7, 2021 Sir Patrick wrote: ‘CMO [Sir Chris] talked afterwards about inquiry — was lockdown too late in March, could we have known (he was a delayer of course). Regrets we had re press — “fatigue”, “herd immunity”, “20,000” and the graphs. We have learnt a lot.’ 

Treasury accused of ‘pure dogma’ 

On October 26, 2021: ‘Economic predictions. HMT [the Treasury] saying economy nearly back to normal and Plan B would cost £18 billion. No evidence. No transparency. Pure dogma and wrong throughout.’

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