Lockdown rules were confusing and £10,000 fines disproportionate, Priti Patel tells Covid Inquiry

9 November 2023, 17:19 | Updated: 9 November 2023, 18:04

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel
Former Home Secretary Priti Patel. Picture: PA
Kieran Kelly

By Kieran Kelly

Highly-confusing and complex Covid laws were difficult to understand for the police and the public, former home secretary Priti Patel has said.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

In today's hearing, it emerged that the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanded that "bigger fines" be emphasised as he unwound lockdown restrictions in the summer of 2020.

In handwritten comments shown to the Covid inquiry, the then-prime minister wrote: "I agree with the openings but the OVERRIDING MESSAGE should be about tougher enforcement and BIGGER FINES."

Lead counsel to the inquiry Hugo Keith KC asked former home secretary Dame Priti Patel to put aside the "crushing irony" of Mr Johnson's note as he asked her about putting the message into practice.

However, Ms Patel told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that the £10,000 fine introduced for breaches of coronavirus regulations was not proportionate.

Questioned by Hugo Keith KC on whether the flat fine of £10,000 introduced in August 2020 was proportionate, Dame Priti said: "It was very high."

Pressed again on whether it was proportionate, the former home secretary said: "The answer is no."

Asked whether the Home Office pushed back to say the flat fine was disproportionate, Dame Priti said: "It was the Home Office in that collective sense."

'We couldn't stop Covid at the border'

Dame Priti Patel arrives at the Covid Inquiry
Dame Priti Patel arrives at the Covid Inquiry. Picture: Alamy

The UK didn't have the "technical capability" to stop coronavirus at the border, former Home Secretary Priti Patel has told the Covid Inquiry.

Read More: Boris Johnson was told to sack Matt Hancock to 'save lives and protect the NHS', Covid Inquiry hears

Read More: Boris Johnson 'wanted to be injected with coronavirus live on TV to show it wasn't a threat', Covid Inquiry hears

Discussing February and March 2020, lead counsel to the inquiry Hugo Keith KC said: "There was a distinct absence of practical capability to be able to restrict the infection through the border and secondly there was no sophisticated or effective system already thought about, drawn up and ready to be put into place when the virus attacked."

Dame Priti replied: "I think that's absolutely correct and, with that, no technical capability.

"At that stage the skills and capabilities simply weren't there."

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Picture: Getty

Ms Patel says evidence from SPI-M-O that suggested there may have already been sustained community transmission in early February means the government took a decision not to focus on border regulations to stop the virus.

Brits had already started to stop travelling by the time lockdown was put into place in March 2020, she added.

Ms Patel has also accepted that the Home Office did not believe it had the "technical capability or skills" to restrict Covid coming through the border.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Jason Hoganson

Actor freed early after being jailed for assaulting ex now on the run from prison after breaching licence conditions

Polling stations across US battleground states Georgia, Wisconsin, and Michigan have received non-credible bomb threats from Russian email addresses, the FBI says.

FBI investigating 'Russian' bomb threats to polling stations across swing states

Former President Trump and Vice President Harris make final pitches

Road to the White House: The key swing states that will decide the 2024 US Election

The 64-year-old previously revealed he was days from death before undergoing surgery

Jeremy Clarkson issues major health update after life-changing surgery as he tells fans he is 'better than ever'

A man has been arrested at the US Capitol after he was found to smell like fuel, and police discovered a flare gun and torch on him.

Man armed with flare gun and torch arrested at US Capitol on Election Day, police say

Israeli PM Netanyahu has fired his defence minister Yoav Gallant.

Israeli PM Netanyahu fires defence minister Yoav Gallant in surprise announcement

Donald Trump after casting his vote on Tuesday

Donald Trump claims he's 'very confident' of victory in US election race after casting his ballot

Conor McGregor has been accused of raping and choking a woman in a Dublin hotel

Conor McGregor accused of raping and choking woman after snorting cocaine

The ex-Manchester City footballer married Stephen Darby in 2018, a few months before he was diagnosed with the condition

Ex-Lioness captain Steph Houghton reveals husband's 'life-changing' operation amid MND battle

Underground train, Barbican Tube Station, Smithfield, England, United Kingdom

Tube drivers call off planned London Underground strikes after improved pay offer

Playa de los Pocillos puerto del carmen Lanzarote, Canary Islands, spain

British tourist, 34, found dead on beach in Lanzarote

Trump and Harris go head to head

US Election night guide: What time do polls close and who is favourite to win?

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had only just turned 12 when he took part in the violent disorder

Britain's youngest rioter: Boy who had just turned 12 sentenced for involvement in violent disorder

The 170-metre red bridge over wetlands in Canada Water, south-east London, opened last week

Security guards to stop cyclists from using bright red ‘wildlife boardwalk’ at £3.3bn London housing development

Rubert Gispin was visiting flood-hit parts of his native Valencia

Spanish influencer defends ‘shameful’ decision to deliberately cover himself in mud in Valencia’s flood damaged streets

Sara Sharif's father denies murdering the 10-year-old.

Father claims he begged to save Sara Sharif before being told ‘Leave it, she’s dead’