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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Patrick Glover

Protesters removed from Covid Inquiry as Boris Johnson begins with apology

FOUR people have been removed from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry just as Boris Johnson was about to begin giving evidence. 

The former prime minister is giving evidence as part of the Covid-19 Inquiry on Wednesday at Dorland House in west London.

Johnson had begun giving evidence, starting with an apology to Covid victims when the protesters interrupted. 

Four protesters removed from UK Covid-19 Inquiry as Boris Johnson begins giving evidence

Johnson began by offering an apology to victims and their families, as be began two days of evidence in front of the probe.

“Can I just say how glad I am to be at this inquiry and how sorry I am for the pain and the loss and the suffering of the Covid victims,” the former prime minister said.

The National: Boris Johnson began his evidence with an apology.Boris Johnson began his evidence with an apology.

Protesters then stood up and, when they didn't sit back down when told, were removed from the inquiry. 

Ushers at the inquiry removed multiple people from the hearing room after Baroness Heather Hallett was forced to intervene.

Four people were removed in total. 

The four women who were removed afterwards told reporters that they had stood to hold up signs that read: “The dead can’t hear your apologies”.

Speaking outside Dorland House, Kathryn Butcher, 59, who lost her sister-in-law in the pandemic, said: “We didn’t want his apology.

“When he tried to apologise we stood up. We didn’t block anybody. We were told to sit down.

“We didn’t sit down straight away. One of us stayed standing, so the rest of us came out in solidarity.”

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