Sunak says it was a mistake to ‘empower scientists’ during Covid pandemic

Social distancing signage is displayed on a locked school gate in February 2021. Rishi Sunak says he saw minutes of Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies meetings that had opinions critical of majority viewpoints edited out. Photograph: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

Rishi Sunak has claimed that it was a mistake to “empower scientists” during the coronavirus pandemic and that his opposition to closing schools was met with silence during one meeting.

The Conservative leadership candidate believes one of the major errors was allowing the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) to have so much influence on decision making such as closing nurseries, schools and colleges in March 2020.