Boris Johnson criticised for ‘dodging’ bereaved group during private visit to Covid memorial wall

‘For weeks we’ve asked him to come to wall and meet bereaved families. He’s refused to even acknowledge our request’

Boris Johnson has been criticised for a “deeply hurtful” visit to the Covid memorial wall “under cover of darkness”, as he was accused of dodging requests to attend with families of the bereaved.

The memorial in central London, opposite Parliament, has tens of thousands of hand drawn hearts — each to represent a victim of Covid-19 — and in recent weeks politicians and religious leaders have made visits.

The Covid-19 bereaved families for justice campaign, which has been pushing for a public inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic, invited the prime minister last week to meet bereaved families at the memorial.

However, Matt Fowler, a co-founder of the organisation, said: “Boris Johnson visited the national Covid memorial wall late yesterday evening. 

“For weeks we’ve asked him to come to wall and meet bereaved families. He’s refused to even acknowledge our request.”

It comes after Mr Johnson was alleged in reports on Monday evening to have said he would rather “see bodies pile high” before ordering a third lockdown during a No 10 meeting in the autumn, where the decision was taken to impose England’s second national lockdown. 

Despite a straight denial from the prime minister and cabinet colleagues suggesting they had not “heard” the remark, opposition parties demanded an apology for what they branded “disgraceful” comments.

Mr Fowler added: “The day after it’s revealed he said he’d let ‘bodies pile high’ he makes a late evening visit under cover of darkness, just so that he can dodge meeting bereaved families.

“This is a cynical and insincere move that is deeply hurtful. Our invitation for him to walk with families who’ve lost loved ones is still open, and we await a response”.

A No 10 spokesperson said: “The prime minister offers his deepest condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one during this very difficult pandemic. On Tuesday the prime minister visited the Covid memorial wall in private for quiet reflection”.

Asked why Mr Johnson had not met with the group, the prime minister’s official spokesperson later told reporters there are “ongoing legal proceedings” over No 10’s refusal to set out a timeframe for an inquiry.

“The PM has said he is happy to meet with bereaved families for justice at the appropriate time when legal proceedings have concluded,” they added.

“The PM has met with a number of bereaved families both in person and virtually and will continue to do so.”

The spokesperson said he was not aware whether the prime minister had taken legal advice on the question of whether a meeting with bereaved families for justice would prejudice the ongoing legal case.

Earlier this week, it also emerged government lawyers had written to the Covid-19 bereaved families for justice, rejecting requests for an immediate public inquiry into the crisis, suggesting that ministers and officials’ workload will not ease in the coming months.

In a letter to the group, the government legal department argued now was not an “appropriate” time for an investigation, with people required to give evidence “working round the clock” during a “critical phase” of the pandemic.

“All relevant departments and agencies are working flat out in their efforts to control the virus, while rolling out the vaccines as fast as possible,” they wrote.

“The relevant officials and decision-makers are heavily engaged with this monumental challenge. There is simply no capacity for government to pause these efforts and divert resources to an intensive independent inquiry.”