UK Covid inquiry: Boris Johnson says he didn’t back a ‘let it rip’ Covid policy

It’s been an emotional day at the Covid Inquiry – the second day of Boris Johnson’s testimony. For the first time, he spoke about his own time in intensive care – saying most of the people there were middle-aged men like him.

The former prime minister also denied that he thought they should let the virus rip in late 2020, and said characterisations of the Downing Street parties were “absolutely absurd”. Our Health and Social Care Editor Victoria Macdonald reports – and a warning – this report contains flashing images.