The remarks, detailed in the notebook of the then-chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance and shared with the inquiry, came as Mr Johnson’s government sought to avoid a second national lockdown heading into the winter.
Sir Patrick also complained that Mr Johnson and his then-chancellor Rishi Sunak were “clutching at straws”.
The disclosure came as Simon Ridley became the latest top official to appear before Lady Hallett’s inquiry this week.
The former head of the Cabinet Office Covid-19 taskforce faced detailed questions about the role and influence of the official body over the course of 2020.
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