Rishi Sunak’s covid record—and what it tells us about his views on health, wealth, and the value of science

Rishi Sunak’s actions during the covid-19 pandemic tell us a great deal about his attitudes towards healthcare and science—and therefore how these may fare under his tenure as UK prime minister. As chancellor of the exchequer and one of the government’s key decision makers, Sunak had much influence on the course of the pandemic and its economic and other consequences.Boris Johnson appointed Sunak chancellor on 13 February 2020 after Sajid Javid quit. Sunak had been chief secretary to the Treasury for the previous seven months.1 Two weeks before his promotion the first covid cases had been confirmed in the UK.2 Sunak was one of the quartet of key decision makers during the pandemic, alongside Johnson, the health and social care secretary for England, Matt Hancock, and the Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove.3Sunak had to rewrite his first budget hastily to respond to the rapidly escalating crisis before he delivered it…
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