if we look at the bottom of the page, there is an e—mail dated the 8th of march, which is a sunday, again from someone in your office to claire brunton, a request to attend the cobra that was going to happen the cobra that was going to happen the next monday. a very similar request, can the mayor come to the cobra, given the recent impact? this time, we can see that the same response is received, if we can go up response is received, if we can go up to the top of that page, there is a response on the monday morning at 950 am. no they may isn't required for the pm has asked for a separate meeting with cabinet ministers. let's just look at a separate set of internal e—mails, to show how that decision was reached. if we look at the next item, we see the same e—mailfrom your member the next item, we see the same e—mail from your member of staff. and then if we look up the page, claire brunton says that she assumes the answer is no again. and then we see the e—mailfrom the answer is no again. and then we see the e—mail from eddie the answer is no again. and then we see the e—mailfrom eddie lister who was one of the chief of staff of the prime minister who says he doesn't think there needs to be a meeting of the mayors. and then another e—mail saying that it had been discussed at the 8:15am meeting and the general agreement was that there was in fact an argument for you to be at the meeting. and then at the very top, the final response from eddie lister, you can't have him with the mayors of birmingham and manchester. or is london more important than manchester? and then we heard from lord lister that reflected his view, when either inviting all the metro mayors or none of them, which is why as we saw in the previous document you were not invited. what is your reaction to that analysis and that reasoning behind you not being invited at that stage? it reasoning behind you not being invited at that stage?— reasoning behind you not being invited at that stage? it would have been advisable _ invited at that stage? it would have been advisable to _ invited at that stage? it would have been advisable to invite _ invited at that stage? it would have been advisable to invite the - invited at that stage? it would have been advisable to invite the mayors instead of the bilaterals, i knew subsequently that london was different, i knew it was different because i was subsequently told that the pandemic was having an impact on london ahead of the rest of the country, the government were aware of the challenges in the hospitals, and the government were aware of community transmission in london. so there is a argument for london to be treated differently at this particular time. secondly, we know, there was a case in 2009, there is an ability for cobra to have people join in virtually, there is no reason why others can'tjoin in. to reason why others can't join in. to pursue that point, we have already seen the justification for the reason to be at the cobra was that london was special in this context. we will come back to that. the other point you made was why not invite the metro mayors? we know that the default administrations were being invited to cobra at that stage. leaving aside what you thought was in fact the advanced position of london, imagine it wasjust in fact the advanced position of london, imagine it was just a national emergency with no particular region ahead of the others, in that context, do you think there's an argument for inviting a series of metro mayors to a meeting like this? it inviting a series of metro mayors to a meeting like this?— a meeting like this? it depends on the circumstances, _ a meeting like this? it depends on the circumstances, i _ a meeting like this? it depends on the circumstances, i had - a meeting like this? it depends on the circumstances, i had objectionj the circumstances, i had objection when there is a terrorist attack in manchester, the metro mayors being at those meetings, but london's population is 9 million, most people travel by bus or tube, so the transmission is going to happen very quickly of this virus. how many of those are dealing with co—morbidity, overcrowded conditions, in london, there are more people who work on zero—hour contracts, it is horses for courses. in this particular case, i can see no explanation at all why the mayor of london, we went around the table. i think life would be saved if we were earlier. that was my date _ be saved if we were earlier. that was my date 9th _ be saved if we were earlier. that was my date 9th of _ be saved if we were earlier. that was my date 9th of march, the second cobra meeting you were not invited to. i want to move on to a meeting that took place a couple of days later on the 11th of march, that was a day when you and some of your staff met with chris whitty, shall we look at a record of that meeting up we look at a record of that meeting up on screen now. before i ask you about the details of the document, there are a few documents like this amongst the exhibits to your statement they are transcripts and most like this say they are a transcript of david bellamy, your chief of staff.— transcript of david bellamy, your chief of staff._ so | chief of staff. yes, he still is. so can we take _ chief of staff. yes, he still is. so can we take it — chief of staff. yes, he still is. so can we take it that _ chief of staff. yes, he still is. so can we take it that document - chief of staff. yes, he still is. so can we take it that document is| chief of staff. yes, he still is. so i can we take it that document is like these are typed up examples of documents from the meetings? his documents from the meetings? h 3 handwritten notes are awful to read so the typed versions are much easier to read, the handwritten notes are available as well. yes. easier to read, the handwritten notes are available as well. yes, i want to draw _ notes are available as well. yes, i want to draw your _ notes are available as well. yes, i want to draw your attention - notes are available as well. yes, i want to draw your attention to - notes are available as well. yes, i | want to draw your attention to the notes of the meeting with chris whitty on that wednesday the 11th of march. first of all, only two lines down we see an entry, chris whitty saying this is going to be a global pandemic. and then some detail. did chris whitty give you details there that you hadn't previously understood? it that you hadn't previously understood?— that you hadn't previously understood? , ., , ., understood? it is worth explaining that this meeting _ understood? it is worth explaining that this meeting was _ understood? it is worth explaining that this meeting was at _ understood? it is worth explaining that this meeting was at my - understood? it is worth explaining i that this meeting was at my request, i contacted his office and said we know about this pandemic, i would like to meet to discuss this. secondly to clarify the 2nd of march was the first time i was aware of cobra but there have been many cobra meetings in february. this was me asking chris whitty, although i had read the phrase, global pandemic, chris whitty telling me there was going to be a global pandemic was shocking to hear. it was the first time i had met with him since we knew about this virus, he told me this is going to be a global pandemic. this is going to be a global pandemic— this is going to be a global andemic. ., ., , ., pandemic. could you go slower, there is a stenographer, _ pandemic. could you go slower, there is a stenographer, it _ pandemic. could you go slower, there is a stenographer, it is _ pandemic. could you go slower, there is a stenographer, it is easily - is a stenographer, it is easily done — is a stenographer, it is easily done i— is a stenographer, it is easily done. i understand.- is a stenographer, it is easily done. i understand. lets you scroll down a little _ done. i understand. lets you scroll down a little more... _ done. i understand. lets you scroll down a little more... can - done. i understand. lets you scroll down a little more... can you - done. i understand. lets you scroll down a little more... can you see l down a little more... can you see the paragraph that says actual number 5000, 10,000. the paragraph that says actual number5000,10,000. london lead the paragraph that says actual number 5000, 10,000. london lead as transport hub and density, no more than two or three weeks. what was information chris whitty was giving you there? information chris whitty was giving ou there? ~ ., ., , , you there? what he was telling us was that the _ you there? what he was telling us was that the number _ you there? what he was telling us was that the number of _ you there? what he was telling us was that the number of people - you there? what he was telling us was that the number of people in | was that the number of people in london he thought had the virus, the reasons why we were ahead of the others and why it was worse in london because we are a transport hub, airports, eurostar etc. and at that density, the disease can be passed a lot quicker because we are against city. the reference to no more than two or three weeks is a reference to when things get really bad. later on he mentions priorities later, he was worried about the virus, about its impact on london and that is howl virus, about its impact on london and that is how i received it. picking up on the point about london, being ahead of the rest of the country. if we could just go down a few more lines, if you can see above the bottom, there's an entry, get right for london, to late for others but regional approach is confusing. that seems to be consistent with the idea that london is ahead of the rest of the country and the measures that were being planned were being designed to address the position in london, even if it meant it might be early for the rest of the country. is that right? it the rest of the country. is that riuht? , ' . ., the rest of the country. is that riuht? , '. ., right? it is difficult to impact the mac article _ right? it is difficult to impact the mac article at _ right? it is difficult to impact the mac article at the _ right? it is difficult to impact the mac article at the impact - right? it is difficult to impact the mac article at the impact this - mac article at the impact this meeting had on me, it was quite clear this virus was coming our way and we would be affected badly, but also the response from him was trying to explain to me the reasons why the other parts of the country weren't yet affected because of us being the transport hub and so forth. it made sense when he explained the way he did. in summary, what he was telling you in this meeting was confirming and adding more detail the consideration you had had before which is that london, because of its status as a transport hub and proximity of so many people, would be ahead of the rest of the country in the development of the virus. fist rest of the country in the development of the virus. at this sta . e, development of the virus. at this stare, we development of the virus. at this stage. we may — development of the virus. at this stage, we may have _ development of the virus. at this stage, we may have had - development of the virus. at this stage, we may have had a - development of the virus. at this stage, we may have had a school closing down because of a virus because of a skiing holiday in italy, i was aware the virus was in london because of the school closure, but it is clear from what chris whitty was saying the impact on london was going to be huge. an example of how i received it was that week i decided to cancel the saint patrick day event on sunday on the basis of what chris whitty had told me. this was in advance of me going to the cobra,. let's pick up the chronology again that was wednesday, the 11th of march. fin the chronology again that was wednesday, the 11th of march. on the next da , wednesday, the 11th of march. on the next day. the — wednesday, the 11th of march. on the next day, the 12th _ wednesday, the 11th of march. on the next day, the 12th of _ wednesday, the 11th of march. on the next day, the 12th of march _ wednesday, the 11th of march. on the next day, the 12th of march there - next day, the 12th of march there was another cobra meeting, we can look briefly at another of these e—mail exchanges. quite a familiar exchange by now, the top half of the page, and e—mail on that day early at lunchtime on the 12th of march two clear bru nton at lunchtime on the 12th of march two clear brunton asking if you could attend, presumably the meeting was in the afternoon. simply repeating the request and saying that we think it's important is there representing london. the answer came back, check with the team i'm afraid not. you described your frustration at not being at the earlier meetings, presumably coming the day after your meeting with the professor,... the only powers i had was enhanced cleaning on the underground is, cancelling the st patrick's day on the sunday. that is me not being properly briefed by everybody but by the cmo, so i was frustrated which is an understatement.- frustrated which is an understatement. ~ ., ., understatement. we going to the weekend, understatement. we going to the weekend. you — understatement. we going to the weekend, you mentioned - understatement. we going to the weekend, you mentioned you - understatement. we going to the - weekend, you mentioned you cancelled the st patrick's day event, there was yet another cobra meeting on the monday. the inquiry has had a lot of evidence about meetings that took place and then over that weekend, but then there was another cobra meeting on monday the 16th of march and on this occasion you were invited. were you given an explanation at that point why you are being invited then that hadn't been invited previously? ha. lets been invited previously? no. lets look been invited previously? hru lets look back at your witness statement where you provide an account of that meeting on monday the 16th, paragraphs 82 and 83 on page 19. we can see in paragraph 82, you refer to attending that meeting on monday the 16th, you refer to it, stating that london was a few weeks ahead of the rest of the country, and then in the rest of the country, and then in the paragraph below you say this was a moment you will never forget, can you expand on that?— you expand on that? i was told by the first time _ you expand on that? i was told by the first time by _ you expand on that? i was told by the first time by the _ you expand on that? i was told by the first time by the pai _ you expand on that? i was told by the first time by the pai mr- you expand on that? i was told by the first time by the pai mr and i the first time by the pai mr and others how bad things were, i had been briefed by the cmo but the cobra meeting presented the challenges in london, we were told the concentration of cases in hospitals are really serious, the prime minister is using words like this is the biggest challenge we were going to face since the second world war, draconian measures are going to be needed, this is not delusions of grandeur but i had been keptin delusions of grandeur but i had been kept in the dark as the elected mayor of london. and ifelt winded as to what was happening in london but also realising there were things we could have done in relation to some of these issues. some we did, st patrick's day, enhanced cleaning, others we didn't do. i was quite clear, not in any way to sound panic driven, i was alarmed by what i was told in relation to where we were and where we may go to. i will never forget that sort of feeling of lack of power, lack of influence, not knowing what is happening in our city. knowing what is happening in our ci . ., ., , ~' knowing what is happening in our ci . ., ., knowing what is happening in our city. can i ask what you would have done? you — city. can i ask what you would have done? you were _ city. can i ask what you would have done? you were told _ city. can i ask what you would have done? you were told on _ city. can i ask what you would have done? you were told on the - city. can i ask what you would have done? you were told on the 11th i city. can i ask what you would have done? you were told on the 11th of| done? you were told on the 11th of march _ done? you were told on the 11th of march lry— done? you were told on the 11th of march by the cmo that there was going _ march by the cmo that there was going to — march by the cmo that there was going to be a global pandemic coming to london_ going to be a global pandemic coming to london and the impact was going to london and the impact was going to he _ to london and the impact was going to be huge — to london and the impact was going to be huge. you said you had limited powers. _ to be huge. you said you had limited powers, supposing that message had come _ powers, supposing that message had come from _ powers, supposing that message had come from government as opposed to chris whitty _ come from government as opposed to chris whitty who is a government employee, — chris whitty who is a government employee, what would you have done differently? employee, what would you have done differentl ? ., , ., differently? some of the things that ha en differently? some of the things that happen subsequently, _ differently? some of the things that happen subsequently, it _ differently? some of the things that happen subsequently, it was - differently? some of the things that happen subsequently, it was me - differently? some of the things that| happen subsequently, it was me that lobbied the prime minister to go to lock down. it was me that lobbied the prime minister in relation to the prime minister in relation to the inability to keep social distance on public transport so people shouldn't be using public transport unless they had to. so we're talking about lobbying, we're not talking about specific actions because your powers are limited. that is the advantage of cobra, because cobra —ish chaired by the prime minister he can ask as a referee and take referendum from someone at the coal face. i will give you an example in relation to some of the lobbying of the prime minister that led to action for... sound like we will come to that, my question may have pre—empted. if there were earlier cobras i could have pointed out why community transmission could have accelerated in london but because i was in there those views weren't heard. let’s those views weren't heard. let's come then _ those views weren't heard. let's come then to — those views weren't heard. let's come then to the _ those views weren't heard. let's come then to the next _ those views weren't heard. let's come then to the next period, we know there was a week between that cobra meeting on monday the 16th and the following monday when the national lockdown was announced by the prime minister. you had a number of exchanges with the prime minister during that week, first of all i want to ask about meeting that took place on the thursday of that week, thursday the 19th which you give us some detail about in your statement. if we could go on to paragraph 88 of the witness statement. you say you requested meeting with the prime minister and it would appear that request was granted. it was on that day thursday the 19th that you and your chief of staff actually went in person to downing street and had a meeting with the prime minister. moving on in your statement, you describe if we can go to the rest of the paragraph, drawing on your knowledge of what was happening in other countries. you save many other countries had introduced some sort of lockdown, you felt strongly that hospitality venues should be closed and this is something you said to the prime minister at that point, is that right? it the prime minister at that point, is that riuht? , .., the prime minister at that point, is that riuht? , , ., that right? it is, can i explain that right? it is, can i explain that we had _ that right? it is, can i explain that we had a _ that right? it is, can i explain that we had a massive that right? it is, can i explain that we had a massive advantaae that right? it is, can i explain that we had a massive advantaae as that right? it is, can i explain that we had a massive advantaae as a that we had a massive advantage as a country because the pandemic was happening elsewhere weeks in advance, so we could see what was working. and it seemed that advantage wasn't being used. we knew from the work we had done what was happening elsewhere. i had spoken to leaders of other cities around the world seeing what actions they had taken and we were an outlier. the inuui taken and we were an outlier. the inquiry has _ taken and we were an outlier. the inquiry has heard from that number ten machine, politicians, civil servants, scientists had spent much of the weekend before this thursday locked in meetings, trying to understand the data, discussing which initiatives should be imposed, number had been imposed before thursday, the evidence we have heard is what came to be described as lockdown had been considered and was under consideration during this period. is that something you understood at the meeting or did you think you were raising something that the prime minister hadn't heard? ., ., , . ., ., that the prime minister hadn't heard? ., . ., ., that the prime minister hadn't heard? ., ., ., ., heard? no, it was clear that some of these things — heard? no, it was clear that some of these things had _ heard? no, it was clear that some of these things had been _ heard? no, it was clear that some of these things had been surfaced, - heard? no, it was clear that some of these things had been surfaced, but| these things had been surfaced, but these things had been surfaced, but the prime minister wasn't persuaded. for example, in relation to my surprise, the prime minister wasn't aware that in other parts of the world they had lockdown is in place and fines could be issued for breaches. i was surprised he wasn't aware of that. he breaches. i was surprised he wasn't aware of that-— breaches. i was surprised he wasn't aware of that. he said that, did he? yes, my chief _ aware of that. he said that, did he? yes. my chief of _ aware of that. he said that, did he? yes, my chief of staff _ aware of that. he said that, did he? yes, my chief of staff gave - aware of that. he said that, did he? yes, my chief of staff gave the - yes, my chief of staff gave the example of milan for the imposition of fines, the prime minister wasn't aware because in france, parisians were going to other parts of the country, and so it was important to keep people confined to where they were. i was surprised at the lack of awareness at some of these things. you go on in your statement to describe the exchanges at this meeting and in summary, tell me if i have this right, you and mrjohnson agreed there would be a press conference that day later on on the thursday, where you would both appear together and ask hospitality venues to close. subsequently, you got a message to say that wasn't. .. i have leapt ahead, you went back to city hall to prepare for the press conference but you then got a message saying that there had been second thoughts and the press conference wasn't going to go ahead. i will take you to that part of the statement in a moment but is that a summary of what was discussed in the meeting? it summary of what was discussed in the meetin: ? , , , ., meeting? it is, but it is worth exulaining — meeting? it is, but it is worth explaining that _ meeting? it is, but it is worth explaining that during - meeting? it is, but it is worth explaining that during the - meeting? it is, but it is worth - explaining that during the meeting, the prime minister was hesitant to bring in measures. i made a point to him, you are a libertarian, i am passionate about human rights, if we are both think london we have to have restrictions, that is really powerful, it is a powerful thing for both of us to be addressing london. that point landed with dominic cummings and the prime minister i thought, he said you're right, let's have a press conference to gather so i returned to city hall, the press conference was some hours later. let's look at paragraph 92 and towards the end of that paragraph you describe after you had gone back to city hall getting a call from dominic cummings saying that a decision had been made not to go ahead with a press conference. his explanation for that the matter would be discussed in cobra next day, but also he was concerned with the impact on the financial markets and thought an announcement on the friday when the markets were about to close would be better. one of the broad themes of the inquiry is this question of balancing economic considerations against the health benefits of imposing mpi was mac that would seem to be a perfectly logical way of balancing those competing views. it logical way of balancing those competing views.— logical way of balancing those competing views. it does but it innores competing views. it does but it ignores the _ competing views. it does but it ignores the links _ competing views. it does but it ignores the links between - competing views. it does but it ignores the links between lives competing views. it does but it - ignores the links between lives and livelihoods. we know and they knew at the time about community transmission, which means that people catch the virus very quickly which inhibits their ability to be good and productive workers. i couldn't disagree with him saying the impact on the markets and so forth, my frustration the further 2a hours, what impact would that have on productivity? it is hours, what impact would that have on productivity?— on productivity? it is an example of the prime minister _ on productivity? it is an example of the prime minister trying _ on productivity? it is an example of the prime minister trying to - on productivity? it is an example of| the prime minister trying to balance the prime minister trying to balance the health impacts against economic impacts. me the health impacts against economic im acts. ~ �* ., the health impacts against economic imacts. ~ �* ., . ., . the health impacts against economic imacts. �* ., . ., impacts. we didn't get a chance to discuss it. you're _ impacts. we didn't get a chance to discuss it. you're right, _ impacts. we didn't get a chance to discuss it. you're right, he - impacts. we didn't get a chance to discuss it. you're right, he had - discuss it. you're right, he had already taken _ discuss it. you're right, he had already taken that _ discuss it. you're right, he had already taken that decision - discuss it. you're right, he had| already taken that decision and discuss it. you're right, he had . already taken that decision and he told you of that decision. your mac that's right. we see a reference to cobra the next day, you attended that cobra meeting as well did you not? , if we that cobra meeting as well did you not? yes. if we look at paragraph 94 of our not? yes if we look at paragraph 94 of your statement, about not? 19:3 if we look at paragraph 94 of your statement, about four not? i9; if we look at paragraph 94 of your statement, about four lines down you say the pm was not at this cobra meeting which i found extraordinary given the circumstances. when you told why the prime minister was not at the meeting? i prime minister was not at the meetin: ? ::. �* prime minister was not at the meetin: ? ::, �* , , meeting? i can't remember, it must have been raised _ meeting? i can't remember, it must have been raised but _ meeting? i can't remember, it must have been raised but i _ meeting? i can't remember, it must have been raised but i can't- have been raised but i can't remember the explanation. d0 have been raised but i can't remember the explanation. do you remember the explanation. do you remember having _ remember the explanation. do you remember having any _ remember the explanation. do you remember having any reaction - remember the explanation. do you remember having any reaction to l remember having any reaction to whatever explanation you were given. 7 l matt whatever explanation you were given. ? l matt one of the advantages to the prime minister chairing cobra is they will be different point of view and the prime minister as the boss can arbitrate on the different points of view. to paraphrase, he can balance those points of view. at in reference to michael gove, if there was a difference, it would be difficult for him to arbitrate, to give him credit, he did. in difficult for him to arbitrate, to give him credit, he did.- give him credit, he did. in any event, give him credit, he did. in any event. we _ give him credit, he did. in any event. we may _ give him credit, he did. in any event, we may well— give him credit, he did. in any event, we may well hear- give him credit, he did. in any event, we may well hear from j give him credit, he did. in any i event, we may well hear from mr event, we may well hearfrom mr johnson but you can't remember why he wasn't at that meeting? no. later on ou he wasn't at that meeting? no. later on you describe _ he wasn't at that meeting? no. later on you describe a _ he wasn't at that meeting? no. later on you describe a shifting _ he wasn't at that meeting? no. later on you describe a shifting initially the meeting being in favour of pushing off the closure of hospitality venues into the weekend, but a counter argument being made that it should be that day, at the end of the day on that friday. and in the end the friday argument prevailing?— in the end the friday argument revailin. ? :, , , :,, prevailing? that is right. this was to the credit _ prevailing? that is right. this was to the credit of _ prevailing? that is right. this was to the credit of michael _ prevailing? that is right. this was to the credit of michael gove, - prevailing? that is right. this was to the credit of michael gove, he | to the credit of michael gove, he decided to agree with us lobbying for friday rather than saturday. there is one more sequence of exchanges between you and the prime minister that i want to ask you about. and that is a letter you wrote and then a call you had with him on sunday the 22nd of march. let's look at the letter first, let's remind ourselves, this was the sunday before the lockdown was announced. one gets the impression that you are at home at that day when you wrote that letter from home and sent by e—mail? yes. if we go down to about the fourth paragraph, please. one more paragraph down. we can see in the paragraph, it starts, i am hearing time and again your concerns about the measures that had been imposed to date, and at the end of that paragraph you refer to the fact that paragraph you refer to the fact that you talked about london being in a few weeks ahead of the country. it is in the next paragraph that you make your request, or you advocate particular step that you think the prime minister ought to take. you see, there needs to be an immediate strengthening of the public health message to london, advice is being seen as something that can be ignored, you see, i do not use the phrase lockdown lightly, but i believe londoners must be told to stay home unless they are an essential worker or buying food or collecting medication from a pharmacist. alongside this, there must be clear reassurances. at that point you are advocating for what became known as a monthly lockdown. —— as mandatory lockdown. next page, one more paragraph, you see at the end of the letter, alternatively, if you insist on continuing on the same course, by inference that means not adopting a mandatory lockdown, i would be left with no choice but to speak directly to londoners with a tougher message if it means thousands of peoples lives could be saved. what do you mean, you are indicating that if he does not do what you are asking of him, you