Sky News Press Preview | Liam Thorp and Mary Macleod | Thursday 20 November 2025

Key Concepts

• COVID-19 Pandemic Inquiry Report: A comprehensive investigation into the UK government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Toxic Leadership: Criticism directed at Boris Johnson's leadership style during the pandemic.
• Lockdown Delays: The report highlights that delays in implementing lockdowns may have contributed to higher death tolls.
• "Lost Month": Refers to February 2020, when the government is criticized for not taking sufficient action despite knowing about the impending pandemic.
• Second Wave Failures: The report criticizes the government for not learning from the first wave of the pandemic.
• Devolved Administrations: The inquiry also examines the handling of the pandemic by governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• Betrayal of Our Children: The Daily Mail's headline regarding the inquiry's findings on the impact of lockdowns on children.
• Asylum Applications: The Financial Times reports on a new policy to fast-track asylum applications for high earners and entrepreneurs.
• Ukraine Peace Plan: Discussion around a proposed peace plan for Ukraine, with concerns about its one-sided nature.
• China-UK Relations: Debate surrounding the potential approval of a large new Chinese embassy in London and a possible Prime Minister's visit to China.
• The Ashes Cricket Series: A lighthearted segment discussing a humorous exchange between Monty Panesar and Steve Smith.

COVID-19 Pandemic Inquiry: Damning Findings and Criticisms

The press preview focuses heavily on the findings of the COVID-19 pandemic inquiry report, with multiple newspapers highlighting its critical assessment of the government's response.

Main Topics and Key Points

• Report's Overall Tone: The report is described with words like "toxic," "chaotic," and "calamitous" (Metro). The Guardian quotes a passage stating the response was "too little too late." The I newspaper's headline, "Johnson's toxic leadership blamed for 23,000 deaths," encapsulates a significant portion of the criticism.
• Lockdown Delays: The Times reports that the inquiry called lockdown delays "inexcusable." Mary Mcloud emphasizes that going into lockdown a week earlier could have saved over 20,000 lives. Liam Thorp recounts his experience as a reporter in Liverpool, witnessing growing concerns about the delayed response and specific events like the Atletico Madrid football match at Anfield in early March, where Spanish fans, already under lockdown in their own country, were allowed to attend.
• "Lost Month" and Boris Johnson's Leadership: The report describes February 2020 as a "lost month." Liam Thorp points out that Boris Johnson was on holiday during this crucial period and missed multiple COBRA meetings. The report is described as "excoriating" about Johnson's actions and his "overwhelming belief that it was not going to be as bad as it was," characterized as "classic Boris Johnson boosterism, but without really the science to back it up."
• Criticism of Scientific Advisors: The inquiry also levied stern criticism against figures like Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance. They are criticized for stating they didn't believe the public could commit to a long-term lockdown, with the report finding "no real scientific evidence of that."
• Second Wave Failures: Liam Thorp considers the second wave "possibly the most unacceptable level of all." He argues that after the unprecedented nature of the first wave, failing to learn from it and repeating the same extent of the crisis was "inexcusable." He shares a harrowing experience of visiting an ICU during the second wave, where staff were incredulous that the situation was happening again.
• Impact on Children: The Daily Mail's headline, "Betrayal of our children," highlights the inquiry's findings on the impact of lockdowns on children's education. While acknowledging the difficulty of homeschooling and working, the report suggests that earlier lockdowns would have meant shorter periods of home education. However, the discussion also touches on the risk of children spreading the virus to parents, who are in the age group most affected by severe illness.
• Devolved Administrations: The inquiry also examined the actions of the four governments across the UK. Nicola Sturgeon is mentioned, with accusations of deliberately creating different rules for Scotland and not having a wide team to help make decisions. She is quoted as saying she "deliberately wanted the buck to stop with me" and would do the same thing again, a response Mary Mcloud found lacking in reflection.
• Accountability: A key question raised is whether the report leads to sufficient accountability. Mary Mcloud expresses doubt that it will be enough for the families who lost loved ones. She points to the powerful civil servant, the head of the civil service, who was criticized for not countering claims from Matt Hancock, and questions whether Keir Starmer will take action. She also notes that Boris Johnson will likely continue with his media and speaking engagements, while families who believe his decisions cost them loved ones see their experiences validated in black and white.

Data, Research Findings, and Statistics

• 700+ pages of information in the inquiry report.
• 160 people interviewed for the inquiry.
• Over 200,000 deaths during the pandemic.
• Over 20,000 lives could have been saved if lockdown had been implemented a week earlier.
• 23,000 deaths attributed to Boris Johnson's leadership in one headline.
• February 2020 described as a "lost month."
• 26 people killed in Ukraine on the day of the discussion.

Key Arguments and Perspectives

• Liam Thorp: Argues that Boris Johnson's leadership was fundamentally unsuited for the pandemic, citing specific examples of delayed action and a lack of scientific backing for his optimism. He emphasizes the inexcusable nature of the second wave failures.
• Mary Mcloud: While acknowledging that politicians likely didn't want people to die, she stresses the importance of learning from past mistakes and the need for better preparedness and collaboration. She expresses disappointment in the lack of reflection from some leaders.
• The Guardian: Highlights the report's conclusion that the response was "too little too late."
• The I: Directly blames "Johnson's toxic leadership" for a significant number of deaths.
• The Times: Focuses on the "inexcusable" delays in implementing lockdowns.
• The Daily Mail: Centers its coverage on the negative impact of lockdowns on children.
• The Telegraph: Criticizes the inquiry itself, calling it the "£200 million pound COVID I told you so," and suggests there is "nothing new" in its findings. However, the discussion acknowledges the necessity of an inquiry into such a significant loss of life.

Notable Quotes and Significant Statements

• Metro headline: "Toxic, chaotic, calamitous."
• The Guardian: "the response was too little too late."
• The I headline: "Johnson's toxic leadership blamed for 23,000 deaths."
• The Times: "lockdown delays inexcusable."
• The Daily Mail headline: "Betrayal of our children."
• The Telegraph headline: "The £200 million pound COVID I told you so."
• Liam Thorp: "We had in Liverpool in in early March a football match at Anfield with Atletico Madrid supporters from Spain who were locked down unable to watch matches in their own country but were able to travel to Liverpool and attend a match here."
• Liam Thorp: "just a week earlier and 23,000 lives."
• Liam Thorp: "the second wave I think is possibly the most unacceptable level of all of it because you can give some credit for that well you can give some slack for that first wave because it was such a huge thing that people hadn't experienced before to then go into the second wave and not learn from anything from the first wave and it says that in the report was inexcusable."
• Mary Mcloud: "I don't think it'll be enough for the families because you sort of ask yourself, you see this and you think these are shocking numbers. What's actually going to come because of it?"
• Nicola Sturgeon (quoted): "I deliberately wanted the buck to stop with me."
• David Frost (quoted by Telegraph): "This co inquiry report is a disgrace. Lady Hallet's latest co inquiry report should not be cast aside lightly. It should be thrown aside with great force."

Technical Terms and Concepts

• COBRA meetings: Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms, used for emergency government meetings.
• Devolved administrations: The governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which have devolved powers from the UK Parliament.
• ICU (Intensive Care Unit): A specialized section of a hospital that provides intensive care medicine.
• Boosterism: An optimistic and often uncritical attitude.
• Geopolitical force: A country or entity with significant influence on world affairs.

Other News Headlines

Asylum Policy Changes

• Financial Times: Reports that high earners and entrepreneurs could have their asylum applications approved within 3 years, while others may wait up to 30 years. This policy is announced by the Home Secretary.

Ukraine Peace Plan

• The Guardian: Discusses President Zelenskyy's response to a reported peace plan.
• Key Argument: The plan is described as "incredibly one-sided" and potentially a "surrender agreement" if accepted.
• Perspective: The discussion emphasizes that Ukraine was invaded and is not the aggressor. The idea of conceding territory is likened to asking Britain to accept the loss of Kent.
• Negotiation Context: It's suggested that much of the plan has been negotiated between the US and Russia, putting Ukraine in a difficult position.
• Zelenskyy's Stance: He is seen as playing a diplomatic game but is unlikely to accept peace at any cost.
• Data: 26 people were killed in Ukraine on the day of the discussion.

China-UK Relations and Embassy

• The Times: Reports on the Prime Minister's expected approval of a "massive new Chinese embassy in London" and a potential visit to China.
• Controversy: This move is described as "deeply controversial" due to ongoing concerns about China's geopolitical influence and potential espionage.
• MI5 and MI6 Green Light: Surprisingly, MI5 and MI6 have reportedly given the "green light" for the super-sized embassy.
• Government Intent: The government is seen as attempting to "reset the relationship" with China and "get rid of tensions."
• Counter-Argument: A suggestion is made to "try buying British a bit more" for those purchasing daily goods from China.

The Ashes Cricket Series - Monty Panesar vs. Steve Smith

• Daily Star: Features a humorous story about former England cricketer Monty Panesar's exchange with Australian captain Steve Smith.
• Context: The exchange stems from Steve Smith's past involvement in a spot-fixing scandal.
• Humorous Exchange: Panesar's questions and Smith's responses are described as "hilarious."
• Smith's Quote: Steve Smith is quoted as saying, "Man, I may be thick, but I'm no cheat."
• Time Zone Confusion: The Daily Star also notes confusion regarding the start time of the Ashes series due to time zone differences.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The press preview highlights the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic inquiry report, with widespread criticism of the government's handling of the crisis, particularly concerning lockdown delays and leadership failures. The report's findings are seen as validating the experiences of those who lost loved ones. Beyond the pandemic, discussions touch upon potentially controversial asylum policy changes, the complex geopolitical landscape involving Ukraine and China, and a lighthearted anecdote from the world of cricket. The overarching theme is one of scrutiny, accountability, and the ongoing challenges faced by governments in managing national and international affairs.