Scientists can't answer a political issue

[EveryoneLoves09876]

So he admitted it was all about politics? And that the reason he wasn't asked to leave was due to politics?

I do wonder what the scientists really feel about all of this.

(Cummings, obviously)

Works for me if special advisors with history degrees aren't allowed to interfere in science guidance.

It's the other way round though!

I can't work out if the scientists told Boris beforehand "Your mess we're not dealing with it" or whether he surpressed their opinions. I would love to know what they really think. Sir P and CW are the two I like to listen to. Still feels like institutional whitewashing on a grand scale.

@WhiteChocTwix

I can't work out if the scientists told Boris beforehand "Your mess we're not dealing with it" or whether he surpressed their opinions. I would love to know what they really think. Sir P and CW are the two I like to listen to. Still feels like institutional whitewashing on a grand scale.

I kind of assume they weren’t willing to lie, so it was decided between them all that they’d just not answer instead.

Which is awful!

This was reminiscent of something trump would do and absolutely not something a British prime minister should be doing.

@tabulahrasa I think you're right! It says a lot they didn't come out in defence of DC.

CW and PV are civil servants, it isn’t their job to have to comment on this stupid mess.

I got the impression that Chris Whitt's was very angry when he responded that he didn't want to be drawn into anything political.

I’m a science graduate, and If I were in Whitty or Vallance’s position I would most certainly refuse to defend or justify Cummings’ behaviour, so I don’t blame them for refusing to answer questions about it.

CW and PV are civil servants, it isn’t their job to have to comment on this stupid mess.

Yes but they should (and later did) say that for themselves. It’s not for Boris to forbid questions like that to be asked of them.

I would have thought given we're all following actions that are driven by science the scientists ought to have been able to speak about the whole episode freely?

I think as civil servants both Vallance & Whitty have to remain impartial and stick to facts rather than opinions.

I agree about being impartial and talking about the science, but wasn't the question about science?

Boris basically admitted it was political and not science based which said it all I thought.

I expect we shall, one day maybe far in the future, find out what sterling work the scientists did in preventing the worst options, by staying 'within the tent'