EP.883: Edwina Currie Defends Boris Johnson & Dominic Cummings Amid Fierce Coronavirus Backlash

On this episode of Going Underground, we speak to former Conservative MP and junior health minister under Margaret Thatcher Edwina Currie. She discusses attempts to stop or delay Brexit amid the Coronavirus pandemic, the reports that Boris Johnson’s government delay in implementing a lockdown resulted in thousands of deaths, the scandal over Dominic Cummings arguably breaking U.K. COVID-19 lockdown rules and Boris Johnson subsequently refusing to fire him, why the government is relying on the private sector for vaccine and test manufacturing as China takes the state-led approach, private sector involvement in contact tracing app development and more! Finally, we speak to UNHCR Yemen representative Jean-Nicolas Beuze about the Coronavirus pandemic reaching Yemen. He discusses why it is almost impossible for many people in Yemen to social distance and maintain good hygiene due to a lack of running water, the lack of COVID-19 test kits which has made it difficult to identify Coronavirus cases and deaths, the UN pulling out staff from Yemen amid the Covid pandemic, the destruction of much of Yemen’s health facilities during the conflict, the severe shortage of ICU beds and COVID isolation beds, UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the Saudi-led coalition which is bombing Yemen, ongoing negotiations to open Yemen’s ports to humanitarian organisations and more!

We contacted the UK Department of Health and Social Care about the allegations made in this segment, and they referred us to this press release:

"The government has collaborated internationally and learned from examples of best practice across the world, which has informed the development of a bespoke approach that is right for the unique needs of the UK. The app uses similar Bluetooth low energy technology to that employed by Australia, Norway, and Singapore among others. Full Statement Online"

Full Statement: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-test-track-and-trace-plan-launched-on-isle-of-wight