Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to defend his record in high-stakes grilling at COVID inquiry

By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to defend his record at a public inquiry into the country’s handling of COVID-19. Johnson, who arrived Wednesday at daybreak, will be grilled under oath by lawyers for the judge-led inquiry for two days about his initial reluctance to impose a national lockdown and other fateful decisions. Former colleagues, aides and advisers have painted an unflattering picture of Johnson over weeks of testimony. Among those wanting answers are families of some of the more than 200,000 people in the U.K. who died after contracting the virus. A group gathered outside the office building where the inquiry is sitting, some holding pictures of their loved ones.