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Political interference in public health science during covid-19

BMJ 2020; 371 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3878 (Published 06 October 2020) Cite this as: BMJ 2020;371:m3878

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Whitty and Vallance scientific advice Re: Political interference in public health science during covid-19

Dear Editor

I was shocked to see that the name of our UK prime minister was being listed along with Trump, Bolsonaro and Modi as a populist leader who did not listen to scientists.

On the contrary, in the many daily televised Covid-19 briefings from 10 Downing Street, our Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has usually been accompanied by England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, who give detailed scientific information and advice.

Surely we know better than this article describes about what is actually happening in England?

Competing interests: No competing interests

08 October 2020
Ellen CG Grant
Physician and medical gynaecologist
Retired
Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, UK