He fears an unveiling of his blunders

THE truth and Boris Johnson have always been uneasy bedfellows.

So no surprise the PM is so reluctant to commit to a public inquiry into his handling of Covid.

An investigation would reveal not the mighty Churchillian leader of his imagination but a hesitant, insecure dishevelled figure whose blunders and indecisiveness added to the appalling death toll.

Perhaps an official inquiry would be too much for his vanity to bear. But Johnson also fears the consequences of having every detail of the Government’s performance analysed for public scrutiny.

It is the only way to explore why Government was so unready.

It is how we can shine a light on whether a decade of underfunding had left the NHS too weakened to cope, why those in the poorest areas were twice as likely to die and why frontline workers struggled to obtain protective kit.

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It would offer a chance to learn why so many died in care homes, why millions were spent on a stuttering test and trace system and why it took so long to protect our borders.

It would show if Johnson overruled the scientific advisers and was too slow, twice, to begin lockdown.

And yes, we could learn from what the Government got right such as the speed of building the Nightingale Hospitals and vaccines.

All those who lost loved ones deserve to know if their lives could have been saved.

Also an inquiry would help future governments should they face a similar challenge.

The truth will hurt Johnson but silence will kill.