Covid Inquiry as it happened: Rishi Sunak apologises and says 'Eat Out to Help Out' was 'designed to save jobs'

11 December 2023, 7:56 | Updated: 11 December 2023, 17:13

Rishi Sunak faced allegations that his Eat Out to Help Out scheme fuelled the spread of coronavirus as he gave evidence at the Covid inquiry on Monday.

The Prime Minister began his evidence by saying he is "deeply sorry" to those who lost loved ones during the pandemic.

According to a new poll, the amount of people who think Mr Sunak performed badly during the pandemic is nearly double the number who think he did well.

Among his most high-profile interventions was the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, when the government subsidised people's restaurant meals in a bid to kickstart the hospitality industry after the first lockdown.

See all the developments from Rishi Sunak's evidence below