Are these missed coronavirus pandemic warnings the smoking gun proving Boris Johnson’s failure?

Politics Explained: Transmission of the virus exploded during ‘lost weeks’ when scientists raised the alarm – but the lockdown was delayed

In February, Boris Johnson skipped multiple Cobra meetings, as he relaxed for 12 days with his new fiancee at Chevening (Getty)

On 16 March, Boris Johnson was warned that his light-touch coronavirus plan would result in a catastrophic 250,000 deaths and he abruptly changed course – or so the story goes.

On that day, the prime minister urged the nation to stay out of pubs and restaurants, although they were allowed to stay open and the lockdown was still a full week away.

Minutes earlier, Professor Neil Ferguson and his Imperial College team had put the terrifying predicted death toll in the public domain and the slow U-turn began.