Does Boris Johnson really want to learn the lessons of coronavirus? The fact that he’s searching for scapegoats suggests not

Although several select committees are making an impact with their own investigations, an overarching review is needed, writes Andrew Grice

The instincts of Johnson’s advisers will be to keep any review under their own control (Reuters)

In his relaunch speech this week, Boris Johnson promised an honest discussion about the “plenty of things that people say and will say that we got wrong” on coronavirus.

He didn’t list the delayed lockdown, or the failures on personal protective equipment, testing, tracing and care homes. Instead, he asked the politicians’ favourite question: what did we get right?

However, behind the scenes, ministers’ minds are turning to the public inquiry they know they cannot put off forever. Johnson believes a full-scale investigation now would divert ministers and officials from the continuing battle with the virus. He has a point, as the Leicester lockdown and prospect of other local shutdowns show.