The Rest Is Politics 471. Rory Stewart: How the Government Tried to Silence Me on Lockdowns
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Nov 21, 2025 
Rory Stewart, a former Cabinet minister and author with extensive experience in international development, shares his insights on the UK's pandemic response. He discusses the government's failure to heed early warnings and the detrimental effects of groupthink and optimism bias. Rory critiques Boris Johnson's leadership style compared to more decisive leaders, explores the ethical dilemmas behind lockdown decisions, and highlights the importance of systemic reform for future threats like AI and geopolitical challenges.
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Early Warning And Backlash
- Rory Stewart publicly pushed for lockdown three weeks before government action and faced strong abuse for breaking consensus.
- He says media and officials pressured outlets to silence him, revealing how dissent was suppressed early on.
Complacency And Groupthink In Government
- Stewart identifies optimism bias and groupthink as core psychological failures in government response.
- He argues smug confidence in British preparedness blinded officials to real risks and external lessons.
Officials Suggested Letting Some Die
- Rory Stewart recounts Public Health England officials telling him they might "smooth the curve" and accept more early deaths to shift the peak to summer.
- He confronted them about the moral implications and government responsibility for such trade-offs.