'To be sure, the flaws in the British pandemic response are well established: Mr. Johnson waited longer than other European countries to impose a lockdown, then kept the restrictions in place for months, prompting fierce internal debate among his ministers. Lack of testing was a huge early problem, most likely worsening the death toll among older people living in nursing homes. There were persistent tensions between scientists advising the government and ministers setting the policies.'

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/07/world/europe/matt-hancock-whatsapp-uk-covid-lockdowns.html