The UK’s chief scientific adviser has said part of her job during the pandemic was to “paper over the cracks” when issues arose between academics and civil servants on several occasions, the Covid inquiry has learned.
Prof Angela McLean, who at the time was the chief scientific adviser to the Ministry of Defence, said most of the time academics advising the government would speak “pointedly” on issues, but civil servants spoke in “weirdly emollient” ways at meetings.
