Sunak and Johnson Covid-19 inquiry appearances delayed ‘to avoid party conference season’

Questions for current and ex-PM over their handling of the pandemic put off until November

The box office" inquisitions that will bring Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings before the Covid-19 inquiry have been shunted back a month until November to prevent them clashing with the political conference season.

The eagerly awaited appearances of those in charge of the pandemic response will lay bare tensions and disagreements at the heart of government, including over the severity and timing of lockdowns, the rushed contracts awarded for huge amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE), school closures and policies such as Sunak's eat out to help out" scheme.