Cummings’s evidence reinforces the impression that ineptitude over COVID-19 reflected errors made by individual ministers. That’s only part of the story

Insufficient attention has been paid to the inadequate public administration capability of British government as a factor in the COVID-19 response, writes Patrick Diamond. He highlights the fact that the centre of government lacks capacity, that its policymaking capacity is compromised, and that territorial conflict is growing as key systemic weaknesses that have compromised the UK’s ability to respond to such a crisis.