[1/4] Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak visits the pathology labs at Leeds General Infirmary, to show how yesterday's budget is supporting those affected by coronavirus (COVID-19), in Leeds, Britain March 12, 2020. Danny Lawson/Pool via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was quoted as saying the government should "just let people die" during the COVID-19 pandemic rather than impose a second national lockdown, the inquiry into how Britain handled the crisis heard on Monday. Patrick Vallance, who was the government's chief scientific adviser during COVID, made a note in his diary on Oct. 25, 2020, about a meeting involving then Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Sunak, who was finance minister. Vallance quoted Cummings in his diary as saying: "Rishi thinks just let people die and that's okay. A spokesman for Sunak said the prime minister would set out his position when he gives evidence to the inquiry "rather than respond to each one in piecemeal".

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Persons: Rishi Sunak, Danny Lawson, Patrick Vallance, Boris Johnson, Sunak, Dominic Cummings, Johnson's, Vallance, Cummings, Rishi, Johnson, Andrew MacAskill, Elizabeth Piper, Christina Fincher Organizations: Britain's, Leeds General Infirmary, Thomson Locations: Leeds, Britain