This round table, recorded at the nuffield summit 2021, asks what does following the science actually mean - do ministers understand the nuance of the science in the pandemic, and how does uncertainty get interpreted through the lens of ideology and the power of compelling stories.

Taking part are:

Kamran Abassi, executive editor of The BMJ

Partha Kar, consultant in diabetes and endocrinology

Deborah Cohen, health correspondent for BBC Newsnight

Tom Sasse, associate director at the Institute for Government

Christina Pagel, professor of Operational Research at University College London

Matt Morgan, intensive care consultant

Andy McKeon, chair of the Nuffield Trust

Isobel Hardman, assistant editor of The Spectator

Mary Dixon-Woods, director of This Institute

Ben Page, chief executive of Ipsos MORI

Alexandra Freeman, executive director of the Winton Centre for Risk & Evidence Communication

Will Moy, chief executive of Full Fact