Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared visibly frustrated while testifying before the official COVID-19 inquiry on Tuesday, telling the panel that his job during the pandemic “wasn’t easy.”

The tense exchange occurred as Johnson was questioned about the government’s handling of education during the pandemic — particularly the controversial approach used to determine exam results in England after schools were closed.

At one point, Johnson interrupted questioning to stress the difficulty of leading through the crisis, saying, “It is not easy,” as he defended his administration’s decisions amid intense scrutiny over policy failures affecting young people and students.

The inquiry, which continues to review the UK government’s pandemic response, has placed significant focus on how lockdown measures and school closures impacted mental health, education, and long-term opportunities for youth.

Johnson maintained that the government did its best to balance public health concerns with the needs of children and families, though critics have accused his administration of mishandling key decisions and failing to plan adequately for education continuity.

Observers noted that Johnson’s testy demeanor reflected the pressure of repeated questioning on politically sensitive issues, including the algorithm-based grading system that sparked widespread backlash and student protests in 2020.

The former prime minister’s testimony adds another layer to the inquiry’s broader evaluation of leadership and accountability during one of the most challenging periods in modern British history.