I note that the official death total for the UK favoured by this government is 150,000, while the lead statistical agency puts it at 175,000.

Both figures are based on different ways of calculating the total. It is interesting that the government chooses to rely on a method that provides a lower total. And completely predictable.

The excess death rate is a better guide to the true impact of the pandemic, since it includes deaths which were not directly caused by Covid but which would not have been likely to happen if there had been no pandemic. And that would give a higher total than either of the above figures.

Not a very impressive record whichever way you count it.