COVID-19 public inquiry in the United Kingdom

An independent public inquiry into the British government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is due to start in Spring 2022. The British prime minister Boris Johnson announced the inquiry on 12 May 2021. He said the date was chosen because of a possible winter surge in infections, but that preparatory work on the terms of reference will start earlier, as will choosing a chair.^[1]

There had been prior proposals to launch a public inquiry from senior doctors, government scientific advisers, and ethnic minority group leaders. Although the exact terms of reference for the inquiry are unknown, proposals include looking into lockdown tactics, the "test, track and trace" service, and deaths related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.

Background[]

The British government has been accused of being too slow to introduce restrictions and lockdowns related to COVID-19. Epidemiologist John Edmunds, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), said that the UK went into lockdown too late and this "cost a lot of lives".^[2] The independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation said that delaying the winter lockdown caused up to 27,000 extra deaths in England and accused the government of a "huge mistake" which should be central to any public inquiry into the UK's handling of the pandemic.^[3]

Andrew Hayward, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology and inclusion health research who also sits on SAGE, told The Guardian: "Many would argue that much of this could have been avoided if different [or] earlier decisions had been made at various points in the pandemic. These decision-making processes therefore need to be scrutinised and I think they are only likely to become completely clear if people are compelled to give evidence."^[4]

Earlier calls for an inquiry[]

Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice were pressuring the government to launch a judge-led statutory public inquiry into the pandemic and the government's response to it, with a rapid review phase.^[5][6][7] Unlike other public inquiries, a statutory public inquiry has the power to subpoena people and take evidence under oath.^[8] The inquiry would be the biggest ever such undertaking by the UK government.^[2]

The exact terms and references of the public inquiry are not yet known.^[9] However, proposals have included: the scientific advise given to ministers, the large death rate in the UK, the test, track and trace system, communication of infection control measures and implementation of lockdown measures, travel restrictions, attempts to redress the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on ethnic minorities, as well as a review of the functioning of the National Health Service and its staff during the pandemic − including supplies of personal protective equipment, the transfer of patients from hospitals to care homes, risk assessments (including failures to respond to warnings in 2017's Exercise Cygnus, which reported that the UK was not prepared for a pandemic), isolation and staff testing – the functioning of 111 services, the centralisation of decision-making (including tensions between the government and regional mayors) and the role of austerity in decision-making.^{[10][2][11][12][13][14]}

The group has threatened legal action, and lawyers representing the group have informed ministers that they are planning to seek judicial review by the High Court of Justice.^[15] Lawyers representing the group have acted in major public inquiries including into the Hillsborough, Grenfell Tower and Manchester Arena disasters.^[16]

As well as Edmunds and Hayward, other medical professionals who supported an inquiry included: Chaand Nagpaul, Donna Kinnair, Paul Nurse,^[4] and leading medical think tank the King's Fund.^[17] Unions such as the TUC,^[18] Unison, GMB the British Medical Association, Royal College of Nursing and Royal College of Physicians were also in support.^[4][19] Equality activists supporting an inquiry included Zara Mohammed and Simon Woolley.^[4]

Political figures in support included Keir Starmer,^[20] Ed Davey,^[21] Bob Kerslake, and David Cameron.^[4] Cameron has also been implicated in a lobbying scandal relating to the pandemic, which is itself subject to inquiries.^[22][23] The Institute for Government also supported inquiry calls.^[17]

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, had also called for the start of an inquiry.^[24]

In March 2021 polling, 47% of the British public supported an inquiry, with 35% neither supporting nor opposing or didn't know, and 18% opposed.^[25]

References[]