The Observer has been informed that a damning report will be published before the expected date of the next general election, detailing how the Conservative government neglected to prepare for the Covid-19 pandemic while focusing on Brexit.
In a move that will cause alarm in Downing Street, Heather Hallett’s independent Covid-19 inquiry will issue a detailed interim report “before the summer” on the first batch of public hearings held last June and July, which revealed a catalogue of errors, including the lack of PPE and failures to act on recommendations of previous pandemic planning exercises.
The initial investigation also revealed how budget cuts by the Tory government hindered pandemic preparation, and how the seriousness of Covid-19 was minimized due to officials prioritizing avoiding the potential consequences of a no-deal Brexit.
Details of Lady Hallett’s timetable, and her determination to publish reports and recommendations as soon as possible after hearings end rather than waiting years, as in previous public inquiries, come as bereaved families demand that voters can hold ministers to account on Covid when they cast their ballots on polling day.
According to Rivka Gottlieb, representative of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, the findings of the investigation should be made available promptly in order to put them into effect and safeguard us from another pandemic.
She stated that it is important to release as much as possible before an election in order for political parties to be held accountable, including for the recommendations outlined in their manifestos.
The government’s top officials will likely be relieved that a follow-up report by Hallett on the political choices made during the pandemic (module 2) will not be released until early 2025, which is after the latest possible election date.
In the second portion of the hearings for Module 2, Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson were both asked about the government’s disorganized management of Covid-19. Sunak was criticized for not consulting with scientists before implementing the “eat out to help out” program, while Johnson faced scrutiny for not attending crucial Cobra meetings focused on the pandemic.
Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s top assistant, faced questioning about his multiple profanity-laced WhatsApp messages, which exposed the dysfunction within the government.
However, the release date of the initial Hallett report will only add to Sunak’s dilemma as he deliberates on the optimal timing for a general election.
An independent investigation organized by the government has produced a series of significant findings and expansive suggestions, which, according to a former government official, would create a difficult and daunting environment for launching a campaign.
According to sources involved in the investigation, the initial report will not be released during an active election period, which typically lasts around six weeks. However, due to the political significance of the topic, it is expected to be published before the summer.
Sunak recently made efforts to reduce speculation about a possible May election. He stated that his belief is that it will be held in the fall.
However, several prominent officials in the government believe that he may ultimately return to his previous approach in order to participate in the competition for votes. This could potentially occur following the announcement of a budget focused on tax cuts in early March, before facing potential negative developments such as the release of the Hallett report, projected poor results in local elections in May, and the possibility of increased numbers of small boat crossings across the English Channel during the warmer months.
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According to a high-level insider, it is possible that May is still a viable solution. Despite Sunak’s comments, many individuals still believe it is the most probable choice.
In the initial public hearings, it was revealed that a letter written in early 2019 by England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, to Sir Chris Wormald, the permanent secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care, disclosed that nearly 20 pandemic planning tasks were halted or scaled back due to the need to redirect resources towards preparing for a no-deal Brexit.
During the initial hearings in June, Hugo Keith KC, the counsel for the inquiry, mentioned that the focus on planning for a potential no-deal Brexit had hindered and impeded necessary preparations for a pandemic.
The investigation also discovered that Public Health England (PHE), the organization in charge of promoting health in the country during the Covid pandemic, faced notable reductions in funding leading up to the crisis. Jenny Harries, CEO of the UK Health Security Agency, stated that over the course of PHE’s eight-year existence, government funding decreased by 40% when adjusted for inflation.
After the first module, the British Medical Association stated that after holding hearings for six weeks, it was evident that the UK was ill-equipped and underfunded in terms of healthcare and public health services at the start of the pandemic. They also noted multiple shortcomings in pandemic planning and readiness, such as inadequate stockpiling of personal protective equipment and failure to implement recommendations and lessons from past pandemic planning exercises.
“These shortcomings significantly hindered the efforts to address the pandemic, resulting in increased risk for doctors, healthcare workers, and patients when the pandemic emerged.”
According to informed sources, Hallett was adamant that the inquiry should not drag on indefinitely. This was due in part to the urgency of learning important lessons quickly, especially with the potential for another pandemic to occur at any moment. Her belief was that the public deserved a thorough, all-encompassing inquiry that would provide timely and specific recommendations for relevant authorities to act upon, should they deem it necessary.
On 16 January, public hearings will continue in Edinburgh to discuss topics of primary decision-making and political leadership in Scotland.
Source: theguardian.com
