Keir Starmer has responded to the recent findings of a critical Covid Inquiry, acknowledging the significant suffering caused by governmental failures during the pandemic.
A scathing report highlighted governmental chaos and a lack of seriousness towards Covid-19, resulting in the loss of 23,000 lives during the initial wave of the pandemic. Baroness Heather Hallett criticized Boris Johnson for fostering a “toxic” atmosphere in Number 10, frequently changing his decisions. Key officials like Health Secretary Matt Hancock and prominent scientists were also faulted for not acting urgently.
In a written statement, Mr. Starmer recognized that lessons had been learned but admitted that public services were still struggling to recover from the pandemic’s impact. The Prime Minister pledged to carefully review all the report’s findings and recommendations.
The report concluded that the government’s pandemic response was consistently inadequate and delayed, exacerbating the pandemic’s effects. It highlighted deficiencies in economic and social modeling, inadequate consideration for vulnerable populations, and a toxic culture within the government.
The inquiry noted that the UK was ill-prepared for a crisis of this magnitude, leading to subsequent improvements in crisis response protocols. However, the strain on local government and public services, including the NHS, remains significant, with the pandemic’s costs still burdening the public purse. The government aims to bolster the economy and reform public services to enhance national resilience in facing future crises.
Baroness Hallett’s report criticized Mr. Johnson for his overly optimistic outlook early in 2020. Additionally, his adviser, Dominic Cummings, was accused of using offensive language that poisoned the Downing Street environment.
The inquiry found that the government missed opportunities to implement preventive measures like social distancing and household quarantine earlier, necessitating eventual lockdowns. The report emphasized that imposing the first lockdown a week earlier could have significantly reduced deaths during the initial wave in England.
Across the UK, the report highlighted a lack of seriousness towards the virus until it was too late, with January 2020 being a critical missed opportunity. The report termed February 2020 as a lost month, criticizing the overall lack of urgency in the government’s response. Matt Hancock was specifically criticized for underdelivering on promises during the crisis.
