More than two years after it was announced, the UK’s inquiry into the management of the Covid-19 pandemic will hold a full public hearing from this Tuesday.
While there is already some investigative work, public hearings will now be held with witnesses, from the government’s science chief to citizens who want to share their stories. Basically, it’s an examination of how the Boris Johnson-led government has handled the pandemic.
The independent inquiry was requested by Boris Johnson himself, and there is no established date for its conclusion, but it is currently understood that the hearings could continue until 2026.
The inquiry has no criminal powers and is limited to providing its recommendations and conclusions to the government on how the pandemic was handled and how the country prepared for the pandemic.
Among others, it will start by comparing how the United Kingdom is doing, for example, at the beginning of the pandemic, hospitals did not have personal protective equipment for medical staff.
There are also other elements that are at the center of the debate, for example, the delay in initial response to the pandemic.
It is recalled that the United Kingdom entered prison a month after Italy and a week after Portugal.
The government’s own behavior will also be analysed, and of course, in the famous “partygate”, the government broke its own rules with repeated parties at the official residence of then-prime minister Boris Johnson. Don’t leave the house.
The focus of the probe will be the internal communications of the government, so the commission has sought access to WhatsApp messages between 40 people, including the former prime minister and current prime minister Rishi Sunak.
However, the government refused to provide the news and initiated court proceedings against the request. Boris Johnson, on the other hand, laments that the mobile phone he used at the start of the pandemic is inaccessible and will only have the news from May 2021, when he has already launched an investigation, saying he is perfectly content to share the news. For safety reasons.
More than 200,000 people have died in the UK after testing positive for Covid-19, one of the highest in Europe, and the decisions of the British government led by conservative Boris Johnson have been the subject of strong debate.
Henry Blackwell is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. His work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism.