Keir Starmer has issued a response to the scathing findings of the Covid Inquiry released today, acknowledging the “pain and suffering” caused by government failures.
A report released this afternoon revealed a state of disarray within the government, attributing a lack of seriousness towards Covid-19 to the loss of 23,000 lives during the initial pandemic wave. Baroness Heather Hallett criticized Prime Minister Boris Johnson for fostering a “toxic” environment in Number 10, characterized by frequent changes in decision-making. Additionally, key figures like Health Secretary Matt Hancock and prominent scientists were accused of failing to act promptly.
In a written statement, Mr. Starmer indicated that lessons have been learned, though he conceded that public services have not fully recovered from the pandemic. The Prime Minister pledged to thoroughly review all the report’s findings and recommendations.
“The pandemic caused considerable pain and suffering,” Mr. Starmer stated. However, the Chair of the inquiry highlighted the government’s consistent pattern of being “too little, too late” in its response, perpetuating mistakes and exacerbating the pandemic’s impact.
The report also criticized the lack of proper economic and social modeling in government advice, insufficient consideration for vulnerable populations, and a toxic culture within the government. Despite improvements in crisis response since the early stages of the pandemic, the strain on local government and public services, including the NHS, remains significant.
Baroness Hallett’s report accused Mr. Johnson of overly optimistic views in the pandemic’s early months and highlighted the use of offensive language by his adviser, Dominic Cummings, which contributed to a poisoned atmosphere at Downing Street.
Furthermore, the inquiry revealed that the government’s delay in implementing measures like social distancing and household quarantine necessitated the subsequent lockdowns. Acting earlier could have significantly reduced the death toll, with implementing the first lockdown a week earlier potentially saving approximately 23,000 lives in England.
The report concluded that all four UK governments did not take the virus seriously enough until it was too late, emphasizing the lack of urgency in government actions as inexcusable. Matt Hancock’s reputation for overpromising and underdelivering also came under scrutiny as the pandemic unfolded.