An independent public investigation into the government’s management of the coronavirus pandemic will begin in the spring of next year, the Prime Minister announced.
Boris Johnson revealed the news in a COVID-19 to MPs Wednesday, telling the Commons that he could take oral evidence under oath and put “the state movements under the microscope. “
COVID updates from the UK and around the world
More than 127,000 others have died within 28 days of the positive coronavirus test since the start of the pandemic last year, while more than 150,000 deaths have discussed COVID-19 on the death certificate.
The Prime Minister said that “in the midst of such a tragedy, the state has a legal responsibility to read about its movements as rigorously and frankly as possible” and “to be informed to all classes for the future. “
Given the potential risk of new COVID variants and the option of a winter outbreak, Johnson said he was waiting for the “right time” for the investigation to begin in the spring of 2022.
“This survey will have to be able to take a look at the occasions of the past year in the mild light of day and identify key issues that will make a difference in the future,” he said.
“Free to review the document to listen to all key players and analyze and be informed of the magnitude of our response.
“I think this is the right way to get the answers that other people in this country deserve and to make sure our UK is better prepared for any long-term pandemic. “
The prime minister said he would work heavily with the decentralized administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before defining the mandate of the investigation.
He did not reveal when the investigation deserves to produce his final report, and merely said, “I think we owe the country as much transparency as you can imagine and we owe the country to produce responses in a moderate time. “scale. “
Jo Goodman, co-founder of coVID-19 bereved Families for Justice, said the announcement is a “great relief,” but that spring 2022 is “too late to begin with. “
Downing Street refused to say it would report before the next general election, scheduled for 2024.
“The schedule depends on the president, that’s all we’ll have to agree with the president when he’s appointed,” the prime minister’s spokesman said.
Number 10 stated that Mr. Johnson would be willing to testify under oath if asked.
Johnson announced in the Commons that a commission on coVID commemoration would be established.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the investigation, but questioned why it could be presented earlier.
He suggested the Prime Minister consult with families who have lost their relatives to COVID.
“This survey will only work if you have the trust and confidence of families,” Sir Keir said, adding that frontline staff also deserve to be consulted.
When, through Sir Keir, Mr. Johnson showed that the preparatory tables to identify the mandate of the investigation and its president “will take a position before the spring of next year. “
“We’ll get it going, we’ll make key decisions,” he added.
Liberal Democratic leader Sir Ed Davey said the prime minister and his own “have no questions to answer” about his handling of the pandemic.
“This coronavirus investigation will have to have the teeth to keep this government’s feet in the heat of its misdeeds,” he said.
“Lessons will have to be learned from the mistakes that have been made in this crisis and the government will have to be held accountable for pandemic control. “
The all-party parliamentary organization (APPG) on the coronavirus said the delay in launching the investigation would “prolong the pain that grieving families feel and mean that no important classes will be learned. “