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Evidence shown during Martin Reynold’s witness
appearance at Covid Inquiry reveals that and rejected calls for masks in
schools because they were in “no surrender mode” towards
unions
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TUC says ministers put “politics before people” at a
time of national crisis
Responding to evidence in the Covid Public Inquiry today (Monday)
- that ignored warnings over
Covid safety in schools because he didn’t want to “give an inch”
to education unions - TUC Assistant General Secretary
Kate Bell said:
“In a time of national crisis the Conservatives put politics
before people.
“Education leaders righty raised concerns about the need to
protect staff and children in schools. But these warnings were
dismissed out of hand due to vindictiveness towards unions.
“Parents, pupils, school staff and the public will be horrified
to learn that lives were put at risk because ministers were
pursuing a petty political vendetta. This can never happen
again.”
The evidence came to light in a WhatsApp exchange from 26 August
2020 where said in response to a question
on “Whats the true reason for the uturn on masks?” from :
“Weeks ago, we recommended to PM that we create permissive
guidance around masks, because we could foresee it was going to
be a drama in Sept. Gavin discussed at a Covid cttee mtg. Because
at that stage it was Unions pressing for masks (no science
back-up), Gavin was in “no surrender” mode and didn’t want to
give an inch to the unions, so said we should hold firm. PM gave
him full support in this approach”
This is despite the government’s own guidance stating there was
“some evidence” that supported the wearing of face coverings
“particularly in poorly ventilated and crowded indoor spaces”
such as schools in an update of 24 July 2020.
Face coverings were also mandatory in numerous places in England
such as public transport, shops, NHS hospitals, banks and post
offices.
