Acting Liberal Democrat Leader has today secured a commitment
from the Prime Minister to an independent inquiry into the
Government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis and called for the
timetable to be set out immediately.
Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions today, warned that under
Boris Johnson’s leadership the country has suffered
“one of the worst death rates in the world and Europe’s worst
death rate of health and care workers.”
Making reference to Boris Johnson’s support for an independent
inquiry into the Iraq War, the Liberal Democrat Acting Leader
again urged the Prime Minister to “commit in principle to a
future independent inquiry”.
In response, the Prime Minister accepted his Government will
“learn the lessons of this pandemic” and confirmed there will be
in independent inquiry.
was the first party leader to call
for an independent inquiry, back on the 21st of April, and the
Liberal Democrats have consistently made the case since.
Speaking after the exchange, Acting Leader of the Liberal
Democrats said:
“The Coronavirus crisis is taking an enormous toll on people and
our country.
"It is clear the Government has failed on so many fronts -
failing to prepare properly for a pandemic, failing to protect
care home residents and social care workers, and failing to
properly communicate their plans and so much more.
“With so many loved ones lost, people deserve to know what
happened. After months of refusing the public that opportunity, I
am pleased the Prime Minister has finally accepted Liberal
Democrat demands for an independent inquiry.
“The Prime Minister must now set out the timetable of this
inquiry, and it must begin as soon as possible. The Government
must be held to account to ensure that the same mistakes are
never repeated.”