Tue, June 27, 2023
LONDON (AP) — Britain was ill-prepared for a pandemic partly because government resources had been diverted away from pandemic planning to brace for a possibly chaotic exit from the European Union without a deal, the U.K.'s former health secretary told an inquiry Tuesday.
Matt Hancock also said officials had to scramble to source protective equipment, set up mass testing and contact tracing systems “from scratch” once the coronavirus pandemic broke out because the U.K.'s planning attitude was entirely “geared towards how to clear up after a disaster, not prevent it.”
“The doctrine of the U.K. was to plan for the consequences of a disaster — can we buy enough body bags? Where are we going to bury the dead?” Hancock said.
“Large-scale testing did not exist and large-scale contact tracing did not exist because it was assumed that as soon as there was community transmission, it wouldn’t be possible to stop the spread, and therefore, what’s the point in contact tracing?” he added.
That assumption was “completely wrong” and a “colossal” failure, Hancock said.
Hancock acknowledged that an official pandemic preparedness board paused its work in 2018 to 2019 because resources were moved away to focus instead on the threat of a “disorganized Brexit.”
Britain's government was consumed in 2019 with the possibility of crashing out of the EU without a deal on the departure terms in place. A bitterly divided Parliament rejected then-Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan three times.
The U.K. eventually left the trade bloc in 2020.
As health secretary, Hancock became one of the best-known politicians in Britain as he led efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus before he was forced to quit in June 2021, when he was caught breaking social distancing rules with an aide. Pictures of him kissing the aide in government offices were splashed across front pages at the time.
Hancock has previously faced criticism about the U.K.'s COVID testing measures and how authorities failed to manage the spread of the pandemic in care homes for the elderly. The U.K. had one of the highest COVID-19 death tolls in Europe, with the virus recorded as a cause of death for almost 227,000 people.
Hancock said an emotional sorry Tuesday to all those who died and were affected.
“I’m profoundly sorry for each death that has occurred. I also understand why, for some, it will be hard to take that apology from me,” he said.
Earlier, Hancock was confronted by members of the group COVID Families for Justice who held up pictures of relatives who died in the pandemic as he arrived at the inquiry in central London.
The wide-ranging inquiry, led by a retired judge, aims to investigate the U.K.’s preparedness for the coronavirus pandemic, how the government responded and what lessons can be learned for the future.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who led the U.K. during the pandemic, agreed in late 2021 to hold the probe after heavy pressure from bereaved families.
Senior politicians have been called to face questions. Last week, former Prime Minister David Cameron testified that the U.K. had prepared for the “wrong” pandemic by focusing too much on the dangers of a flu outbreak. Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt echoed that argument when he admitted he didn't challenge “groupthink” based around preparing for a flu pandemic.
Sylvia Hui, The Associated Press
What is the UK Covid inquiry, and how long will the hearings last?
Charlie Duffield, Beril Naz Hassan and Rachael Davies
Tue, 27 June 2023
Former health secretary Matt Hancock giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry
How are Boris Johnson’s texts involved?
Mr Johnson handed over his unredacted WhatsApp messages to the inquiry earlier this month. The former PM also called on the Cabinet Office to “urgently disclose” his notebooks to the inquiry.
The Cabinet Office had claimed it did not have access to Mr Johnson’s WhatsApp messages and private notebooks, which were demanded by Lady Hallett.
Ministers have so far objected to the release of “unambiguously irrelevant” material.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said all the material requested by the Covid inquiry had been handed to the Cabinet Office and should be disclosed to Lady Hallett.
The Cabinet Office has now confirmed it has received the information and officials are looking at it.
How long will the inquiry last?
The inquiry has announced it aims to complete the public hearings by the summer of 2026 – although legal experts say it will probably last until 2027. It is expected to cost tens of millions of pounds.
Who is speaking at the inquiry?
Several key figures both inside and outside of Westminster are scheduled to speak at the Covid inquiry.
Former PM David Cameron gave evidence to the inquiry on Monday, where he fought accusations that austerity measures negatively affected the UK’s Covid preparedness.
On Tuesday, it was the turn of Oliver Letwin, the former Minister for Government Policy, and former chancellor George Osborne, who served in Cameron’s government from 2010 to 2016.
On Thursday (June 22), the inquiry heard from Sir Chris Whitty, the government’s current Chief Medical Officer, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the former Chief Scientific Adviser. The two were seen regularly on television screens across the country during the pandemic, addressing questions from journalists and the public.
What has the government said?
Housing Secretary Michael Gove apologised after the video surfaced of Conservative HQ staff having a Christmas party during lockdown in 2020.
He said: “The people who were there I’m sure feel contrite, I certainly hope they do.”
He added: “As I say there was a previous investigation into this and we now know more about it, but I can only say I’m very, very sorry that there were people who were working in Government very hard on [the public’s] behalf, not all of whom on every occasion will have made the right decision in policy terms, but all of the time we were thinking about how we could help [the public] and others.
“There’s a Covid Inquiry ongoing at the moment which will look at the decisions that Government made.”
Charlie Duffield, Beril Naz Hassan and Rachael Davies
Tue, 27 June 2023
Former health secretary Matt Hancock giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry
(UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA) (PA Media)
Former health secretary Matt Hancock is appearing before the Covid inquiry today (June 27), answering questions about his and the government’s response to the pandemic.
The public hearings of the UK Covid inquiry began on June 13. The independent public inquiry is examining the UK’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, with the intention of improving preparedness for any future pandemic. It is chaired by Heather Hallett, a member of the House of Lords and a former Court of Appeal judge.
Earlier this month, former prime minister David Cameron was sworn in to become the first politician to appear.
The British Medical Association said Mr Cameron and former chancellor George Osborne — who appeared before the inquiry on Tuesday — should be “taken to task” at the Covid Inquiry over austerity-era decisions that “left us so unprepared” for the pandemic.
Fresh evidence of Tory events that broke Covid lockdown rules has also emerged in the form of a video that shows Conservative staff at a Christmas party in 2020.
Government decisions, as well as political reputations and the use of public funds, will all be examined via hundreds of thousands of documents to establish a truthful account of what happened during what was one of the biggest crises the UK has ever faced.
What is the Covid inquiry?
According to its official website, the Covid inquiry “has been set up to examine the UK’s response to and impact of the Covid pandemic, and learn lessons for the future”.
The inquiry is split into modules, which explore how prepared the UK was for the pandemic, how decisions were made during the pandemic and the impact that it had on the healthcare system and the people that work in it and use it.
When did the Covid inquiry begin?
The first module of the Covid Inquiry, which examines the UK’s preparedness for the pandemic, opened on July 21 last year.
The full hearings for the first stage of the investigation, however, began in London on June 13. For the next six weeks, witnesses will provide evidence.
Former health secretary Matt Hancock is appearing before the Covid inquiry today (June 27), answering questions about his and the government’s response to the pandemic.
The public hearings of the UK Covid inquiry began on June 13. The independent public inquiry is examining the UK’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, with the intention of improving preparedness for any future pandemic. It is chaired by Heather Hallett, a member of the House of Lords and a former Court of Appeal judge.
Earlier this month, former prime minister David Cameron was sworn in to become the first politician to appear.
The British Medical Association said Mr Cameron and former chancellor George Osborne — who appeared before the inquiry on Tuesday — should be “taken to task” at the Covid Inquiry over austerity-era decisions that “left us so unprepared” for the pandemic.
Fresh evidence of Tory events that broke Covid lockdown rules has also emerged in the form of a video that shows Conservative staff at a Christmas party in 2020.
Government decisions, as well as political reputations and the use of public funds, will all be examined via hundreds of thousands of documents to establish a truthful account of what happened during what was one of the biggest crises the UK has ever faced.
What is the Covid inquiry?
According to its official website, the Covid inquiry “has been set up to examine the UK’s response to and impact of the Covid pandemic, and learn lessons for the future”.
The inquiry is split into modules, which explore how prepared the UK was for the pandemic, how decisions were made during the pandemic and the impact that it had on the healthcare system and the people that work in it and use it.
When did the Covid inquiry begin?
The first module of the Covid Inquiry, which examines the UK’s preparedness for the pandemic, opened on July 21 last year.
The full hearings for the first stage of the investigation, however, began in London on June 13. For the next six weeks, witnesses will provide evidence.
You can watch the inquiry and hearings via a YouTube channel where they will be live streamed.
How are Boris Johnson’s texts involved?
Mr Johnson handed over his unredacted WhatsApp messages to the inquiry earlier this month. The former PM also called on the Cabinet Office to “urgently disclose” his notebooks to the inquiry.
The Cabinet Office had claimed it did not have access to Mr Johnson’s WhatsApp messages and private notebooks, which were demanded by Lady Hallett.
Ministers have so far objected to the release of “unambiguously irrelevant” material.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said all the material requested by the Covid inquiry had been handed to the Cabinet Office and should be disclosed to Lady Hallett.
The Cabinet Office has now confirmed it has received the information and officials are looking at it.
How long will the inquiry last?
The inquiry has announced it aims to complete the public hearings by the summer of 2026 – although legal experts say it will probably last until 2027. It is expected to cost tens of millions of pounds.
You can find out more about the inquiry here.
Who is speaking at the inquiry?
Several key figures both inside and outside of Westminster are scheduled to speak at the Covid inquiry.
Former PM David Cameron gave evidence to the inquiry on Monday, where he fought accusations that austerity measures negatively affected the UK’s Covid preparedness.
On Tuesday, it was the turn of Oliver Letwin, the former Minister for Government Policy, and former chancellor George Osborne, who served in Cameron’s government from 2010 to 2016.
On Thursday (June 22), the inquiry heard from Sir Chris Whitty, the government’s current Chief Medical Officer, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the former Chief Scientific Adviser. The two were seen regularly on television screens across the country during the pandemic, addressing questions from journalists and the public.
What has the government said?
Housing Secretary Michael Gove apologised after the video surfaced of Conservative HQ staff having a Christmas party during lockdown in 2020.
He said: “The people who were there I’m sure feel contrite, I certainly hope they do.”
He added: “As I say there was a previous investigation into this and we now know more about it, but I can only say I’m very, very sorry that there were people who were working in Government very hard on [the public’s] behalf, not all of whom on every occasion will have made the right decision in policy terms, but all of the time we were thinking about how we could help [the public] and others.
“There’s a Covid Inquiry ongoing at the moment which will look at the decisions that Government made.”
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