Bereaved families have strongly criticized Nigel Farage for his recent call to shut down the ongoing Covid Inquiry.
The leader of the Reform party expressed discontent over the inquiry’s escalating costs, which have surpassed £192 million over three years. The comprehensive investigation, initiated in 2022, is anticipated to release its final findings by 2027.
In the UK, approximately 227,000 individuals lost their lives with Covid-19 cited as a contributing factor on their death certificates. Last year, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty emphasized the inevitability of another global pandemic.
Following the release of expenditure figures, Farage voiced his objections to The Telegraph, labeling the costs as excessive and advocating for a swift and definitive conclusion to the inquiry.
Responding to Farage’s remarks, a spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK condemned his statements as a “disgraceful insult” to the deceased and their mourning families.
The spokesperson emphasized that many deaths could have been prevented, attributing them to issues such as PPE shortages, the transfer of Covid-positive patients to care facilities, and delayed lockdown measures.
Moreover, the spokesperson highlighted the nominal cost of the inquiry, which represents a mere fraction of the government’s annual budget. They underscored the importance of holding those accountable for the fatalities, learning from past mistakes, and safeguarding future lives.
In a separate statement, the spokesperson criticized Farage, Ian Duncan Smith, and other influential figures for their skepticism towards the inquiry. They asserted that public inquiries serve as a means for ordinary citizens to hold powerful individuals accountable, a notion that the establishment figures allegedly seek to evade.
In response to the criticisms, a spokesperson for the UK Covid-19 Inquiry clarified that the scope of this inquiry differs significantly from previous ones. The inquiry, led by Baroness Hallett, aims to comprehensively assess the UK’s preparedness and response to the pandemic across all four nations.
The spokesperson stressed the necessity of a meticulous and time-consuming examination to ensure a thorough evaluation of the country’s pandemic strategies. The inquiry has already released its initial report, with subsequent reports scheduled for publication in the coming years, culminating in the final report in 2027.