Boris Johnson announced today that he had appointed an ex-Judge of the Court of Appeal to lead the public inquiry into coronavirus crises.
Baroness Heather Hallett is a peer from crossbench life and will head the probe, which should officially start in spring next year.
This inquiry will investigate the response of the government to the pandemic. It will be able to summon witnesses and compel them to testify under oath.
Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group welcomed the appointment, but stated that it had been ‘far too late.
Heather Hallett is a peer from crossbench life and will head the probe, which will officially start in spring next year.
Johnson stated that Baroness Hallett brings a lot of experience and I believe she shares my determination for the inquiry to examine in a forensic, thoroughgoing manner the government’s response.
In May, the Prime Minister declared that there would be an open public inquiry into Government’s response to coronavirus.
He has faced repeated calls to expedite the inquiry, with campaigners arguing it would be better to learn lessons as quickly as possible given the Covid crisis remains ongoing.
The Prime Minister, however, has decided to keep his 2022 spring start date.
The terms of reference will be formulated by Mr Johnson, Baroness Hallett and published as a draft in the new calendar year.
Mr Johnson said: ‘I want to thank Baroness Hallett for agreeing to take on the position of chair of the Covid-19 Inquiry.
“She has a lot of experience and I believe she shares my determination to ensure that the inquiry investigates the government’s responses to the pandemic in a thoroughgoing and forensic manner.”
Baroness Hallett said: ‘I am honoured to be appointed to chair the Covid-19 Inquiry. We all have been affected by the pandemic, with some people suffering more than others. It has brought so much suffering to me.
“In the new Year I’ll be looking for opinions from people who’ve lost loved ones, and other affected groups regarding the Inquiry’s terms of reference.
“I assure the British public that I will do everything possible to make sure the Inquiry addresses as many of the questions that it has about the UK’s response. We can all take away lessons from this.
In 2019, Baroness Hallett resigned from the Court of Appeal and was promoted to the House of Lords when she was appointed a crossbench peer.
Her previous inquests and investigations included the death of 52 London victims of July 7th, 2005 bombings.
Matt Fowler is co-founder and former president of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice. He said that the inquiry was a historical and constructive process to draw lessons from the past and prevent tragedies in the future.
He stated that today’s appointment was a “finally a positive move in making this happen”.
He added that while this is a very good news, it’s too late.
“We have called for an inquiry ever since the beginning of the second wave. We will never know the number of lives that could have been saved if the Government conducted a quick review in the summer 2020. The Omicron variant is upon us and the inquiry cannot be delayed.
“This is an historic chance to gain lessons for protecting lives throughout the country. We can’t afford to miss this opportunity and look forward to working together with Baroness Hallett for its success.