The inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed a series of failings that led to the UK being inadequately prepared to deal with the scale of the crisis
While key workers including firefighters continued to keep their communities safe, the inquiry has heard that those responsible for keeping workers safe were preoccupied with infighting and dodging expert advice.
The inquiry has confirmed what many in the public sector have been saying for years: austerity seriously undermined the UK’s resilience. Witnesses testified that job cuts and underfunding across the public sector presented additional challenges in rising to the challenge of the pandemic.
As well as underfunding crucial public services, the inquiry heard how those at the top of government ignored warnings about the severity of the crisis and delayed lifesaving measures in order to protect the interests of business.
A former government advisor confirmed that Boris Johnson said “let bodies pile high”. The government’s chief scientific advisor, Sir Patrick Vallance, also recalled: “Rishi thinks just let people die.”
Sir Jonathan Van-Tan, the chief medical officer first heard of the controversial ‘eat out to help out’ scheme when Rishi Sunak announced it on TV. Patrick Vallance recalls Boris Johnson referring to the idea of consulting with unions as “bollocks”.
At a time when cooperation and unity should have been at the heart of government it seems the voices of experts were routinely silenced.
We demand that those responsible are held accountable – and that our service gets the resources it needs
The inquiry’s findings could prove crucial in generating cultural change within government. To adequately meet the challenges of a future pandemic the government cannot continue to shut out trade union voices or, as Patrick Vallance claimed, prioritise “handling the scientists not the virus”.
The actions of government both in the decade of stripping back public services, and a refusal to listen to experts’ advice, undeniably made the impact of the outbreak worse and a new approach will be crucial in handling another pandemic.
“The government’s response to the pandemic was chaotic, callous and negligent,” said FBU general secretary Matt Wrack. “They wasted billions on unusable PPE, handed out lucrative contracts to their mates, and repeatedly failed to take effective measures.
“It was left to the Fire Brigades Union and fire service employers to enter into a national agreement to respond to the pandemic.
“Firefighters went above and beyond. They delivered PPE and medicine, drove ambulances and helped move the bodies of the deceased.
“Now, we demand that those responsible are held accountable – and that our service gets the resources it needs.”
