(Samajweekly) Birmingham’s political leaders are calling for a full independent public inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid pandemic.
The Leader of the City Council Ian Ward and Labour’s Shadow Mayor for the West Midlands Liam Byrne MP are among the signatories to a letter to Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister demanding an inquiry.
It came after Councillors and MPs across the city had spoken to many families who had lost loved ones in the last year. Many want to know why the UK had the highest death rates in the world and whether these deaths were preventable.
“We have a duty to these families to provide them with the answer to this question,” the Council leader and MPs tell the Prime Minister.
“We are therefore urging you to establish a public inquiry into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. This inquiry must be independent, transparent, and be given full access to the information and witnesses necessary to investigate thoroughly.
“Only then will the families, who have lost so much, have the chance of closure.
“We have all seen the devastation Covid-19 has had on our communities. We have spoken to families who have lost loved ones and whose lives will never be the same again.
“We have consoled them, grieved with them, and supported them through what will be one of the most painful experiences of their lives. Many were denied the chance to say goodbye to their loved ones, only adding to their pain.
“When speaking to many of those who have lost relatives, one thing stands out – their utter determination to find out whether their loved one’s death was preventable.
“The pandemic has undoubtedly presented unprecedented challenges to governments around the world. There has not been a crisis like this in living memory and combatting this deadly virus was always going to be difficult.
“However, it must be acknowledged that the UK has seen one of the highest death tolls in the world and questions are now rightly being asked about what led us to this position.
“This question is perfectly understandable given the many conflicting stories we see in the public arena regarding the scientific and political basis for decisions that may have contributed to the death toll in the UK.
“We are therefore urging you to establish a public inquiry into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. This inquiry must be independent, transparent, and be given full access to the information and witnesses necessary to investigate thoroughly’, they concluded.
