Displaying items by tag: Covid inquiry

A critical report from the Commons public accounts committee has warned of a deepening crisis in adult social care, leaving millions vulnerable. Chronic understaffing, rising waiting lists, and inconsistent funding have put immense pressure on councils. The sector, grappling with a shortage of essential staff and financial strain, is described as being 'on its knees'. Local authorities supported over a million people at a cost of £23.7 billion in 2022/23, yet concerns persist about funding effectiveness and the exploitation of care sector staff. The department of health has been urged to provide stable funding and clear leadership to address these challenges and to fulfil its ten-year vision for sector reform. Meanwhile, in the ongoing Covid inquiry a key role is being played by organisations which represent those affected by the pandemic, particularly in the care sector, including families and carers, many still dealing with trauma. Their efforts include pushing for Gloria’s Law, inspired by the plight of actress Ruthie Henshall’s mother, Gloria, who experienced isolation and deterioration in care during the lockdown.

Penny Mordaunt, a UK cabinet minister, has revealed that her WhatsApp conversations with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, relating to Covid, were mysteriously deleted from her phone. She provided this information in her evidence to the Covid inquiry, and mentioned that the former chief of staff at No 10, Dan Rosenfield, did not respond to 14 requests for a meeting to discuss the missing communications. This adds pressure on Johnson, who previously informed the inquiry that around 5,000 messages from his old phone, covering January to June 2020, could not be accessed. His lawyers suggested an automatic factory reset of the phone might be the cause. Mordaunt expressed willingness to have her phone examined by the inquiry if it would help. Johnson himself speculated at the inquiry that the disappearance might be due to the WhatsApp app malfunctioning and automatically erasing messages. He claimed that he had not removed any messages and had provided all relevant information to the inquiry.

During this week's Covid inquiry, former prime minister Boris Johnson faced intense scrutiny over his government's handling of the pandemic. Johnson expressed sorrow for the 'loss and suffering' caused by Covid, but bereaved families dismissed his apology, asserting that 'the dead won't hear your apologies’. Johnson acknowledged the government's mistakes and claimed personal responsibility for decisions made, while admitting they were 'oblivious' to the virus's severity early on. Key moments from the inquiry included Johnson's admission of government errors, his reliance on advisers over SAGE meeting notes, and his contemplation of sacking health secretary Matt Hancock. He also faced allegations of asking why the economy was being damaged for those 'who will die anyway soon' and overseeing a 'toxic' culture in Downing Street that hindered the pandemic response. The inquiry, chaired by Baroness Heather Hallet, was marked by protests and interruptions from Covid victims' representatives. Johnson's two-day testimony is part of a larger investigation into UK decision-making and governance during the pandemic, focusing on the government's delayed reaction and alleged mismanagement.