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Covid inquiry: Government maintains it ‘got big decisions right’ [1]
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Date: 2023-12
The Cabinet Office has defended its record during the pandemic, claiming it still “got some big decisions right at a very early stage” as the Covid inquiry concludes the part of its second module focussed on political decision-making in England.
Giving a closing statement at the inquiry today, counsel representing the Cabinet Office, Anna Studd, said: “It is clear from the evidence prepared for this module that the government got some big decisions right at a very early stage.”
It also refuted the accusation that “it was not taking the virus seriously from an early stage”.
But the government department representing scientists said locking down a week earlier in March 2020 would have been “beneficial”.
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Neil Sheldon, representing the Government Office for Science (GO Science), headed up by the chief scientific adviser Angela Maclean, said the country should have locked down a week earlier than 23 March 2020.
“Witnesses have expressed the view that in hindsight, it would have been better had the 23 March full lockdown commenced a week or so earlier,” said Sheldon. “We would commend that view to you.”
Patrick Vallance, the chief medical officer, and McLean both told the inquiry that the government should have locked down earlier, and that evidence was available to support that. McLean said the evidence had also been available at the time.
On Thursday, closing remarks from GO Science emphasised the impact this would have had on saving lives.
“Lockdown a week or so earlier is likely to have resulted in a somewhat earlier and lower peak than we in fact experienced and it is on that basis that we consider that it would probably have been beneficial,” said Sheldon.
The Cabinet Office did not dispute that an earlier move should have been taken.
“As to the decisions as to whether or when the mandatory stay-at-home order be implemented, and other decisions on this early period,” said Anne Studd, counsel representing the department, “the inquiry will want to examine all of the factors… in the round.”
Speaking to the inquiry earlier in December, former prime minister Boris Johnson said he should have ‘twigged’ the Covid threat earlier.
He admitted there was a “certain amount of incoherence in our thinking”.
Counsel representing GO Science also told the inquiry that advice was communicated to the prime minister once adequate data was available.
“Several independent scientists have told you that it was not until around the 13 March that the data allowed for scientifically coherent advice that urgent and extensive action was required,” said Sheldon. “When that picture became clear, that advice was given promptly.”
The inquiry will resume in the new year to continue its module examining political decision-making and government, looking at the devolved nations.
The inquiry continues. openDemocracy is fundraising to pay reporters to cover every day of the public hearings. Please support us by donating here.
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https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/covid-19-inquiry-cabinet-office-closing-statement-scientists-lockdown/
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