Covid: Boris Johnson announces public inquiry into handling of pandemic

The Government will set-up an independent public inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, Boris Johnson has confirmed.

The Prime Minister told MPs the inquiry would be able to take evidence under oath and will place “the state’s actions under the microscope”.

He told the House of Commons that he expected the inquiry to begin in the spring next year.

‘It will place the state’s actions under the microscope’

Mr Johnson: “This inquiry must be able to look at the events of the last year in the cold light of day and identify the key issues that will make a difference for the future.

“Free to scrutinise every document to hear from all the key players and analyse and learn from the breadth of our response.

“That’s the right way, I think, to get the answers that the people of this country deserve and to ensure that our United Kingdom is better prepared for any future pandemic.”

He added: “This process will place the state’s actions under the microscope and we should be mindful of the scale of that undertaking and the resources required to do it properly.”

It comes as NHS sources told the PA news agency that people aged 38 and 39 will be able to book their Covid-19 vaccinations from Thursday morning in England.

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