BREAKING - Government agrees to Lib Dems' call for independent COVID-19 inquiry
Originally published by UK Liberal Democrats
Boris Johnson has finally agreed to hold an independent inquiry into his government's response to the coronavirus crisis
When asked by Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey during today's PMQs, the Prime Minister finally accepted his Government will "learn the lessons of this pandemic" and confirmed there will be in independent inquiry.
The Prime Minister must now set out the timetable of this inquiry, and it must begin as soon as possible. The inquiry must have the strongest possible powers and be truly independent.
The Liberal Democrats have been calling for an independent inquiry into the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic since April, to make sure we learn the lessons before a possible second wave.
The coronavirus crisis is taking an enormous toll on people and our country.
It is clear the Government has failed on so many fronts - failing to prepare properly for a pandemic, failing to protect care home residents and social care workers, failing to properly communicate their plans and so much more.
Boris Johnson is accountable for the mistakes this government has made through the Coronavirus crisis. These mistakes cannot be allowed to happen again
The Liberal Democrats have led calls for an independent inquiry into the government's handling of coronavirus.
Acting Leader Ed Davey has repeatedly pushed the government to commit to an inquiry in the House of Commons. Layla Moran is chairing the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus to take evidence into the government response.
An independent inquiry is absolutely essential if we are to learn from the mistakes made during the first wave of the coronavirus crisis so that we are in a better place to cope with any second wave, and ultimately save lives.