Former education secretary Sir Gavin Williamson opposed introducing face masks in schools during the pandemic because he was in “no surrender mode” and “didn’t want to give an inch” to unions, a senior official claimed.
In WhatsApp evidence presented at the Covid inquiry, the country’s top civil servant Simon Case claimed Williamson said they should “hold firm” on the decision on no masks in schools.
This is despite early research suggesting “some evidence” masks could reduce transmission “particularly in poorly ventilated and crowded indoor spaces”.
Kate Bell, assistant general secretary at the TUC union, said the Conservatives “put politics before people”, adding: “Education leaders righty raised concerns about the need to protect staff and children in schools.
