When some of the big names from Downing Street’s coronavirus response turned up to the Covid-19 Inquiry last month, the hearing descended into a foul-mouthed political circus.
WhatsApps sent by former chief advisor to Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings, revealed expletive laden language to describe a female colleague and his frustration about decision-making, or lack of. We learnt very little of genuine use about the UK government’s response. The media naturally went for the excitement of a cheeky starred-out headline, but as another key week in the Inquiry gets underway and high-level key players like Michael Gove, Matt Hancock and Dominic Raab make their appearance, it’s time for those giving evidence and those asking the questions not to get side-tracked.
Just one example of how bombast blurs important information the public need to hear was the evidence of then Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen McNamara. Just a day after Cummings’ appearance she told the Inquiry women became invisible overnight and “the exclusion of a female perspective led to significant negative consequences, including the lack of thought given to childcare in the context of school closures.” This is crucial information but swearing and gossip continued to take centre stage.
As core participants in the Covid Inquiry, we’re desperate to hear from those at the very top of the UK Government about the decision-making behind the closure of schools and nurseries, as well as rules that meant some children didn’t see a friend their age for 70 days. We believe children were disproportionately disadvantaged throughout the pandemic as outlined in our report What About The Children? released in September. Surprisingly Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is not being called to give evidence in this particular section of the Inquiry. Despite having responsibility for education, we wonder why a supposed voice for children was perhaps not more instrumental in the response? Therefore Michael Gove, who was then the most senior Cabinet Office minister and made decisions around schools at the time, is a key witness for us.
