Keir Starmer has issued a response to the recent findings of a critical Covid Inquiry, acknowledging the “pain and suffering” caused by government failures.

Today’s report highlighted widespread disarray within the government and a lack of seriousness in addressing Covid-19, resulting in the loss of 23,000 lives during the initial phase of the pandemic. Baroness Heather Hallett criticized Boris Johnson for fostering a “toxic” environment in Number 10, where frequent changes in decisions occurred. Additionally, key officials such as Health Secretary Matt Hancock and prominent scientists failed to act promptly.

In a written statement, Mr. Starmer acknowledged the lessons learned but admitted that public services have yet to fully recover from the pandemic. He mentioned that the Government will thoroughly review all the report’s findings and recommendations.

Regarding the report’s detailed findings, it was emphasized that the government’s response to the pandemic was consistently “too little, too late,” with a failure to learn from past mistakes, exacerbating the pandemic’s impact. The report also highlighted deficiencies in economic and social modeling, inadequate consideration for vulnerable populations, and a described “toxic” culture in the government’s core.

The inquiry noted that the UK was ill-prepared to handle a pandemic, leading to substandard decision-making. Although improvements have been made in crisis response protocols, local government and public services, including the NHS, continue to face significant strain post-pandemic.

Baroness Hallett’s report criticized Mr. Johnson for his overly “optimistic” outlook in early 2020. It also highlighted the negative influence of his adviser, Dominic Cummings, on the atmosphere at Downing Street.

The inquiry revealed that the government’s delayed implementation of measures like social distancing and household quarantine necessitated the eventual lockdowns. Not imposing any lockdown would have resulted in an unacceptable loss of life. Implementing the first lockdown a week earlier could have significantly reduced deaths in the initial wave.

The report found that the governments across the UK did not take the virus seriously until it was too late, with February 2020 being labeled as a “lost month.” The lack of urgency within the government was deemed as “inexcusable,” with Health Secretary Matt Hancock criticized for his failure to deliver on promises.

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