A group of 21 MP’s and peers have written to the chair of the Covid inquiry, to express concern that the process is in danger of being dominated by lockdown advocates.
According to the Sunday Telegraph’s Chief Political Correspondent Camilla Turner:
Baroness Hallett, the inquiry chairman, is accused of excluding groups likely to “challenge” the Government’s decisions during the pandemic that plunged the country into prolonged nationwide shutdowns.
A group of 21 MPs and peers said it was “critical” that the inquiry considered a “diverse range of views and perspectives”, warning that otherwise there was a “serious risk” it could become “inadvertently blinded to areas of important investigation”.
In a letter to Baroness Hallett, seen by The Telegraph, the parliamentarians argue that Module Two is the most critical part of the inquiry, as it will examine high-level decision-making in government during the pandemic.
But they fear the inquiry’s current make-up will lead to some of the “fundamental questions” raised by lockdowns – such as the significant infringements of personal liberties and the safeguarding of children – being sidelined.
The signatories of the letter, who include former Cabinet ministers Lord Frost and Esther McVey as well as the chairman of the 1922 committee Sir Graham Brady, say they are concerned by “the composition” of core participants for Module Two.
They explain that it “appears to be heavily weighted towards organisations and individuals which can fairly be presumed either to favour lockdowns as a pandemic policy or else to have understandable personal reasons to advocate for earlier and/or harder lockdowns”.
The letter cites the 14 Government departments and arms-length bodies that have been granted core participant status, along with four separate groups of Bereaved Families for Justice and Imperial College London, whose Covid-19 modelling informed ministers’ decisions to send the country into lockdown.
While anyone can submit evidence to the inquiry, “core participant” groups enjoy special status, including the right to representation and the ability to make legal submissions, suggest questions for witnesses and receive disclosure of documentation.
The MPs and peers point out that while it is appropriate for groups representing those bereaved due to Covid to be represented, it is “surprising” that there appears to be no representation for families bereaved due to the impact of lockdowns including cancelled or delayed medical appointments, suspension of child welfare safeguards and other unexplained deaths.
The cross-party group of MPs and peers also note that there is no representation from any British industries that resisted or were affected by lockdowns, such as the hospitality, tourism and retail sectors.
The Telegraph understands that an application was made for core participant status in Module Two by a consortium of hospitality groups – but this was rejected by the inquiry.
Of course, it will be a whitewash. That has been predetermined.
There will never be a legitimate inquiry into the tyranny of the past couple of years.
The reason for this is fairly obvious.
They plan to do it again. And again.
