Bereaved families have strongly criticized Nigel Farage for his call to terminate the Covid Inquiry. The leader of the Reform party argued that the inquiry, aimed at understanding the impacts of the pandemic, had become too costly, with expenses exceeding £192 million over three years. Established in 2022, the comprehensive investigation is set to release its final findings in 2027.
In the UK, approximately 227,000 individuals passed away with Covid-19 cited as a contributing factor on their death certificates. Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty warned of the inevitability of another global pandemic. Farage, after the financial details were disclosed, expressed his discontent to the Telegraph, deeming the expenses outrageous and advocating for a swift conclusion to the inquiry.
Responding to Farage’s remarks, a spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK denounced his comments as a “disgraceful affront” to the deceased and their grieving families. The spokesperson emphasized that many deaths could have been prevented, attributing them to PPE shortages, the discharge of Covid-positive patients into care homes, and delayed lockdown measures.
The spokesperson criticized Farage’s attempt to halt the inquiry, labeling it as an endeavor to hinder justice and shield influential figures from accountability. They pointed out that the inquiry’s cost represents only 0.01% of the government’s annual expenditure, emphasizing the importance of holding responsible parties answerable and learning from past mistakes to prevent future tragedies.
Farage, along with other establishment figures, has questioned the necessity of the inquiry, viewing it as a threat to their positions of power. In contrast, the families affected by the pandemic are determined to pursue justice and continue advocating for accountability.
A spokesperson for the UK Covid-19 Inquiry highlighted the unique nature of the investigation, emphasizing its broad scope covering the entire UK population during the two-year pandemic. Baroness Hallett, the chair of the inquiry, outlined the substantial task of evaluating the country’s response to the crisis in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The spokesperson stressed the importance of conducting a meticulous and thorough examination of the UK’s pandemic response, which requires time and financial resources. The inquiry has already published its initial report, with subsequent reports scheduled for release in the coming years, leading up to the final report in 2027.
