Responding to Dominic Cummings’ evidence to the Science and Technology Committee and Health and Social Care Committee this morning, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “If Geoffrey Howe took a cricket bat to Thatcher’s Government, then Dominic Cummings has just taken a wrecking ball to Johnson’s. His allegations against the Prime Minister and Health Secretary are damning.
“While the circus around the fallout between the Prime Minister and his closest advisor continues, the public are only interested in one thing: the truth.
“It is clear that we are not going to get it through a WhatsApp briefing war or a public tit for tat between Johnson and Cummings. The only way to get to the truth is through a full independent public inquiry. We need one now.
“Bereaved families deserve to know exactly what decisions were made and how they were made throughout this pandemic. We owe it to them to learn the lessons right away, so we can be prepared for any further waves of this virus or future pandemics.
“The Prime Minister must establish the independent public inquiry he’s promised without further delay. He should appear before it to answer questions under oath, and provide it with all relevant government documents.
“There can be no delay in getting to the truth. End the public sparring with Cummings and get on with setting up the inquiry immediately.”