Responding the Prime Minister’s press conference as 100,000 people have been lost to COVID-19, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said: “Waiting for the end of this pandemic to hold a public inquiry leaves the country destined to fight yesterday’s battles. Lessons learnt after the event will come too late for thousands in our country who will lose loved ones in the coming months. They will also come too late for thousands more who will suffer the after effects of this virus such as long COVID. Liberal Democrats first called for a public inquiry six months ago: it was the right action to take then and that is even more true today.
“If the loss of 100,000 people in this country is not a good enough reason to hold a public inquiry now, then the Prime Minister needs to take a long hard look in the mirror.
“The death of over 100,000 people with coronavirus is a dark day for our country. Loss on this scale can seem almost too great to get our heads around but we must never forget that each of these people has left behind family, friends and neighbours. Thoughts and prayers are needed for those left behind but they alone will not help us get through this pandemic.”