Will the government learn the lessons of the public inquiry into its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic? Boris Johnson this afternoon confirmed he was indeed setting one up, to begin in Spring 2022.
True to form, Sir Keir Starmer complained that the inquiry should start sooner; a point he makes with almost every announcement from the government. Johnson was, also true to form, thinking partly of the political landscape over the coming weeks: announcing an inquiry now means he can appear to be on the front foot with learning lessons when Dominic Cummings gives his long-awaited select committee evidence later this month.
It’s probably wise that Downing Street has decided not to be drawn on timescales for the conclusion of a public inquiry
Then there’s the long-term political perspective: No. 10 refused to commit to the inquiry concluding before the next general election. There’s much talk in the Conservative party at the moment of that election being in 2023, given the current strength of the government against an increasingly depressed Labour party.
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