Covid inquiry – live: George Osborne claims austerity had ‘positive’ effect on UK’s ability to withstand Covid

George Osborne is giving evidence to the Covid inquiry today

David Cameron tells Covid Inquiry his government spent more time ‘on pandemic flu’

Austerity had a “positive” effect on the UK’s ability to withstand the Covid-19 pandemic, former chancellor George Osborne has claimed.

In his witness statement submitted to the Covid inquiry, Mr Osborne said austerity had a positive effect because it meant public finances recovered.

“Reducing the deficit and placing debt as a percentage of GDP on a downward path was also essential to rebuild fiscal space to provide scope to respond to future economic shocks,” Mr Osborne said.

“I have no doubt that taking those steps to repair the UK’s public finances in the years following the financial crisis of 2008/09 had a material and positive effect on the UK’s ability to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he continued.

George Osborne is giving evidence to the Covid inquiry today after a doctor’s union said the former chancellor must be “taken to task” over austerity-era decisions that “left us so unprepared” for the pandemic.

It comes after David Cameron said he is “desperately sorry” for the loss of life during the pandemic on Monday.

Key Points

• George Osborne gives evidence at Covid inquiry
• Osborne 'completely rejects' austerity resulted in depleted health and social care
• George Osborne claims austerity had ‘positive’ effect on UK’s ability to withstand Covid
• There was no planning for a lockdown, says Osborne
• ‘Mistake not to look at other types of pandemic,’ says David Cameron

[19 June 2023 10:54 · Martha Mchardy]

David Cameron arrives at Covid inquiry to give evidence

Former prime minister David Cameron arrives at the Covid-19 Inquiry hearing center in London (EPA)

Cameron is expected to be questioned about his government's resilience and preparedness between 2010 to 2016 (EPA)

[19 June 2023 10:48 · Martha Mchardy]

Everything you need to know about public hearings into UK’s pandemic response

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry opened its first public hearing on 13 June in London, beginning a three-year investigation into the British government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The inquiry will seek to understand the decision-making that led to the imposition of strict lockdown measures on the public, how our evolving understanding of the virus guided policy, what the government got right and what mistakes were made, with a view to being better prepared for future pandemics and public health emergencies.

When then-prime minister Boris Johnson announced the first “stay at home” order on 23 March 2020, British citizens came together in a rare moment of national unity, for the most part, diligently adhering to social restrictions introduced to help stop the spread of the contagious respiratory disease.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

[19 June 2023 09:55 · Martha Mchardy]

ICYMI: Doctor ‘flabbergasted’ bereaved families not called as Covid Inquiry witnesses

A doctor whose father died after contracting Covid has said the inquiry will be a “farce” if bereaved families are not able to give evidence.

The Covid Bereaved Families for Justice group had put forward 20 people to be considered as witnesses for the first module of the Covid-19 Inquiry, but said none have been called to give evidence.

Six weeks of hearings are planned for the first module of the inquiry, which will focus on resilience and preparedness.

Former prime minister Mr Cameron will become the first politician to appear under oath at the inquiry when he is sworn in today at 11am, the inquiry has said.

He will be followed by former chancellor Mr Osborne, as well as Jeremy Hunt, the current Chancellor who served as health secretary in the austerity-era Government of the 2010s.

Jordan Reynolds reports:

[19 June 2023 09:25 · Martha Mchardy]

ICYMI: Cameron-Osborne austerity left UK ‘hugely unprepared’ for Covid, says report

The UK was hugely unprepared for the Covid crisis because of years of austerity overseen by David Cameron and George Osborne, according to a report.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) said that funding cuts reduced the country’s capacity to respond to the crisis, leaving the NHS and the social care sector “dangerously understaffed”.

Public services capacity was damaged by “steep cuts” to almost every part of the public sector, the union added.

Safe staffing levels in health and social care were undermined by a series of pay caps and pay freezes over a number of years, which impeded recruitment and increased staff turnover, the report found.

Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne are expected to push back against the claims of the damage done by austerity cuts when they give evidence to the Covid inquiry today.

Adam Forrest reports:

[19 June 2023 09:00 · Martha Mchardy]

‘No doubt’ underfunding put 'patients and staff put in harm’s way,’ says BMA council chairman

There was “no doubt that both staff and patients were put in harm’s way” because of underfunding in the decade running up to Covid‘s arrival, BMA council chairman Professor Philip Banfield said ahead of the Covid inquiry hearing today.

In a blog written for the union’s website, he writes: “I have seen first-hand the damage wrought by years of austerity and a failure to prioritise the nation’s health. The UK was severely on the back foot when Covid took hold, and this proved disastrous - for the doctors I represent and the millions who suffered at the hands of the virus.

A hospital ward during the pandemic (PA Archive)

“It is therefore critical that Cameron, Osborne and Hunt are taken to task over the decisions they made that left us so unprepared, and to ensure the same mistakes are not repeated when we face our next health emergency.”

He added: “The question to Cameron, Osborne and Hunt must be: how did you allow the NHS and public health to get to such a parlous state, and fail to prepare so appallingly, that many didn’t stand a fighting chance when the wave crashed over them?”

The BMA and the Trades Union Congress are among core participants to the inquiry.

[19 June 2023 08:45 · Martha Mchardy]

UK entered pandemic with ‘depleted’ public services and widening health inequalities, inquiry heard

The UK entered the coronavirus pandemic with “depleted” public services and widening health inequalities, the inquiry heard last week.

A report prepared jointly by Prof Sir Michael Marmot, an expert in epidemiology and director of the University College London Institute of Health Equity, and Prof Clare Bambra, an expert in public health from Newcastle University, said austerity policies affected the health of the nation in the lead up to the pandemic.

The British Medical Association (BMA) today said David Cameron and George Osborne must be “taken to task” at the Covid inquiry over austerity-era decisions that “left us so unprepared” for the pandemic.

The doctors’ union said the pair should be questioned this week about the “parlous state” of the NHS due to a decade of spending cuts.

David Cameron is due to give evidence to the inquiry at 11am today. He will be followed by George Osbourne andformer health secretary Jeremy Hunt.

[19 June 2023 08:28 · Martha Mchardy]

What will the inquiry examine and who is giving evidence?

The inquiry will examine how prepared the UK was for the pandemic, meaning economic policies in the years leading up to the first outbreak will be taken into its wide remit.

Former prime minister Mr Cameron will become the first politician to appear under oath when he is sworn in on Monday at 11am, the inquiry has said.

He will be followed by former chancellor Mr Osborne, as well as Jeremy Hunt, the current Chancellor who served as health secretary in the austerity-era Government of the 2010s.

It is unclear how long each witness will spend giving evidence.

[19 June 2023 08:20 · Matt Mathers]

ICYMI: No-deal Brexit ‘crowded out’ UK’s preparations for pandemic, Covid inquiry hears

The government’s focus on Brexit “crowded out and prevented” the work that was needed to prepare for the next pandemic, the lead lawyer to the Covid-19 inquiry has said.

Hugo Keith KC told the inquiry that work arising from the threat of a no-deal exit from the EU under Boris Johnson may have drained “the resources and capacity” that were needed for pandemic planning.

Adam Forrest reports:

[19 June 2023 08:05 · Matt Mathers]

Recap: Everything you need to know about public hearings into UK’s pandemic response

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry opened its first public hearing on 13 June in London, beginning a three-year investigation into the British government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The inquiry will seek to understand the decision-making that led to the imposition of strict lockdown measures on the public, how our evolving understanding of the virus guided policy, what the government got right and what mistakes were made, with a view to being better prepared for future pandemics and public health emergencies.

Joe Sommerlad has a full rundown of what the inquiry is about:

[19 June 2023 07:51 · Matt Mathers]

Cameron attacked by BMA ahead of evidence

David Cameron and George Osborne must be "taken to task" at the Covid inquiry over austerity-era decisions that "left us so unprepared" for the pandemic, a doctors’ union has said.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said the pair should be questioned this week about the "parlous state" of the NHS due to a decade of spending cuts.

BMA council chairman Professor Philip Banfield said ahead of Monday’s hearing there was "no doubt that both staff and patients were put in harm’s way" because of underfunding in the decade running up to Covid’s arrival.

In a blog written for the union’s website, he writes: "I have seen first-hand the damage wrought by years of austerity and a failure to prioritise the nation’s health. The UK was severely on the back foot when Covid took hold, and this proved disastrous - for the doctors I represent and the millions who suffered at the hands of the virus.

"It is therefore critical that Cameron, Osborne and Hunt are taken to task over the decisions they made that left us so unprepared, and to ensure the same mistakes are not repeated when we face our next health emergency."

Nina Lloyd reports: