Coronavirus inquiry must start in January, committee of MPs tells Boris Johnson

Constitutional Affairs Committee demands ‘visibly impartial’ figure to lead probe

MPs are telling Boris Johnson to stop dragging his heels on the coronavirus inquiry he promised, by ensuring it is ready to start in January.

The investigation must also be headed by a “visibly impartial” figure – after Tory allies were appointed to other key roles – who should undergo scrutiny first, their report says.

The call comes amid growing criticism that the prime minister is refusing to say when the inquiry into his much-criticised handling of the outbreak of the pandemic will get underway.

Mr Johnson announced it in early July, with details promised “in due course”, but Downing Street has said nothing since despite the gathering fears of a second Covid-19 spike.

Instead, Mr Johnson has been branded a “coward” after the U-turn that saw him agree to meet campaigners for the inquiry – only to back out.

The report, by the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee,  suggests it is too late for recommendations to “contribute to the response to a possible second wave of infections over the winter months”. 

And it acknowledges it will be “impossible for every area to be covered in a timely manner” by the inquiry.

But it lays down what Mr Johnson should do, stating: “Public trust must be secured from the outset by appointing a chair who is visibly impartial, and appointed through a process that is transparent.

“The description of the role should be published, including the skills and experience required, and the preferred candidate subject to a hearing before the relevant select committee before assuming the role.”

William Wragg, the committee’s chairman, said the inquiry must be set up “as quickly as possible, with the aim of taking evidence at the start of 2021”.

“The sooner it is established, the more quickly we can see positive results,” the Conservative MP said.

The report also raises the alarm over a lack of parliamentary scrutiny over the many hurried changes made to coronavirus restrictions by ministers.

At the height of the pandemic, that was “not possible”, but it states: “It is crucial that the government is held to account for how it uses its powers.

“In the past six months, restrictions designed to combat the spread of Covid-19 have not received the parliamentary scrutiny they merit.

“Emergency legislation enacting the mandatory use of face masks on public transport was not debated until over a month after it was announced.”

Mr Johnson conceded the inquiry, after months of stonewalling, after being told the UK had “suffered one of the worst death rates in the world and Europe's worst death rate for health and care workers”.

In response, he said: "I do not believe that now, in the middle of combating a pandemic, is the right moment to devote huge amounts of official time to an inquiry.

“But of course we will seek to learn the lessons and certainly we will have an independent inquiry.” 

No start date has been given since.