17th June 2020

Dear Mr Johnson,

An immediate public inquiry into the handling of Covid-19 in the UK must be launched (Sign the petition here)

In early May I called for an inquiry to be launched into your government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.  At the time I clarified why that should be done and how it could be done, without pulling vital resources from frontline efforts to protect the public.

You have not acted on my call but since that time, the death toll has continued to rise, to a level that would leave any reasonable person with a lot of questions.  In addition, nearly 1000 grieving relatives of people that have died from Covid-19 have come together to make a similar request to the one I made in May.

Just to be clear about what we are asking for.

We are asking for an inquiry to be opened NOW so that a fact gathering framework can be put in place, to ensure that no facts are lost in the frenzy of activity that must be driving your decision making.   We’re asking for Candour around how and why day to day decisions are being made as the crisis continues to evolve.

The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group are calling for the inquiry to be started now in order to better inform the ongoing, life and death, decision making process. 

By starting an inquiry now, at best I believe more lives may be saved, at worst we’ll get better learnings more quickly.  Early action may even help you to regain some of the trust we all need the public to have in the authorities.  Trust that has been eroded by the politicking and obfuscation around the way this situation has been handled up to now.

Whilst I’m waiting for you to respond to our joint calls, I’d like to remind anyone, who has been negatively affected by the way this situation has been handled to join the growing number of people signing a petition calling on the public to support the request.

Elkan Abrahamson,

Director & Head of Major Inquiries

Broudie Jackson Canter

The government has now agreed to open a statutory Public Inquiry. You can find out more about the next steps in the fight for justice for those who have lost loved ones to Covid-19. If you have any questions about the Inquiry, the next steps and what is involved, visit our Covid Inquiry Questions page.