London by Thanasis Gavou

The first public hearings are being conducted from today as part of the long-awaited independent investigation into the government handling of the pandemic in Britainunder Baroness Hallett.

The research expected to be completed in 2026, at a cost of tens if not hundreds of thousands of pounds. The former judge and current member of the House of Lords has promised to put the 227,000 coronavirus victims and their families at the heart of her inquiry.

The proceedings opened with a brief statement by Lady Hallett, who praised the dignified presence of victims’ relatives outside the proceedings.

As the 73-year-old head of research added, she intends to give answers to three key questions: whether the UK was adequately prepared for the pandemic, whether the state response was appropriate, whether lessons can be learned for the future.

Followed by video display lasting 17 minutes with testimonies of devastated relatives of victims.

The lead inquiry lawyer Hugo Keith then took the floor. Among other things, he noted that “the occurrence of this natural disaster could not be avoided, but the critical issue is whether the impact he described was unavoidable.”

The first of many thematic strands of the research will last six weeks and will address the UK’s degree of preparedness and resilience against the pandemic. Scientists and officials in key positions of the country’s health defense mechanism will be called to testify.

Baroness Hallett has been criticized by victims’ families for the limited presence of relatives at the proceedings in these first six weeks. She asked for understanding about the balances that must be observed in the sequence of depositions and assured for more active participation of the relatives in other parts of the investigation.

After the six weeks an interim report with conclusions will be drawn up.