The chair of the inquiry, Heather Hallett, wants the Prime Minister to add the word “enforcement” to the probe’s remit, which is now listed only as “statutory and regulatory oversight”.
Boris Johnson is asked to sign off on new terms of reference for the Covid public inquiry at Partygate.
The chair of the inquiry, Heather Hallett, wants the Prime Minister to add the word “enforcement” to the probe’s remit, which is now listed only as “statutory and regulatory oversight”.
This will allow the Baroness to investigate the police investigation into No 10 lockdown parties, which hit 100 firm sentences last week.
A source on Baroness Hallett’s team said she wanted to determine whether “actions have affected public behavior”.
A consultation on the form of the inquiry received 20,000 responses from individuals and organizations, many expressing anger at Partygate.
Groups representing families who have lost loved ones to Covid will particularly want to vent their anger.
Baroness Hallett told the Prime Minister: “The consultation has identified areas where the job description could be improved.”
A spokesman for the inquiry added, “Once we begin, people will be able to apply for core participant status, and grief groups will participate.”
Baroness Hallett also wants to investigate whether the police response to protests during lockdown has been proportionate.
It will also investigate claims that ethnic violators were fined rather than warned and stopped and searched more often.
Matt Hancock urged officers to ‘go to hell with leather’ despite concerns over the Covid deal
The Covid investigation has expanded but still doesn’t include the Partygate saga
The aim is to expand the research to find out how the pandemic has affected different groups – particularly the well-being of children during lockdown.
The inquiry spokesman added: “The recommended changes reflect the depth of feelings from frontline workers to those affected by Long Covid.
“This is about honoring what happened to these people.”
Baroness Hallett wants the Prime Minister to approve her revised mandate quickly so that preparations can begin for the public hearing of the inquiry early next year.
Jo Goodman of Covid Bereaved Families for Justice said: “A year after the inquiry was announced, the Prime Minister has no excuse to delay things further.”
But the Prime Minister will only say: “We will publish the final terms of reference of the inquiry in due course.”
Source: mirror