Newcastle MP demands public inquiry after ‘damning’ Covid report

Newcastle-upon-Tyne MP Chi Onwurah has called for a public inquiry after the damning Covid report earlier this week.

The report was published by the Health & Social Care and Science Committees and criticised the government for 'inexcusable oversight'.

The joint report was conducted by 22 MPs from the Conservative, Labour and Scottish National parties and blamed 'group think' as the reason a first lockdown was fatally delayed.

The tell-all report spans 150 pages and labels the pandemic the "biggest peacetime challenge" for a century.

Throughout the pandemic, Newcastle was hard hit by deaths and recent data shows that hospitals in the area are still treating 158 Covid patients every day.

Ms Onwurah told NewcastleWorld.com: "This is a damning report into monumental errors made by ministers in responding to the pandemic.

"Ministers were warned but responded with complacency.

"Care homes across the North East were left unprotected as virus raged.

"We need a public inquiry now so mistakes of such tragic magnitude are never repeated again."

In May 2021 Boris Johnson shared his intentions to launch a public inquiry into the pandemic during the first half of 2022.

The Prime Minister also promised to appoint the chair of the inquiry by Christmas.

Chi Onwurah has been the MP for Newcastle upon Tyne central since 2010 when she replaced Jim Cousins.

Ms Onwurah was re-elected in the seat at the 2019 elections with a majority of 57.6%.