No-deal Brexit planning may have 'crowded out' work on the UK's resilience preparedness for a pandemic

13 June 2023, 13:45 | Updated: 13 June 2023, 13:52

People arrived where the inquiry is being held to show pictures of loved ones lost during the pandemic.
People arrived where the inquiry is being held to show pictures of loved ones lost during the pandemic. Picture: Alamy

By Jenny Medlicott

The independent Covid inquiry has heard that Brexit may have interfered with and ‘crowded out’ the UK’s capacity to prepare for a pandemic.

The Covid inquiry, which started today, has heard that the impact of planning for a no-deal Brexit may have affected the UK’s ability to plan in the event of a pandemic.

Hugo Keith KC, the lead counsel at the inquiry, said: "The pandemic struck the United Kingdom just as it was leaving the European Union.

"That departure required an enormous amount of planning and preparation, particularly to address what were likely to be the severe consequences of a no-deal exit on food and medicine supplies, travel and transport, business borders and so on.

"It is clear that such planning, from 2018 onwards, crowded out and prevented some or perhaps a majority of the improvements that central government itself understood were required to be made to resilience planning and preparedness.

"Did the attention therefore paid to the risks of a no-deal exit - Operation Yellowhammer as it was known - drain the resources and capacity that should have been continuing the fight against the next pandemic, that should have been utilised in preparing the United Kingdom for civil emergency?

"Or did all that generic and operational planning in fact lead to people being better trained and well-marshalled and, in fact, better prepared to deal with Covid and also to the existence of improved trade, medicine and supply links?

"My lady, on the evidence so far - but it will be a matter for you - we very much fear that it was the former."

Listen and subscribe to Unprecedented: Inside Downing Street on Global Player

People stood outside the hearing at Dorland House in London with photos of lost loved ones.
People stood outside the hearing at Dorland House in London with photos of lost loved ones. Picture: Alamy

The inquiry was launched to look into the government’s handling of Covid and will mostly attempt to assess “the UK’s response to and impact of” the pandemic and “what lessons can be learned” from it.

Hearings start today and are not expected to be concluded until summer 2026, meanwhile final analysis may not arrive until as late as 2027.

The inquiry will be broken down into modules, the first four opened are: resilience and preparedness, core UK decision and political governance, impact of the pandemic on healthcare and vaccines and therapeutics.

Mr Keith also told the inquiry: "Extraordinary though it may seem, given that it's a word that's forever seared in the nation's consciousness, there was very little debate pre-pandemic of whether a lockdown might prove to be necessary in the event of a runaway virus, let alone how a lockdown could be avoided.

"Very little thought was given to how, if it proved to be necessary, how something as complex, difficult and damaging as a national lockdown could be put in place at all.”

He asked whether swine-flu “lead to concerns about overreacting” in the case of a global virus and added that while countries cannot necessarily be perfectly prepared for a pandemic, they can “certainly be underprepared”.

Read more: Boris Johnson misled Parliament by claiming Covid rules were followed, privileges committee to say

Red more: Boris Johnson given 'warning letter' as former PM handed findings over whether he misled Parliament over Partygate

The inquiry will assess "whether the UK was adequately ready for that eventuality" of a pandemic.
The inquiry will assess "whether the UK was adequately ready for that eventuality" of a pandemic. Picture: Alamy

So far, the inquiry has heard testimonies from families who lost loved ones during the pandemic to the virus.

Those personally affected by loss during the pandemic have gathered outside the inquiry being held at Dorland House in London with photos of loved ones in frames.

The inquiry heard how people didn’t hug at funerals during the pandemic and how loved ones could not be buried in outfits, as they had to remain in sealed body bags.

Baroness Heather Hallett said: "I have promised many times that those who suffered hardship and loss are and will always be at the heart of the inquiry.

"And I have done my very best within the constraints upon me of time, resources and my terms of reference to fulfil that promise.

"I know that there are those who feel that the inquiry has not sufficiently recognised their loss or listened to them in the way that they feel appropriate but I hope that they will better understand, as the inquiry progresses, the very difficult balance I have had to strike.

"I hope they will understand when they see the results of the work we are doing that I am listening to them.

"Their loss will be recognised."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

"I ran, not to rip the joey away from its mother, but from fear she might attack me," Jones, who also uses the name Samantha Strable, posted on social media.

American influencer apologises after being threatened with deportation for snatching baby wombat from mum

The Forum Chinese Restaurant

Chinese restaurant chef uses CCTV to prove 'nonsense' reviews wrong

Soccer - International Friendly - Venezuela v Nigeria

England star John Fashanu arrested over 'five crimes' as he sues police for £100,000 compensation

NASA astronauts Nick Hague, right, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore. (NASA via AP)

'Stranded' NASA astronauts set to return from nine month space mission - but what health issues could they face?

Exclusive
Jordan Stephens, Rizzle Kicks star.

Rizzle Kicks star says children 'rely' on online communities for connection as he says 'boredom' to blame for rising crime

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference in the Downing Street Briefing Room after hosting virtual meeting with international leaders to discuss support for Ukraine.

Military chiefs to meet in UK next week - as Starmer confirms Ukraine peace effort ‘moving into operational phase’

Smoke billows from the MV Solong cargo ship in the North Sea, off the Yorkshire coast in England, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Dan Kitwood/Pool Photo via AP)

Russian captain of Solong container ship remanded in custody following crash with US oil tanker

BRITAIN-UKRAINE-DIPLOMACY-POLITICS-DEFENCE

'Coalition of the willing': Starmer hosts Ukraine peace summit as PM urges Putin to 'come to the negotiating table'

Joanne Penney, 40.

Five charged and one arrested after fatal shooting of 'deeply loved' mother

Ozdemir Zia hit Edna McLean as he turned his double-decker near Woolwich Arsenal station, London.

Bus driver avoids jail after killing 83-year-old pensioner in 'momentary error'

Front facade of a pretty country cottage, Netherbury, Dorset, UK - John Gollop

Met Police suggest planting roses in your garden could deter would-be burglars

March 11, 2025, London, England, UK: Actor, director and writer NOEL CLARKE arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice for his libel case against The Guardian over articles on sexual misconduct allegations against him.

Actress said to have been groped by actor Noel Clarke tells court 'it is a lie'

Melbourne, Australia. 15th Mar, 2025. Lando Norris of McLaren celebrates taking pole position during Qualifying at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Victoria, Saturday, March 15, 2025.

Lando Norris takes pole in Australia GP qualifying - as Lewis Hamilton trails in eighth on Ferrari debut

Merritt Island, Florida, USA. 14th Mar, 2025. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Crew-10 astronauts lifts off from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on Mar. 14.

SpaceX rocket finally launches to bring two stranded NASA astronauts back to earth after nine months

The body of 23-year-old Martine Vik Magnussen was discovered in a basement in Great Portland Street, London, in 2008

On-the-run suspect urged to hand himself in 17 years on from murder and rape of student found dead in basement

Pint of Guinness in front of different ale and beer pumps, The Merchant's Arch Bar & Restaurant, Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland

Guinness pint prices could soar to more than £6 due to Trump’s tariff war