Michael Gove apologises to bereaved families for government mistakes during Covid

28 November 2023, 10:41 | Updated: 28 November 2023, 11:27

Michael Gove giving evidence to the Covid Inquiry
Michael Gove giving evidence to the Covid Inquiry. Picture: Getty

By StephenRigley

Michael Gove has apologised to bereaved families over Government mistakes during Covid. 

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Mr Gove told the Inquiry the Government’s decision making process was floored as the pandemic emerged.

He said: “I want to take this opportunity, if I may, my Lady to apologise to the victims who endured similar pain, the families who endured so much loss as a result of the mistakes that were made by Government in response to the pandemic, and as a minister responsible for the Cabinet Office and who was also close to many of the decisions that were made, I must take my share of responsibility for that.

"Politicians are human beings, we're fallible, we make mistakes and we make errors... But I also want to stress that I - and those with whom I worked - were also seeking at every point, in circumstances where every decision was difficult and every course was was bad, to make those."

Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove, formerly the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, arrives to give evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry
Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove, formerly the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, arrives to give evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. Picture: Alamy

Read More: Sadiq Khan tells Covid Inquiry 'lives could have been saved' had he been invited to Cobra meetings earlier

Read More: UK government was 'too late' to act in first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Chris Whitty admits

Mr Gove was chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the Cabinet Office throughout the pandemic.

During the pandemic, Mr Gove chaired meetings of the Covid O (Covid Operations) committee, which made key decisions on lockdown restrictions.

The Tory Cabinet minister said the Government was not effective in responding to crises because of its "flawed" structure. He compared the Cabinet Office to "Mary Poppins' bag" where Prime Minister's dump difficult issues.

Mr Gove, now the Levelling Up Secretary, said he was charged by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson with leading ‘no deal’ Brexit planning before being given the task of intergovernmental relations.

The Inquiry has already heard damning evidence that the Cabinet Office in early 2020 was “dysfunctional” and “chaotic”, and ill-prepared for coping with the coming crisis.

“There has been a tendency among successive Prime Ministers to shove into the Cabinet Office responsibilities that do not appear to fit conveniently or easily elsewhere”, said Mr Gove.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Ashbourne, Derbyshire,

Boy, 15, arrested after school forced into lockdown after student 'behaving aggressively and threatening staff'

The Runcorn and Helsby MP has been sitting as an independent since he was suspended following his arrest in October

MP Mike Amesbury sentenced to 10 weeks in prison for punching man in street

Breaking
Speaking via video link to a Kyiv conference, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that Britain is ready to commit British troops on the ground in Ukraine in order to maintain peace.

'Russia doesn't hold all the cards', Starmer says, as he tells Ukraine 'we are with you' three years on from invasion

Leanne Lucas has described for the first time the desperate moments when she helped children run to safety

'If I didn't get out, everyone was going to die': Hero yoga teacher tells how she saved children from Southport attacker

Moise Kean was carried into an ambulance after collapsing during Fiorentina’s game against Verona

Moise Kean update after ex-Everton star rushed to hospital after collapsing on the pitch

Demi Moore, winner of Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for 'The Substance,' appears backstage during the 31st annual SAG Awards

Demi Moore, Timothee Chalamet and Conclave cast big winners at the Screen Actors Guild

The former Prime Minister was speaking from Ukraine

Blaming Ukraine for Russian invasion is like accusing swimmers of attacking the shark in Jaws, Boris Johnson tells LBC

Dave Grohl playing a show in New York earlier this month

Mother of Dave Grohl’s love child revealed to be rock ’n’ roll fan 18 years his junior  - after months of secrecy

Pope Francis seen in January

Pope Francis is 'in critical condition with kidney failure' as he continues to battle pneumonia, Vatican says

x

Damp start to the week as winter washout brings further flood warnings to parts of the UK

Cyclists training in Regent's Park

Regent's Park cyclists plagued by violent 'bikejacking' gangs - as police 'say they won't patrol before 8am'

The bodies of Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn were found at their home earlier this month

British husband 'likely killed ex-pat wife in France during staged home burglary gone wrong,’ prosecutors say

The Home Office has announced a move to widen travel controls on Kremlin-linked elites.

Kremlin linked elites 'stopped from visiting UK' with new sanctions on third anniversary of Russian invasion of Ukraine

Zelenskyy has hailed Ukrainian 'heroism' on the third anniversary of the war

Zelenskyy hails 'absolute heroism' of the Ukrainian people on third anniversary of Russian invasion

Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber

Justin Bieber breaks silence amid fans' fears after series of gaunt and dishevelled photos emerge

Valdo Calocane

Nottingham attack victims' families slam 'farcical' probe into officers' failure to investigate killer's earlier assault