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

27 November 2023, 11:36 | Updated: 27 November 2023, 12:11

Sadiq Khan at the Covid Inquiry on Monday morning
Sadiq Khan at the Covid Inquiry on Monday morning. Picture: Getty/Covid Inquiry
Kieran Kelly

By Kieran Kelly

Sadiq Khan has told the Covid Inquiry "lives could have been saved" had he been invited to Cobra meetings earlier in the pandemic.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Speaking at the Covid Inquiry on Monday morning, the Mayor of London said he was "disappointed" that the Government did not provide him with more information about Covid as it started to spread in the UK at the start of 2020.

Mr Khan said the Greater London Authority (GLA) was "chasing the Government for information", but he had not been doing this in February because he "wasn't aware how serious it was".

"The Government generally does give us information about a variety of things happening. I'm disappointed the Government weren't giving us information in February about what they knew then," Mr Khan said.

He went on: "I can see no explanation at all why we [the mayors of major English cities] weren't around that table.

"I think lives could've been saved if we were [invited] earlier."

Sadiq Khan speaks at the Covid Inquiry
Sadiq Khan speaks at the Covid Inquiry. Picture: Covid Inquiry

According to Mr Khan, it was "unusual" for the Government not to be providing information to the Mayor of London's office in this sort of emergency.

The Mayor of London continued: "I was writing to the Government and contacted the Government to ask for information - that wasn't coming in January, February or March.

"That is unusual by the way. I can give examples of other emergencies where this hasn't happened."

Read More: Sunak and Johnson thought it was 'okay to let people die' during pandemic, Covid Inquiry hears

Read More: Sir Patrick Vallance reveals ‘brain dump’ private diaries as he appears before UK Covid-19 inquiry

Mr Khan also said that Sir Chris Whitty, England's Chief Medical Officer, had warned him that the impact of Covid on London would be "huge".

The only powers he had to stop Covid at the time was to enhance cleaning on the Tube network, as well as cancelling a major St Patrick's Day in March.

Sadiq Khan arrives at the Covid Inquiry
Sadiq Khan arrives at the Covid Inquiry. Picture: Alamy

It comes after it was revealed that the Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case, would not be appearing before the Covid Inquiry.

Baroness Heather Hallett formally excused Mr Case from giving evidence in 2023 due to "ill health".

Head of the Civil Service Simon Case
Head of the Civil Service Simon Case. Picture: Alamy

An update on his ability to give evidence will provided at the end of January 2024.

"It very much remains my intention that Mr Case should give oral evidence to the inquiry," she said in her ruling .

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Trump and Harris go head to head

US Election night guide: What time do polls close and who is favourite to win?

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had only just turned 12 when he took part in the violent disorder

Britain's youngest rioter: Boy who had just turned 12 sentenced for involvement in violent disorder

The 170-metre red bridge over wetlands in Canada Water, south-east London, opened last week

Security guards to stop cyclists from using bright red ‘wildlife boardwalk’ at £3.3bn London housing development

Rubert Gispin was visiting flood-hit parts of his native Valencia

Spanish influencer defends ‘shameful’ decision to deliberately cover himself in mud in Valencia’s flood damaged streets

Sara Sharif's father denies murdering the 10-year-old.

Father claims he begged to save Sara Sharif before being told ‘Leave it, she’s dead’

Queen Camilla is unwell with a chest infection and has withdrawn from her engagements this week

The Queen withdraws from engagements this week after being taken ill, Buckingham Palace announces

Tesco customers are furious after being forced to wait hours to book a Christmas delivery slot.

'It's like getting Beyonce tickets': Fury as Tesco shoppers face 'ridiculous' online queues for Christmas delivery slots

Ladbaby has broken its silence on historic allegations of gripping.

Charity chart-topper Ladbaby breaks his silence on 'groping' allegations

Labour MP Chris Webb 'attacked and mugged' near London flat by phone snatching gang

Labour MP Chris Webb 'attacked and mugged' near London flat by phone snatching gang

The White House has been barricaded and restaurants and stores boarded up as tensions rise over the election.

Washington DC braces for unrest as White House is barricaded and stores boarded up ahead of US election

Sir Chris Hoy said 'if you're over the age of 45, go and ask your doctor' for screening

Sir Chris Hoy calls for men to be offered prostate cancer screening from the age of 45 after his terminal diagnosis

Kamala Harris went door-knocking in Pennsylvania on the night before the election

Kamala Harris surprises residents in Pennsylvania as she goes door-knocking in final bid to win votes

Nearly 600 police officers sacked in a year amid as shocking figures reveal extent of misconduct crackdown

Nearly 600 police officers sacked in a year as shocking figures reveal extent of misconduct crackdown

Hundreds of people died in the devastating flooding in Spain

British man who survived Valencia floods describes hearing his neighbours’ horrifying final screams before they died

Amy Dowden said she was ‘heartbroken' as she left this year's Strictly Come Dancing

Amy Dowden says her ‘heart is breaking’ after she confirmed she will not return to Strictly

Anthony Scaramucci said the row between Trump and Labour would blow over

'Anglophile' Trump's row with Starmer will have 'no impact' on wider relations with UK, Anthony Scaramucci says