The UK Covid Inquiry is set to continue with the evidential hearings for Module 2 beginning on Tuesday, 3rd October, 2023.

Nicola Brook, solicitor at Broudie Jackson Canter, who represents families from the 7,000-member strong Covid 19 Families for Justice UK group, said: “It’s been a frustrating lead up to Module 2. We have been forced to make submissions to the inquiry without having the benefit of crucial material, including a key witness statement from Dominic Cummings and access to Boris Johnson’s phone messages during critical stages of the pandemic. We still await these. Understandably, the bereaved families are feeling like it’s one rule for the political decision makers and one rule for them.

“Unfortunately, the bereaved will be left watching on the sidelines after all but one of our requests for 23 bereaved witnesses to give evidence in module two were refused. They are the ones with direct, first-hand experience of what the government could and should have done better, and should be at the centre of the inquiry, which will be much poorer without their input.”

Module 2 will cover “the UK’s core political and administrative decision-making in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic between early January 2020 until February 2022, when the remaining Covid restrictions were lifted”. This module will scrutinise the decisions made by not only the Prime Minister, but the Cabinet and any political and medical advisers, too.

Within the Module 2 investigation, the Chair will also be investigating the decisions made by the Governments of the devolved nations and jurisdictions under sub-modules. Module 2A will scrutinise decisions made by the Scottish Government between January 2020 and April 2022, Module 2B will cover the same scope for Wales between January 2020 and May 2022, and Module 2C will cover the same scope for Northern Ireland between January 2020 and March 2022.

Want to know more about the Covid Inquiry?

To read more about Module 2’s scope, click here.