Bereaved families have expressed strong disapproval of Nigel Farage’s recent call to terminate the ongoing Covid Inquiry.
The leader of the Reform party voiced his discontent with the escalating costs of the inquiry, which have surpassed £192 million over three years. The inquiry, initiated in 2022, is anticipated to release its final findings by 2027.
Throughout the UK, approximately 227,000 individuals succumbed to Covid-19 as a contributing factor on their death certificates. Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty previously emphasized the inevitability of another global pandemic.
Following the release of financial data, Farage criticized the expenses, stating to the Telegraph, “This is an exorbitant cost with no imminent resolution in sight. It should be swiftly and definitively concluded.”
A representative for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK condemned Farage’s remarks as a “repugnant insult” to the deceased and their mourning families.
The spokesperson asserted, “The deaths of our family members were entirely preventable; many perished due to shortages of personal protective equipment, the transfer of Covid-positive patients to care facilities, or delayed lockdown measures.”
“This inquiry has consumed a mere 0.01% of the government’s annual budget. It represents 0.01% allocated to hold those accountable for the loss of our loved ones. 0.01% dedicated to learning and preventing future tragedies,” the spokesperson added.
“We understand precisely why Nigel Farage, Ian Duncan Smith, and other prominent figures oppose this investigation,” the spokesperson continued. “Public inquiries serve as a means for ordinary citizens like us to hold influential figures like them accountable. While they consider themselves exempt, we persist in advocating for justice regardless of the duration.”
A spokesperson for the UK Covid-19 Inquiry stressed the distinctive nature of this inquiry compared to prior investigations. The inquiry, led by Baroness Hallett, encompasses a comprehensive review of the pandemic’s impact across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, affecting over 65 million individuals.
“The public deserves a meticulous and exhaustive evaluation of the UK’s pandemic response, necessitating time and substantial resources,” the spokesperson emphasized.
The inquiry has already published its initial report and plans to release subsequent reports, including one on political decision-making next month. Additional reports are scheduled for 2026, with Baroness Hallett intending to present the final report in the first half of 2027.