Johnson’s promise of independent Covid-19 inquiry is worth as little as all his other vows
If you were relieved when Boris Johnson promised an independent inquiry into his government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis, you’ve missed the point.
Boris Johnson promises the world. He delivers very little – if not actually nothing at all.
It costs him nothing to say he’ll have work done – and we should all know by now that he will spend nothing on the work.
In fact, his response to Ed Davey’s question followed a classic pattern.
He said: “I do not believe that now, in the middle of combating the pandemic as we are, is the right moment to devote huge amounts of official time to an inquiry.”
Will the PM commit to a future public Covid-19 inquiry? asks acting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey
Boris Johnson says "we will seek to learn the lessons of this pandemic in the future" and "will have an independent inquiry into what happened" https://t.co/MgjNTy1v4Q #PMQs pic.twitter.com/Oc7RFD5dEe
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) July 15, 2020
This is the classic delaying tactic, invariably followed by a promise to hold one at a non-specific point later on:
“But of course we will seek to learn the lessons of the pandemic in the future, and certainly we will have an independent inquiry into what happened.”
Just you try to get him to honour that promise!
He’ll keep stalling with “Now is not the time” excuses for a while, and then he’ll cancel the whole idea altogether with:
“We’ve all moved on now.”
You know it. I know it.
The Twitter commentariat certainly know it – and have responded with choice examples of previous Johnson promises that have come to nothing:
Paul.
You know as well as I do – Johnson's *committments* are worthless.:-)
He has form. https://t.co/4qjnujyOSb— Clare Hepworth OBE (@Hepworthclare) July 15, 2020
A reminder that it’s now over a year since Boris Johnson promised an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in the Conservative party. https://t.co/50mfXdsQ3K
— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) July 15, 2020
And even when the report has been commissioned then it's not guaranteed to be published. The Russian influence report being another good case of delay and obfuscation#obfuscateDenyDelay
— Philip Burrows @[email protected] (@superGM) July 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/MIMJO2000/status/1283397823355146240
Independent enquiry*
*Conducted by a private company charging £Millions, which just so happens to have previously donated to the Tory party. Probably owned by some wife/husband of a Tory MP
and/or Dom’s mate.— Sam (@samgoat27) July 15, 2020
And take note:
Interesting Johnson never said public inquiry, just independent (his stooges)
was a nice try but it is a waste of time#PMQs
— Charley Farley (@qwdads1962) July 15, 2020
If you really want an inquiry into the government’s homicidal response to Covid-19, This Writer recommends contributing to that which is currently being carried out by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Covid-19:
The newly-formed All-Party Parlaimentary Group on Coronavirus has just set up an inquiry into Govt handling of coronavirus crisis & is already taking evidence (see link).
Boris Johnson is too slow. Lessons need to be learned before winter, not afterwards:https://t.co/rx6CY0aBcu
— Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) July 15, 2020
Source: Coronavirus: PM promises future independent inquiry – BBC News
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Mmmm
Promises by these creatures are blowing in the wind being nowt would come of them
Just set up a public enquiry anyway. All volantary lawyers & worthys.