This will be a slow burn for the Tories – and because we don’t know when the report will drop, for us as well.

But This Writer recommends getting some popcorn in at regular intervals so you have some when it does.

Here’s what you need to know right now:

An explosive report spelling out how the Conservative government failed to prepare the country for the Covid-19 pandemic as it obsessed about Brexit is to be released before the likely date of the next general election.

In a move that will cause alarm in Downing Street, Heather Hallett’s independent Covid-19 inquiry will issue a detailed interim report “before the summer” on the first batch of public hearings held last June and July, which revealed a catalogue of errors, including the lack of PPE and failures to act on recommendations of previous pandemic planning exercises.

The first part of the inquiry also showed how pandemic planning fell victim to years of Tory austerity, and how later the Covid-19 threat was downplayed because ministers were preoccupied with trying to avoid the worst effects of a possible no-deal Brexit.

There’s a great argument for the report to be released as soon as possible – because its recommendations may then be put into action to protect us from a future pandemic.

It’s a nice story. Personally, This Writer thinks the chances of that happening are zero – under the Tories or a Starmer-led Labour administration.

But if it gets the report out in time to mess up any Conservative hope of winning a general election, then the public interest will be served.

Of course, the big question is whether anybody will be prosecuted and jailed for their roles in the deaths of many thousands of people who might otherwise be continuing to live useful, productive and happy lives today.

Source: Key Covid inquiry report creates election date headache for Sunak | Covid inquiry | The Guardian

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