Updates

• Cross-party MPs’ group on Covid publishes biggest review to date of UK response to pandemic - with 71 key findings and 44 recommendations to government described as ‘more important than ever’
• Report claims government is ‘gambling with UK’s future’ by relaxing restrictions over Christmas and returning ‘to a tier system we know has not worked before’
• Findings identify that Test and Trace system in England has failed, with government prioritising arbitrary testing targets over co-ordinated testing strategy
• MPs urge government to adopt Covid-Secure UK Exit Strategy to suppress virus and catch new cases at UK entry points even during vaccine roll out

The APPG on Coronavirus recommends that the UK Government publicly commits to a Zero-Covid strategy in England.

To reduce the risk of a second wave in England and the UK ahead of - or coinciding with - winter 2020, the APPG on Coronavirus recommends that the UK Government aims to reduce the number of new cases seen in England over a seven day rolling average to no more than one new case per million population per day in each region of England.

- ‘Devastating‘ impact on residents’ mental health described at weekly all-party group on coronavirus
- Third evidence session streamed live on social media focused on impact of pandemic on social care settings
- Residents ‘losing the will to live’ charity head warns MPs
- Today’s full session here: https://tinyurl.com/y4q3uaw7

- ‘Long-Covid’ and bereaved family witnesses give evidence to cross-party rapid inquiry
- Support networks needed for people living with long-Covid and those who have lost loved ones, inquiry told
- Inquiry chair Layla Moran MP: ‘unacceptable that bereaved families met with wall of indifference from Number 10’

Over 900 organisations and individuals submit evidence to all-party group on coronavirus in just eight days - as Boris johnson tells PMQs he’d be ‘very happy to look’ at rapid inquiry’s recommendations

A cross-party group of MPs is launching a rapid inquiry into the Government response to coronavirus ahead of the winter months.

• Newly created all-party parliamentary group (APPG) chaired by Layla Moran MP will take evidence from public, bereaved families, health experts and professional bodies
• Group aims to learn lessons from UK handling of coronavirus to ensure greater preparedness ahead of the winter months
• Other MPs on group include Conservative Dr Dan Poulter and Labour’s Clive Lewis 
• Widespread calls for public inquiry and rapid review being taken up by group so key recommendations can emerge quickly, with inquiry to be completed by end of summer

A cross-party group of MPs is launching a rapid inquiry into the Government response to coronavirus ahead of the winter months.

Wednesday, 08 July 2020, 15.00pm

In Attendance: Layla Moran MP, Dr Dan Poulter MP, Liz Saville-Roberts MP, Dr Philippa Whitford MP, Baroness Jenny Jones, Debbie Abrahams MP, Munira Wilson MP, Baroness Masham of Ilton

Non-voting attendees: Tom Brufatto, Dr Mike Galsworthy, Sam Payne, Ellie Dyer.

Apologies: Clive Lewis MP, Caroline Lucas MP

57% say public inquiry should take place on UK response to COVID, and majority of Brits claim government ISN’T prepared to handle potential peak this winter
- Research comes ahead of first meeting this Wednesday of cross-party group of MPs seeking to ensure lessons are learned
- Incoming chair Layla Moran MP: ‘each day brings more evidence of catastrophic mistakes in the handling of this pandemic’