Government ‘failed to consider massive impact of lockdowns’, pandemic probe chief claims

THE Government failed to consider the “massive impact” of lockdowns, a top lawyer at the Covid inquiry has claimed.

As the probe into ministers’ handling of the pandemic kicked off yesterday, Hugo Keith KC, who is leading the inquiry, said the UK may not have prepared well “at all”.

He said: “Very little thought was given to how something as complex, difficult and damaging as a national lockdown could be put in place.”

And he claimed no one ­considered properly “the massive impact on education and the economy” of lockdowns.

But he also bizarrely blamed Brexit for the country’s failure to get ready for the once-in-a-generation event.

Mr Keith said: “Even at this stage, before hearing the ­evidence, it is apparent that we might not have been very well prepared at all.”

Covid chiefs were told that getting ready for leaving the EU had “crowded out and prevented” other work on pandemics.

Last night Tory MPs furiously hit back at the claims.

Former Brexit Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg raged: “The die-hard remainers think everything is caused by Brexit. Unfortunately, this foolish comment starts the inquiry off on the wrong foot. It ought to stick to relevant facts, not self indulgent speculations.”

And Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said: “It’s a bit like a judge declaring a motive for a crime before the trial has started.”

The first part of the probe will look at how prepared the nation was for the pandemic.

The full inquiry is expected to take years to conclude.