The opening of the public inquiry into how the Government handled the Covid crisis was an important moment.
It is a golden opportunity to get to the truth about woeful or non-existent preparations for such a pandemic. The inquiry must probe allegations that the Conservative Government, then led by Boris Johnson, delayed unduly in responding to the unfolding disaster.
With more than 227,000 lives lost, we could almost become numbed to tragedy.
But the 17-minute film of bereaved families’ stories, shown to the inquiry, brought home the humanity of each and every loss.
They told of unbearable pain and guilt at hearing about deaths over the phone, or visiting elderly relatives through care home windows. The Covid pandemic isn’t ancient history, it is an ongoing nightmare – for those ill now as well as for many survivors.
The inquiry’s first phase will grill the likes of David Cameron, George Osborne and Jeremy Hunt. The likelihood is Tory austerity will be found to have worsened the crisis.
Pointless evil
The senselessness of the killings in Nottingham is truly horrifying.
Three people have lost their lives but Nottinghamshire Police say the motive for the slaughter carried out by a 31-year-old – thankfully now in custody – remains a mystery.
The anguish of victims’ family and friends will not be short-lived and nothing anyone can say will lessen their pain.
As Reverend Anna Clarke told the Mirror after a church service, there are no words for this level of pain and sadness.
Strikes go on
Junior doctors’ three-day strike from 7am today is a reminder that industrial action in the public sector is far from over.
Teachers, rail staff and civil servants are also in dispute with incompetent, foot-dragging and provocative Tory ministers.
We might be in a heatwave, but another Winter of Discontent is on the horizon.
