Politicians and campaigners have called on First Minister Mark Drakeford to withdraw "insulting" comments he made in the Senedd about demands for a Wales only covid inquiry. Speaking in the Senedd on Tuesday, he told the chamber that the the Covid Bereaved Families for Justice campaign group were "moving on from continuing to ask for something which is not going to happen".
Campaigners have denied this and called his remarks "shameful" and "not true". His comments came as a response to Conservative Senedd group leader Andrew RT Davies and after the campaign group secured ‘core participant’ status in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.
This status will mean that the group, along with others, will have a key role in the process of compiling the UK wide inquiry into the handling of the nation's covid response. However, they have said that the First Minster's comments that as a result the group had given up on a second Wales only inquiry was not true.
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Speaking in the Senedd the First Minister had said that he “very much” welcomed the group's core participation status in front of the UK inquiry. He said: I had written to them earlier this year supporting their application for core participation status,” he said. “That will mean that they will be able to ensure that the voice of those people who are members of their group will be heard in that inquiry.
“I believe from the meetings I’ve had with them—I’ve met with them five times—that, unlike the leader of the opposition, they are moving on from continuing to ask for something which is not going to happen. Let me be clear about that.
“I’ve told you time and time again, there will be no inquiry of that sort here in Wales. They are moving on to put their energies and their efforts into making sure, as I want to see, that their questions are properly rehearsed, and the best answers provided in front of the Baroness Hallett inquiry.”
However, this statement has since been refuted by group members and fellow politicians who are asking for Mr Drakeford to withdraw the statements. Sam Smith-Higgins, a member of the campaign group told BBC Radio Wales Drive that the remarks were "shameful".
She said: "To say that families have moved on is just, quite frankly, insulting. The UK inquiry today, some of our team were up there, representing Welsh families. Module one of the UK inquiry, Wales is not even mentioned in it."
Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies, whose question Mr Drakeford was replying to, said: "If he had any dignity, respect or courage, the First Minister would announce a Wales-specific Covid inquiry to address the reasons why Wales has the highest Covid death rate in the UK. Instead, he is running scared.
“I asked the The First Minister why Nicola Sturgeon was wrong to be holding a Scottish-specific Covid inquiry and he was right not to. He failed to answer and continues to maintain that his self-described ‘differing approach’ does not need to be scrutinised.
“The First Minister may think that ‘the world has moved on’ as he insensitively proclaimed in the chamber today, but the bereaved families most certainly have not, they deserve answers.”
Plaid Cymru’s health spokesperson Rhun ap Iorwerth says he wrote to Mark Drakeford asking the First Minister to withdraw the comments. Sharing the open letter on Twitter he said: "I’ve written to the First Minister tonight - he should withdraw the comments made in the Senedd today. We maintain that decisions made in Wales should be scrutinised in Wales."
Adding to this, Jane Dodds MS from the Liberal Democrats said: "The First Minister clearly misrepresented the views of the Covid Bereaved Families for Justice campaign today and should apologise and withdraw the claim.
“On the whole it was disappointing to see Labour today dismiss such a serious issue out of hand. If Labour supports devolution they must understand that with increased powers comes increased scrutiny. This should not be sought to be avoided.
“An inquiry is not about apportioning blame, but rather learning vital lessons to ensure we are more prepared for the future. We will continue to call for a Welsh specific inquiry even in the face of opposition from Welsh Labour.”
The UK covid inquiry is being chaired by retired judge Baroness Heather Hallett, who officially opened it on Tuesday. The report is expected to be split into separate sections based on topics, with an interim report produced after each one. The first part of the inquiry will examine the "resilience and preparedness" of the UK for an event like the coronavirus pandemic.
Other parts will include looking at decisions made by devolved governments, including the Welsh Government. Evidence from the report is expected to be heard in summer 2023.
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