The long-awaited COVID inquiry will hold its first public hearings today with an opening statement from chair Baroness Hallett and a film of testimonies from bereaved families that’s been described as “difficult to watch”.
Baroness Hallett, a retired judge, has promised to put the 226,000 victims of the pandemic at the heart of the investigation into the government’s response.
However, she has been criticised by some families for not giving more time to hear their stories – with a demonstration planned outside the London hearing.
Only one bereaved family member is due to give evidence during the opening module examining the country’s resilience and preparedness.
Baroness Hallett has said that more bereaved families will be heard during later modules.
Leshie Chandrapala believes her father, Ranjith Chandrapala, would still be alive if he had been better protected as a key worker during the height of the pandemic.
Mr Chandrapala, a bus driver from northwest London, died in May 2020.
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“It is a monumental day for us and we have been fighting for it ever since the pandemic started,” she said.
“We wanted to learn lessons very early on but the government were reluctant.
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Image: Mr Chandrapala was one of 27 London bus drivers to die in the first three months of the pandemic
“We want to learn the lessons so that in future pandemics we’re not going to have a death toll near as much as a quarter of a million people.”
She added: “My dad was a key worker and I need to know what measures were in place and how the Department for Transport, TFL, the bus operators, were working together to keep those bus drivers safe.
“We know that bus driver deaths were very high, disproportionate numbers of transport workers died during the pandemic. And why is that? Was there a lack of preparedness?”
Image: Leshie wants to know what thought went into protecting key workers like her dad
The inquiry has published a list of witnesses who are due to give evidence this week.
It includes Sir Michael Marmot, the author of a report into key worker deaths that found London bus drivers aged 20 to 65 were 3.5 times more likely to die from COVID between March and May 2020 than men in other occupations across England and Wales.
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COVID inquiry: Everything you need to know
Tuesday’s session will hear from Professor Jimmy Whitworth, an infectious diseases expert from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Dr Charlotte Hammer, an epidemiologist from Cambridge University.
The first module will run for six weeks, until 20 July.
An interim report will be published shortly afterwards, ending fears of a lengthy delay in publishing evidence gathered by the inquiry.
A few years ago, another resident started a petition to change the name of the road, and somebody covered up part of the street sign.
“I think we should change it,” Shirley told us, “but don’t ask me what to.”
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Image: Shirley is one of the residents calling for the street to be renamed
After a few minutes weighing up the options, she settled on Prince George Drive.
“At least that looks to the future,” she added.
Linda Boden has lived on the road even longer – she and husband Phil moved here after getting married 45 years ago.
“We have actually had the conversation this morning, that the name of this road will get changed,” Linda said.
Phil told us he wasn’t bothered about the name. “It’s just a name, it’s not the man… I can’t tell you what I think [about him] without swearing you know.”
Image: A bird’s eye view of Prince Andrew Drive
Cheryl, who lives nearby, told us what really mattered to her were the victims of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal – particularly the late Virginia Giuffre.
“That poor girl needs justice,” she said. “It is ridiculous it has gone on this long to be perfectly honest. That poor family are still living with it.”
I asked where her sympathies lay within this long-running royal scandal and Julie was unequivocal.
“With anybody who has been sexually exploited,” she said bluntly.
Julie believes Princess Anne Drive would be a better name for her neighbours’ road.
“She’s one of the better ones,” she added.
Image: Julie lives on the nearby Queen Elizabeth Way and suggests a renaming that would stick to the royal theme
Changing the road name would be a logistical headache for local authorities and residents, with some telling us it did not bother them and they would not fancy the extra paperwork to amend things such as household bills and driving licences.
But Postman Gary told us every time he’s making deliveries on Prince Andrew Drive, he feels for the residents.
“We have a little giggle because we know they don’t want it named that anymore and I wouldn’t either if I lived here. It’s probably time it changed.”
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‘Huge’ part of royal statement you might have missed
We did not find anyone on Prince Andrew Drive who disagreed with the King’s decision to remove his titles and oust him from his home in Windsor.
The monarchy needs to retain the support of the public across the UK – that’s one of the reasons the King has taken such decisive action at this point in the scandal.
A former sergeant major has been jailed for six months for sexually assaulting a teenage soldier, who later took her own life after being bombarded with messages by another senior colleague.
Michael Webber, who was a 39-year-old Battery Sergeant Major at the time, previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault. He was sentenced at Bulford Court Martial Centre in Salisbury on Friday.
He had assaulted 19-year-old Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, from Cumbria, at a work social event in July 2021.
Gunner Beck, who had joined the Army at 16, said that Webber had “made a pass” at her, put his hand between her legs and “pinned her down” while trying to kiss her.
Image: Jaysley Beck and her mother Leighann McCready. Pic: Family handout/PA
She pushed him away and spent the night locked in her car before making a complaint to her superiors in the morning.
Webber was given a minor sanction, involving him being interviewed and writing Gunner Beck a letter of apology, but the incident was not reported to police.
An inquest into her death heard she was later bombarded with messages by bombardier Ryan Mason, another senior colleague, who has since left the army, who expressed his love for her.
Image: Jaysley Beck at her passing out parade. Pic: Centre for Military Justice/PA
The 19-year-old’s body was found in her room at Larkhill barracks, Wiltshire, on 15 December, 2021. An inquest ruled that her death was a suicide.
During the inquest, coroner Nicholas Rheinberg ruled that “on the balance of probabilities” the Army’s failure to take appropriate action “more than minimally” contributed to her death.
An army report published in October 2023 also described Gunner Beck being exposed to “an intense period of unwelcome behaviour”, and said it was “almost certain this was a causal factor” in her death.
Wiltshire Police investigated a complaint of harassment submitted by Gunner Beck’s family after her death, relating to Mr Mason’s behaviour, but found the evidence did not support a criminal harassment case.
Image: Gunner Beck was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in December 2021. Pic: Family handout/PA
Gunner Beck’s mother Leighann McCready said outside the court after Webber’s sentencing: “No sentence will ever be enough.
“While he serves his time, it’s us who will live with a life sentence for what he did. And now the army failed to protect her afterwards.”
Ms McCready said her daughter “did everything right, but was failed by the system that was meant to support and protect her”.
“She followed the rules, but those responsible didn’t follow as they failed to act. Failed to report and failed to follow up,” she added.
Ms McCready said she will continue fighting for “real change” in the British Army after Gunner Beck’s death: “Not hollow promises or recycled words that have already failed our daughter and continue to fail others.
“Real action means giving soldiers somewhere truly independent to report serious complaints without fear or favour.
“We cannot bring our daughter back. But I will keep fighting to make sure her life leads to change.”
Minister for veterans and people Louise Sandher-Jones said the sentencing of Webber was an “important step on the journey to justice”.
She said: “We are honouring Jaysley’s legacy by bringing about crucial reform, to provide a place where people are proud to work and have faith in the service justice system.
“The Army has accepted the failings identified by the service inquiry in full and has also responded to the recommendations to improve service life across its culture, policies and practices.”
Major General Jon Swift, assistant chief of the general staff, said: “We will always be profoundly sorry for the failings that were identified at Jaysley’s inquest in February.”
He said the Army acknowledges that Webber’s sentencing “has come too late for their beloved daughter”, adding: “We are sorry we didn’t listen to Jaysley when she first reported her assault. We are determined to make sure the same mistakes don’t happen again.”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
The Premier League said in a statement: “The Premier League would like to acknowledge the circumstances that have led to a reduced number of matches on Boxing Day this season, impacting an important tradition in English football.
“There are now several challenges to Premier League fixture scheduling rooted in the expansion of European club competitions – which led to a revision of our domestic calendar ahead of last season, including changes to the FA Cup.
“This ultimately left the Premier League as a 33-weekend competition – fewer than previous seasons, despite being a 380-match competition since 1995.”
It added that this year’s Boxing Day falling on a Friday had also impacted the fixture list.
The remaining fixtures will be spread over the weekend, with seven on Saturday and two on Sunday.
Image: The Premier League has blamed the expansion of European fixtures on the change. Pic: Reuters
‘Special arrangements have been made’
The statement added: “With fewer weekends to work with, the League is bound by how the calendar falls.
“The League can give an assurance that next season there will be more Premier League matches on Boxing Day – as the date falls on a Saturday.
“As with previous years – and in keeping with our commitment to clubs – special arrangements have been made to allow more time between games played across the festive period.
“This will allow greater time for players to recover, with the rest periods between rounds 18, 19 and 20 being increased to ensure that no club plays within 60 hours of another match.”
‘Thoughtless and ridiculous’
The Football Supporters’ Association criticised the move in a strongly-worded statement on X.
It read: “The Premier League’s TV selections for Xmas and NY have finally been announced a fortnight after they were supposed to be.
“Newcastle United’s game at Old Trafford – the longest trip of that game week – has been selected for a ridiculous 8pm kick-off on Boxing Day. Thoughtless.”