A trio of Labour mayors will face a grilling over the rocky relationship between a few of Britain’s largest cities and Boris Johnson’s Government through the pandemic.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram will seem on the Covid Inquiry at present. It marks the beginning of a bombshell week of proof – with Dominic Raab, Michael Gove and Matt Hancock all resulting from be interrogated.
Mr Khan is anticipated to be grilled on how political decision-making impacted the capital, together with the timings of lockdown, the Met’s policing techniques and the affect on London’s financial system A row over Transport for London’s funding may additionally characteristic after Mr Khan accused Mr Johnson of mendacity to MPs when he claimed the Mr Khan had “effectively bankrupted” TfL.
Mr Burnham, who was branded “King of the North” for his lockdown battles with Government, may even seem, alongside along with his Liverpool counterpart Mr Rotheram. Mr Burnham’s rocky relationship with Mr Johnson is more likely to be thrown into the highlight, together with the northern mayor’s 2020 accusation that the then-PM was enjoying a “recreation of poker with folks’s lives”.
Both men will likely be questioned on former deputy chief medical officer Sir Jonathan Van-Tam’s claim that northern mayors hindered the rollout of local lockdowns as they were busy “arguing” for more funding from central government as cases rocketed in their areas.
Follow our coverage of the inquiry as it happens below
Matt Hancock, Dominic Raab and Michael Gove among witnesses in critical week
It’s going to be a big week for the Inquiry as it continues its scrutiny into decisions made at the top of Government during the pandemic.
Here’s the timetable for the week – with top ministers Michael Gove, Dominic Raab and Matt Hancock all expected to give evidence.
Covid Inquiry to listen to from Sadiq Khan, Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram
The London Mayor, Greater Manchester Metro Mayor and Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram are resulting from seem earlier than the Covid Inquiry at present.
We’ll be bringing you all the most recent information from the listening to at present.