By Ben Kerrigan-
The Uk government is to spend over £70m on legal representation for the Covid-19 Inquiry, including lawyers for current and former ministers, it has today been revealed.
The reasons are manifold, aimed at safeguarding the government against both forseeable and unforeseeable legal issues which could arise in the course of the very hot inquiry.
The revelation arising from a freedom of information request by ITV shows that Whitehall departments have already spent almost £14m on legal costs, and have signed contracts worth another £55m.
The Department for Health and Social Care and the Cabinet Office, with spends amounting to £5m each. The combined spend of the Treasury and business departments is around £2m.
Last week, Angela Rayner accused the Conservatives of spending hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money on “loophole lawyers” in an attempt to obstruct the Covid inquiry.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on countries worldwide, including the United Kingdom. As governments around the world grapple with the aftermath of the crisis, one notable development is the UK government’s decision to allocate £55 million towards hiring lawyers for the COVID inquiry.
This substantial expenditure has raised eyebrows and prompted discussions regarding the significance and rationale behind such a financial commitment. This article aims to appraise the reasons why the UK government may be spending such a substantial amount on lawyers for the COVID inquiry.
One government official told The Eye Of Media.Com on the condition of anonymity that: ”conducting a thorough and comprehensive inquiry requires legal expertise to navigate the complex web of data, evidence, and testimonies. By allocating significant funds to hiring lawyers, the UK government demonstrates its commitment to conducting a meticulous investigation that leaves no stone unturned.
”Lawyers possess the skills and knowledge required to scrutinize evidence, interview witnesses, and ensure the inquiry is conducted with the highest level of integrity.
”Spending a lot of money on lawyers can help with potential legal challenges that may arise during the inquiry, safeguarding its integrity and legitimacy.
”In order to adequately defend the government’s response and decision-making processes to assessing the effectiveness of public health measures, the inquiry must navigate a complex legal framework.
”Lawyers possess the necessary expertise to interpret and apply the relevant legislation, regulations, and legal precedents. Their involvement ensures that legal complexities are adequately addressed, providing a solid legal foundation for the inquiry’s findings and recommendations.
”The £55 million expenditure on lawyers also serves as a prudent measure to prepare for potential legal challenges that may arise from the inquiry’s findings. Inquiries of this nature often face legal repercussions, including lawsuits, claims for compensation, or calls for accountability.
”Allocating a significant budget for legal representation indicates that the government is proactively preparing for such scenarios to ensure the government is adequately equipped to defend its decisions and actions, reducing potential financial liabilities in the long run.
The inquiry is expected to last until 2026, and will scrutinise almost every aspect of the handling of the pandemic, with potential surprises arising during the inquiry,
Bereaved families have complained about their exclusion from the inquiry, but analysts believe there are multiple reasons to explain that, including the potential for emotions to compromise the effectiveness of the inquiry , as well as the potential resources their inclusion would require.
However, bereaved families have representatives who can present any legitimate concerns to the inquiry that needs to be considered.
The pandemic occurred under Boris Johnson’s government between 2020 and 2022.
Johnson resigned from parliament over partygate- the name giving for the series of parties breaching lockdown rules during time when government guidance expected the public to be at home.
The former prime minister accused the committee of an assassination, motivated at ousting him from parliament. He has promised to return to frontline politics in the future.