Scottish lawyer demands transparency during UK covid inquiry
Lawyer Aamer Anwar is representing families who lost loved ones at the height of lockdown to coronavirus.
Last updated 13th Jun 2023
A Scottish lawyer is asking for honesty and clarity from politicians involved in the UK's response to the pandemic.
The public inquiry into the way the country handled coronavirus in 2020 officially gets underway today and hearings are expected to last until 2026.
Aamer Anwar, who represents families who lost loved ones to the virus, told Greatest Hits Radio: "This country was not prepared to cope with coronavirus because of years of underfunding and the impact of Brexit.
"To date, more than 17,000 people have died of covid-19 in Scotland and each death represents not just a single person, but a family affected too."
The inquiry will be chaired by Baroness Heather Hallet and will take evidence from a number of politicians.
These include key figures involved in decision making before the pandemic such as former Chancellor George Osborn and former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Aamer added: "This inquiry may falter at times over the coming months and years, but it cannot afford to fail or it'll come under sustained and repeated attacks.
"It must get to the bottom of decisions that were made and uncover the truth.
"It is the least these families deserve."