Sadiq Khan: Government’s Failure to Inform Him of Covid Severity Sparks Criticism and Calls for Accountability, UK

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has accused the Government of failing to keep him informed about the severity of Covid-19 in early 2020. Khan claims that lives could have been saved if he had been invited to emergency Cobra meetings. Speaking at the start of a crucial week for the Covid inquiry, Khan confirmed that his requests to attend the meetings were rejected by Downing Street, citing the presence of other mayors. He criticized the lack of communication from the Government, stating that he had not been given enough information about the developing pandemic. Khan revealed that he had requested a meeting with Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, on March 11, where he was informed that the virus would develop into a global pandemic with significant consequences for London. However, it was not until he attended a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee on March 16 that he fully understood the extent of the crisis. In a witness statement, Khan expressed his frustration at not being involved in earlier conversations and stated that lives could have been saved if he had been included. Other mayors, including Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, also criticized the lack of communication from central government at the start of the pandemic and throughout 2020. They highlighted the London-centricity of the decision-making process and the consequences it had for other regions. The Covid inquiry is expected to shed light on the actions taken by the Government and the impact of its decisions on public health.