The First Minister has once again refused to hold a Wales-wide Covid inquiry after fresh calls from a Labour MP.
Late last week, Labour’s Member of Parliament for Islwyn, Chris Evans, said that “there has to be some sort of inquiry…there's been over 7,000 deaths."
He also said "This is about bereaved families who have lost loved ones and have questions that need to be answered. I don't think this is a political issue, it's a moral issue."
Given the Labour MP’s intervention, Paul Davies pressed Mark Drakeford on whether the Labour Government will now support a Wales-wide Covid inquiry and ensure that the people of Wales get the answers they deserve in relation to the handling of Covid-19 in Wales.
Mr Davies told the Senedd: “We need to have a Wales-wide COVID inquiry, an inquiry that transcends party politics and gives people the answers that they need.
“The Member of the UK Parliament for Islwyn, Chris Evans, is absolutely right to highlight that devolution of powers cannot mean the evasion of accountability by the Welsh Government, and I urge all Members of this Chamber from every party to put politics to one side and support a Wales-wide COVID inquiry.”
Mr Davies also called on the First Minister to rule out the introduction of Covid passes to Welsh hospitality and he also called on the Welsh Government to clarify what criteria has to be met to scrap covid passes in Wales.
Speaking outside of the chamber, Paul Davies MS, said:
“Throughout the pandemic, Labour’s First Minister insisted decisions for Wales were made in Wales.
“From delays to testing in care homes and mask wearing to the recent introduction of COVID passports, Labour have chosen to do things differently.
“Tragically, Wales has the highest death rate of all UK nations, and 1 in 4 deaths were due to infections that were acquired in hospitals. It’s a national scandal that requires thorough investigation.
“Grieving families deserve answers, and that can only be delivered by full, independent scrutiny of the decisions taken by Labour ministers in Cardiff Bay in a specific Wales coronavirus inquiry.
“Nothing else will suffice and we can only hope the First Minister will listen to the calls from some of his Labour colleagues at Westminster.”
