UK Covid inquiry: the key areas likely to be scrutinised

Boris Johnson has pledged that an independent inquiry will investigate the lessons of the UK pandemic

• Coronavirus - latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

Boris Johnson has said an independent public inquiry with wide-ranging statutory powers will begin hearing evidence in spring 2022 into the UK government's handling of Covid-19.

Although the terms of reference have yet to be agreed, the inquiry is expected to focus on identifying lessons from the pandemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 127,500 people, Europe's highest death toll.