PM’s Covid inquiry delay shows No 10 already eyeing next general election

Analysis: delay all but guarantees that few conclusions will have been reached by 2023

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When Boris Johnson let slip to the Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, on Tuesday that he would kick-off a Covid inquiry in the current session of parliament, it initially appeared to be an off-the-cuff remark.

But as he prepared to give MPs a Covid update" on Wednesday, it became clear No 10 has made the calculation that now was the right moment to announce an inquiry - though not yet to allow it to start work.