First Covid inquiry report to set out ‘appalling failures’ during pandemic

Catalogue of errors by government and health officials includes the deliberate winding down of PPE stockpiles

The first official report by the UK Covid inquiry is set to expose a catalogue of failures by the last Conservative government and health officials in the run-up to the pandemic.

Lady Heather Hallett, the inquiry's chair, will issue the report on Thursday and make recommendations to ensure that the UK is better prepared for any future outbreak.