UK Covid-19 inquiry live: report to reveal how Brexit and austerity affected pandemic planning

The report is expected to highlight the UK’s focus on preparing for a flu pandemic instead of a coronavirus pandemic.

Lady Hallett may highlight how austerity measures led to public health cut backs, PA reported. She could potentially also comment on preparations surrounding personal protective equipment (PPE) and a government focused on Brexit.

Key politicians, scientists and health experts appeared as witnesses during the first module of the inquiry - which is titled Resilience and Preparedness.

Former health secretaries Matt Hancock and Jeremy Hunt were put under the spotlight during oral evidence sessions, alongside former prime minister Lord Cameron and former levelling up secretary Michael Gove.

Good morning and welcome to our live blog following the release of the first report from the long-running UK Covid inquiry.

It will be released at noon BST and will deliver an eagerly-awaited verdict on how Brexit and austerity affected the country’s readiness for the pandemic in which more than 200,000 people died in the UK.

Politicians including David Cameron, George Osborne and Matt Hancock are braced to face criticism about their decision-making and priorities in the run-up to the outbreak of the disease in early 2020.

I’m Tom Ambrose and will be following all the news and reaction. In the meantime you can read our excellent preview article from my colleague, Robert Booth.