Cabinet secretary Simon Case will give evidence at the COVID Inquiry today after his testimony was delayed due to illness.
The head of the Civil Service had been expected to appear before the inquiry between October and December, when it was examining political decision-making on the pandemic.
However, his appearance was postponed after he went on medical leave in late October, only returning to work earlier this year after a two-month absence.
Who is Simon Case – and what’s his role in recent Downing St scandals?
Mr Case is expected to share evidence on the early response to COVID , having been pulled in to government in May 2020 as No.10 permanent secretary to coordinate the response.
He was then appointed cabinet secretary in September of that year.
Despite his absence, Mr Case has featured prominently in the evidence heard at the inquiry so far via WhatsApp messages exchanged between senior figures during the pandemic.
Messages understood to be from 14 October 2020 were disclosed to the inquiry, in which Mr Case described Boris Johnson’s wife, Carrie Johnson, as “the real person in charge”.
Mr Case also said the government was looking like a “terrible, tragic joke” and that he “cannot cope with this” in an apparent expression of frustration at how the coronavirus pandemic was being handled.
In another fractious message shown to the inquiry in October, Mr Case described “being at the end of my tether” over Mr Johnson’s indecision during the pandemic and said he “cannot lead”.
Simon Case with Boris Johnson in May 2022. Pic: Reuters
The inquiry is beginning its eighth module of investigation this week, which will examine the impact of the pandemic on children and young people.
Areas of focus include how children’s education, development, mental health and use of social media were affected.
Seven modules of the inquiry have already been discussed in public hearings, including the country’s preparedness for a pandemic, decision-making and political governance, and the impact of COVID on the NHS.
The inquiry began in 2022 and public hearings started in 2023, chaired by former High Court judge Baroness Heather Hallett.
Read more:
Rishi Sunak has turned out to be a gambler
General Election 2024: Royal Family postpones engagements
Baroness Hallett, said: “This eighth investigation will focus on the impact of the pandemic on children and young people, the decisions taken and the extent to which children were considered.
“The pandemic affected children and young people in many different ways; they lost loved ones, academic opportunities, years of social development and interaction with family and friends.
“Our Children and Young People’s Voices research project will make sure that the Inquiry hears from a wide range of those children and young people.
“Every Story Matters – our nationwide listening exercise – is also collecting the stories of parents, carers, teachers and others who played such important roles in the lives of children and young people during that time”.
