Criticism for Drakeford in latest Covid inquiry report

MARK Drakeford has been criticised in a major report about the way the UK's governments responded to Covid-19.

- RUTH MOSALSKI

Mark Drakeford was First Minister of Wales during the Covid pandemic

(WELSH GOV'T)

The former First Minister was absent at the first meeting of his cabinet where Covid was made a priority in the spring of 2020, something that has led to him being called out by the inquiry's chair.

Baroness Hallett has today published the latest report from the ongoing Covid-19 inquiry, focusing on the responses of all governments - the UK, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Executive.

Looking at how the pandemic was dealt with in the early days, the report found the devolved administrations "failed to escalate consideration of the emerging crisis to their highest levels of government with sufficient speed".

The Welsh Government cabinet didn't discuss Covid at all in January 2020, the report says, despite a warning from Frank Atherton, the chief medical officer.

It was first discussed on February 25, 2020.