CAMPAIGNERS and MPs have demanded the Covid-19 inquiry begins on time after experts warned that the probe could be delayed. 

The official inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, due to start in spring, is rumoured to face delays due to PM Boris Johnson’s decision to stall on assigning a chair and determining the probe’s terms of reference. 

Think tank the Institute for Government said that based on the proceedings of previous investigations it was now “very hard to see how the inquiry can begin until the end of May or June.” 

And the King’s Fund think tank said it was impossible for the inquiry to start in spring as planned, according to the Independent.

The inquiry could also be delayed by the partygate scandal engulfing the government, the newspaper reported.

MPs and campaigners have expressed anger over any potential delays.

Lib Dem MP Layla Moran, who is the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on coronavirus, said: “No matter what new scandals the Prime Minister is facing, the inquiry must begin as promised and report interim findings before the next general election. We owe it to everyone we lost to uncover the truth.”

Labour MP Afzal Khan, who lost his mother and both parents-in-law to Covid-19, said on social media he was “very disappointed” to see rumours of a delay to the vital inquiry. 

Chief executive Richard Kramer of disability charity Sense said a delay to the inquiry would be unacceptable and called on the government to urgently clarify the situation.
 
“The decisions and policies that have led to such a disastrous outcome for disabled people and other groups must be investigated, and quickly,” he said. “This is far too important to be moved to the bottom of the government’s to-do list.”
 
Mr Johnson finally announced the start of the Covid-19 inquiry in May last year but failed to appoint a chair until December. 

The institute said that due to the complexity of the inquiry, and time needed to consult all groups to decide the scope, means the start date could now be pushed back to the summer. 

A People’s Covid Inquiry, which was set up due to delays to the official probe, accused the government last year of “gross negligence” in its handling of the pandemic.