Families demand public inquiry of UK government

A store staff member works to prepare the shop for reopening, ahead of the reopening of the non-essential businesses on Monday, June 15, as some of the coronavirus lockdown measures are eased, in London, Friday, June 12, 2020. The British economy shrank by a colossal 20.4% in April, the first full month that the country was in its coronavirus lockdown, official figures showed Friday. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

LONDON — Families who have lost loved ones in the COVID-19 pandemic were demanding an independent public inquiry into the way the British government handled the crisis.

Matt Fowler, of the COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group, told the BBC that his father’s death could have been prevented “if things were handled in a different manner.’’

He said that his father was “only 56, so he has gone way, way before his time.”

The group with some 450 members has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and to Health Secretary Matt Hancock demanding an inquiry.

The lawyer for the group, Elkan Abrahamson, said a limited inquiry was needed as soon as possible because the crisis is still ongoing.

He said, “in this case, if it does take a long time more lives will be lost.”