Mayors Criticize Exclusion from UK's Pandemic Meetings

Mayors Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham claim their exclusion from critical COVID-19 meetings hurt the UK's pandemic response.

They alleged that being barred from Cobra emergency meetings, despite repeated requests, potentially cost lives by hampering early intervention efforts.

Khan, the Mayor of London, argued he could have pushed for sooner lockdowns if included earlier. Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, described the UK's approach as overly centralized and claimed he was left out of key decisions, including lockdown easing, which he viewed as premature for his region.

Both mayors criticized the government's last-minute communication and centralized decision-making, pointing to the lack of consultation on local restrictions and financial support for affected workers and businesses.

Liverpool's Mayor Steve Rotheram also recounted being sidelined on major announcements, leading to threats and requiring police protection.

The inquiry into the UK's pandemic handling will continue to collect testimonies.