Children owed formal apology for damage done during Covid, UK inquiry hears

"She argued that the prolonged lockdowns and school closures are responsible for the explosion in mental health, welfare and behaviour difficulties still being experienced by children and young people. Longfield, who was children's commissioner at the peak of the pandemic, said the government should issue a formal apology for the avoidable mistakes it made to the children whose lives have been blighted by Covid and its after-effects."

"The children and young people who experienced the Covid pandemic some of whom will now be adults and some of whom are just starting school are owed a formal apology from the prime minister in parliament once the inquiry has published its final report, Longfield said. An apology would give the government an opportunity to formally acknowledge the avoidable mistakes and the damage that was done to many children's wellbeing, education, health, development, and safety,"

The government should apologise to children for damaging pandemic policy mistakes that caused lasting harm to wellbeing, education, health, development and safety. A doom loop of ministerial fatalism limited government action to help children during the pandemic. Prolonged lockdowns and school closures contributed to an explosion in mental health, welfare and behaviour difficulties among children and young people that continues. A formal apology from the prime minister in parliament after the inquiry's final report would acknowledge avoidable mistakes and offer a commitment to learn lessons for future emergencies. The public inquiry has begun investigating the treatment of children and will hear evidence from policymakers and politicians involved in 2020–21.

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