Covid-19 Inquiry Moves Forward as Lord Brailsford Appointed Chair

In a positive step for the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry, Lord Brailsford has been appointed Chair after Lady Poole’s resignation on 3 October.

He was appointed by Deputy First Minister John Swinney on Thursday 27th October and took up the post on Friday 28th October.

Lord Brailsford has set out his commitment to the role and the families affected by Covid deaths.

“The public are rightly looking for answers and no more so than the loved ones of the nearly 16,000 people in Scotland who died during this pandemic. I am immensely aware of the enormous responsibility this places on me and the Inquiry. I promise the families, that along with the Inquiry team, I will work independently to establish the facts and ensure the Inquiry thoroughly examines the decisions taken throughout the pandemic.”

Who is Lord Brailsford?

Lord Brailsford was appointed as a Senator of the College of Justice in 2006. He became an advocate in 1981, taking silk in 1994 and practiced predominately administrative and constitutional law from 2001 to 2006. His background in administrative and constitutional law gives him an in-depth understanding of public law processes and decision making, which is the main focus of the inquiry.

Terms of Reference updated

The Inquiry has detailed terms of reference, and a wide remit to report on health, education, and elements of business, financial and welfare support.

These terms of reference have now been amended slightly to include a more explicit reference to a human-rights based approach. This reiterates that the human impact of the pandemic will be placed front and centre of the inquiry’s work and findings. This is likely to be in response to criticism by bereaved families that they have not been properly kept up-to-date or taken into consideration during the initial period of the inquiry.

What’s next?

Lord Brailsford now has responsibility for organising the handover from Lady Poole as the inquiry gathers momentum, with listening project pilots to kick off towards the end of the year.

In the new year, we can expect the inquiry to publish its interim factual record and make calls for evidence and submissions from relevant parties. Oral hearings should follow thereafter.

For further information on the Inquiry and what this will mean for the further and higher education sector, see our article: Opinion: Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry – Focus on further and higher education | Scottish Legal News.