Welcome to the Inquiry

There will undoubtedly be academic studies and data research for years to come, examining aspects of how policymakers responded to Covid-19.

But most urgently and immediately, we need to start discussing the non-measurable, qualitative impact on society.

This PEOPLE’S LOCKDOWN INQUIRY hopes to kickstart that discussion.

Whether you supported the UK government’s lockdown measures or were more sceptical, one worrying development has been the demonising of dissent and the explicit and implicit attempts at silencing questions and inquiry.

It is important that this chilling effect does not stifle a full and frank discussion about what the costs of lockdown were and what lessons we can learn for the future.

The PEOPLE’S LOCKDOWN INQUIRY aims to create a legacy to reflect on once lockdown measures ease. Rather than suggesting that the costs of lockdowns outweighed the benefits, the aim of this project is to assess the (often hidden) collateral damage of policy decisions. Even if people believe these policies were necessary to deal with the pandemic, we must not forget what has happened over the past 15 months.

Claire Fox

Director, Academy of Ideas

Laurence Fox

Leader, The Reclaim Party

Neil Oliver

Historian, Archaeologist and Presenter