Following the evidence of Michael Gove at the Covid Inquiry, Save the Children UK, Just for Kids Law and the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, who are core participants in Module 2 of the Inquiry said:
Michael Gove, who was Minister for the Cabinet Office during the pandemic, was right to apologise to everyone who suffered in the pandemic, but it feels particularly hollow in respect of children in England. While he conceded he had concerns about the UK Government not paying enough attention to children, he also denied decisions had been made through an adult-centered lens. This does not make sense when you consider the majority of children didn't go to school, they went 70 days without seeing another friend, many safeguards and protections were diluted, and they were subject to stricter social distancing rules than adults. And we are certainly no clearer in learning who was advocating for children's rights around the Cabinet table.
It isn't satisfactory to summarise school closures as an uncomfortable "trade off" while knowing that the shutdown had a disproportionate impact on the poorest children, and those at risk of abuse and neglect. The UK Government must also produce the scientific evidence that can justify why children in England were subject to stricter social distancing rules than the rest of the UK, or was it that no-one was adequately thinking about them?"