Welsh people were treated like “second-class citizens” by the UK Government during the pandemic, an inquiry has heard. Baroness Eluned Morgan, the Welsh Labour health minister – who took over the role from Vaughan Gething during the latter part of the pandemic – told the UK Covid-19 inquiry hearing on Tuesday that people in Wales […]

Welsh people were treated like “second-class citizens” by the UK Government during the pandemic, an inquiry has heard.

Baroness Eluned Morgan, the Welsh Labour health minister – who took over the role from Vaughan Gething during the latter part of the pandemic – told the UK Covid-19 inquiry hearing on Tuesday that people in Wales felt ignored by Westminster.

She made the comment while addressing questions about the firebreak – a short, two-week lockdown in October 2020 – and the UK Government’s refusal to help fund keeping it in place for longer.

Baroness Morgan said: “We were really concerned about the financial ability, the firepower, of the Welsh Government at the time to be able to sustain a lockdown for as long as was necessary.