James Harrison

James Harrison is covering the UK's official Covid-19 inquiry for openDemocracy. He was previously a local democracy reporter in north-east England and assistant editor at the Sunderland Echo

Disabled people an ‘afterthought’ in pandemic response, Covid inquiry told

Experts said measures excluded disabled people and there should have been safe spaces for the LGBTIQ+ community

By James Harrison

/ 9 Oct 2023

Disabled people an ‘afterthought’ in pandemic response, Covid inquiry told

Covid inquiry first phase ends with shot at ‘critically under-resourced’ NHS

Arguments over NHS funding and future pandemic preparations marked the end of the opening phase of public hearings

By James Harrison

/ 19 Jul 2023

Covid inquiry first phase ends with shot at ‘critically under-resourced’ NHS

Covid bereaved families slam David Cameron and George Osborne over austerity

Lawyers for the victims' families took aim at those they hold responsible for leaving the UK unprepared for Covid

By James Harrison

/ 18 Jul 2023

Covid bereaved families slam David Cameron and George Osborne over austerity

Covid bereaved say loved ones were treated ‘like toxic waste’ after death

UK was not equipped to deal with Covid deaths, bereaved families tell inquiry as Module 1 concludes

By James Harrison

/ 18 Jul 2023

Covid bereaved say loved ones were treated ‘like toxic waste’ after death

Gove tells Covid inquiry no-deal Brexit planning prepared UK for ‘any’ crisis

The levelling up secretary defended the government's decision to focus on no-deal Brexit over a potential pandemic

By James Harrison

/ 13 Jul 2023

Gove tells Covid inquiry no-deal Brexit planning prepared UK for ‘any’ crisis

Hospitals had to upgrade ‘inadequate’ oxygen machines at height of pandemic

“Major engineering and structural changes” were made to improve equipment when Covid hit, a health expert has said

By James Harrison

/ 13 Jul 2023

Hospitals had to upgrade ‘inadequate’ oxygen machines at height of pandemic

Scottish government knew about PPE concerns two years before pandemic struck

Hospitals had not completed vital PPE preparations when Covid hit – despite concerns being raised in 2018

By James Harrison

/ 28 Jun 2023

Scottish government knew about PPE concerns two years before pandemic struck

The foodbank dilemma

Are food banks just papering over the cracks of a broken benefits system?

By James Harrison

/ 23 Oct 2014