Bereaved families accuse Plaid ministers of betrayal over Covid review

A campaigner for families bereaved during the pandemic says she feels betrayed by the announcement of a Wales-only Covid review by Plaid Cymru ministers, instead of the public inquiry the party had supported for years.

On Tuesday ministers told the Senedd how the review would be led by Prof Daniel Wincott of Cardiff University, and would conclude by March 2029.

The entire opposition united against the plans, accusing ministers of letting victims down.

Sam Smith-Higgins, of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, accused a key minister of ignoring her group and said she felt "played".

Plaid ministers said they were doing exactly what they said they would at the Senedd election campaign.

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said that the review was the "best way to provide the answers that we owe the people of Wales".

He confirmed last week that the review will not have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence.

Plaid Cymru, along with the Conservatives, had called for a Wales-only public inquiry during the last Senedd term.

The policy changed in March 2026, months before the Senedd election, when Plaid ministers said a review would be held instead of an inquiry.

Smith-Higgins of the families group, which contributed to the UK inquiry, said the government had not answered why a statutory inquiry, which she said could cost £10m and could be delivered within 18 months, was "not good enough".

"They are going for something with a political appointment that isn't independent, that has no powers," she said.

She said the announcement was a "huge betrayal", and in tears accused Davies of ignoring them for months.

"This is the first I've heard of a chair or any details of a review. They have ignored us completely and disrespected us in every way," she said.

"To hear them just relying on this is what we got voted in on - I feel played."

BBC Wales was told that the constitution minister, Dafydd Trystan Davies, had met the families recently. The group has ruled out cooperating with the review.

On Tuesday, Davies announced the review will focus on health and adult social care, with a panel supporting Wincott and including individuals with expertise in healthcare systems, social care and public health.

Ministers say it will be free from government direction.

In first minister's questions, Reform leader Helen Jenner accused the first minister of "becoming Wales's answer to Keir Starmer, saying one thing in opposition and doing another in office".

Ap Iorwerth said: "We were very, very clear in the manifesto, and for some time before the manifesto, that what we wanted was a means to find the answers that we need to give people assurances that, when another pandemic happens... we have learnt the lessons from it.

"We have now a mechanism that helps us."

Jenner added that Heledd Fychan, Plaid's Trefnydd or government business minister, had "privately reassured one of the bereaved families campaigners that there would be no rolling back" of its commitment to an inquiry.

In his Senedd announcement outlining the review, Dafydd Trystan Davies there was "much work" that remained to be done following module six of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

Wincott brings "extensive expertise" in devolution, public administration and the operation of government, he said, and the review would "complement not duplicate" the UK inquiry.

He said it would be "able to examine issues in greater depth" where evidence was not sufficient or where gaps remain.

"Lived experience will be an important part of the review in Wales," he said, adding he would ask the panel "how best citizen voices" can be included.

"When the panel finds good practice, we will want to share it. Where it finds weaknesses, uncertainty or incomplete implementation, we will consider its conclusions carefully and act to ensure that they are addressed."

He said he "asked officials to consider how this government can suitably mark the commemoration of the pandemic here in Wales".

"There is significant grief in our communities that is still keenly felt," he added.

Reform's Iain McIntosh said he was concerned the announcement would not deliver what bereaved families had wanted.

Given the lack of legal powers, he asked: "If a former minister or senior official refuses to cooperate, what can this patent panel actually do about it?"

He said bereaved families should be "guaranteed a meaningful role from the beginning".

Davies said learning what went wrong was "clearly part" of the process, and said they were looking at £1.5m for the year ahead.

He said he hoped the bereaved families will play a "full part".

He confirmed it was "non-statutory" - meaning it would not have powers to compel witnesses - but said: "I would expect every Welsh government minister who served in this place to support this review in completing its work."

Ken Skates, Welsh Labour leader, said: "It is difficult to see at this stage this matches the expectations of bereaved families."

He asked why Plaid had dropped its demand for an inquiry.

Davies said it had been a promise in the Plaid manifesto to hold a review. He paid tribute to the bereaved families, acknowledged their grief and said he hoped their experiences will form a central part of review's consideration.

Welsh Labour had been criticised for not holding a Covid inquiry of its own by Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives, while the party was in charge.

The Welsh Conservatives had supported the review when it was announced last week.

But the party's Nastasha Asghar questioned why it was not an inquiry.

"It is probably one of the very few things on this planet that we actually agreed on together," she said.

She accused Plaid of stringing along beavered families. "You have genuinely sold them down the river," she said.

Andrew RT Davies accused Davies of selling the bereaved families out, and Welsh Green leader Anthony Slaughter said he was "confused and disappointed" by the decision not to pursue a review.

Liberal Democrat MS Jane Dodds said the "integrity of the Senedd had been compromised".

She asked for an apology to those in the public gallery who were among the bereaved families.

Plaid Cymru MS Nick Carter said the review was "real progress" but also asked what could be done if witnesses refused to come forward.

Davies said he was "deeply sorry" for how the bereaved families were "let down during the pandemic".

He added he was "sorry" that they had not a reached an "agreement" on the review.

Wincott said: "The Covid-19 pandemic touched every individual and community in Wales. Many people are still living with its consequences today.

"As its chair, I am committed to the independence of this review, which will be conducted by a panel of experts. The review will assess the pandemic in Wales specifically, identify and address gaps in the evidence about the Welsh experience and learn lessons for the future."