Live UK Covid-19 research: Report reveals how Brexit and austerity have affected pandemic planning

The report is expected to highlight that the UK is focusing primarily on preparing for a flu pandemic rather than a coronavirus pandemic.

Lady Hallett could highlight how austerity measures have led to cuts to public health, PA reported. She could also comment on preparations around personal protective equipment (PPE) and a government focused on Brexit.

Key politicians, scientists and health experts appeared as witnesses during the first module of the inquiry, entitled Resilience and Preparedness.

Former Health Secretaries Matt Hancock and Jeremy Hunt were honoured at the hearings, along with former Prime Minister Lord Cameron and former Justice Secretary Michael Gove.

Good morning and welcome to our live blog following the publication of the first report from the long-running UK Covid investigation.

It will be released at 12:00 BST and will include a long-awaited verdict on how Brexit and austerity have affected the country’s preparedness for the pandemic, which has killed more than 200,000 people in the UK.

Politicians including David Cameron, George Osborne and Matt Hancock are facing criticism over their decision-making and priorities in the run-up to the disease outbreak in early 2020.

My name is Tom Ambrose and I will be following all the news and reactions. In the meantime, you can read our excellent preview article by my colleague Robert Booth.