Brexit Distracted U.K. From Pandemic Preparation: Beyond Brexit

What’s happening? An official report finds Britain failed to prepare for the coronavirus pandemic because resources were concentrated on Brexit, and there’s still hope of a negotiated settlement on Northern Ireland.

Brexit distracted the U.K. from preparing for the pandemic. That’s according to an official report that concluded more than half of government staff responsible for emergencies were focused on fending off disruption from a no-deal departure from the European Union, limiting their ability to look at other risks. It adds to pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson over his pandemic decision-making, ahead of a public inquiry due to start next spring. The U.K. not only recorded the highest death toll in Europe — over 140,000 so far — but suffered the sharpest economic hit among the Group of Seven developed nations.