Plaid Cymru has denied accusations that it "duped" voters after replacing a general election pledge for a Wales-specific Covid inquiry with a non-statutory review that cannot compel witnesses to attend.
The minority government faced criticism in the Senedd on Tuesday from Reform UK, Labour, the Green Party, and the Conservatives, as well as from families who lost relatives during the pandemic, following the change in position.
Pledge change under scrutiny
In the 2024 general election, the party's manifesto, published under Rhun ap Iorwerth's leadership, stated "there should therefore be a Wales-specific inquiry into Covid". By the 2026 Senedd manifesto, the pledge had become "a review of Wales's Covid response, its legacies and lessons for the future within the first year of the next Senedd term, with a targeted focus on Wales-specific matters and questions not covered by the UK-wide inquiry".
In March, ahead of the Senedd election in May, health minister Mabon ap Gwynfor said witnesses would be compelled to take part in the review. On Tuesday, it was admitted that the review cannot compel any witnesses to attend.
First Minister defends approach
The First Minister, formerly the health spokesman for Plaid Cymru, told the Senedd he was "totally convinced" that a review was the right approach when facing questions from Reform UK leader Helen Jenner.
He said: "We were the first, back in probably April or May 2020, to call for a Covid inquiry for Wales. There was no talk of a Covid inquiry at all. The reason we wanted that was not that we wanted a particular model of inquiry but that we wanted answers to whatever it was that was emerging around us in those early days of Covid. We knew that this was of such a serious nature that we would want to make sure that we were prepared to face a pandemic in future, learning lessons."
He added: "Now, standing here, I'm not interested in a witch hunt, I'm not interested in particular models, I'm interested in the answers and in the election and for a long time before the election, it is this model that I totally believe, she may disagree with me, but I am totally convinced, and have been for some time, that this is the best way to provide the answers that we owe the people of Wales and the victims and their families."
He denied a claim from Mrs Jenner that the party "duped bereaved families for votes". Conservative Natasha Asghar said the party's plans sold families "down the river".
Review details and timeline
Welsh Government minister Dafydd Trystan Davies said he would "expect" any minister who has served in government to take part in a review process. Ms Asghar refuted that, asking: "Do you really expect the likes of Vaughan Gething and Mark Drakeford will voluntarily take part?"
There is a budget of £1.5m set aside for the review, Mr Davies said. He said it would "complement" the UK Covid-19 public inquiry and will focus on health and adult social care. Mr Davies said the review will help shape how to respond to a future pandemic.
The review will assess whether UK Covid-19 Inquiry recommendations, committee reports, and resilience exercises have been implemented. Where evidence is insufficient or gaps remain, the panel will be able to examine issues in greater depth and identify what more needs to be done. It will be able to use evidence already collected by the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry, including findings, published reviews, and other relevant work.
It will include lived experiences, Mr Davies said: "Published and documentary evidence cannot, on its own, show how changes are experienced by individuals, families and communities. I will therefore ask the panel to consider how best to ensure citizens' voices inform its work and help it judge whether improvements are making a difference in practice."
The panel will report publicly in stages, reflecting the UK inquiry's reporting schedule, and the review aims to conclude by March 2029. Mr Davies told the Senedd: "The panel will report publicly. Its evidence-led, outcome-focused assessment will identify progress and remaining vulnerabilities and provide assurance about the readiness and resilience of health and adult social care in Wales. Where it finds good practice, we will want it shared. Where it finds weakness, uncertainty or incomplete implementation, we will consider its conclusions carefully and respond transparently."
The review will be led by an independent chair, Professor Daniel Wincott from Cardiff University's School of Law and Politics, and a panel that will include individuals with expertise in healthcare systems, social care, and public health. Prof 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."
