THERE is no need for us to await, Grenfell-like, the result of an inquiry into the causes of the coronavirus pandemic. Total deaths are well over the official 40,000: the highest total number of deaths of any country in Europe and one of highest death rates per million in the world. No insurance firm could write it off as an act of God. The guilty party is beyond doubt: it is the government.

Despite continued secrecy of much of the Sage deliberations and of course Cabinet papers (secret for 20 years) there is no need for us to expend effort to work it out. The overwhelming majority of us have already. The unanimous verdict — guilty as charged.

There are three phases in a crisis — preparedness, response and recovery. We have dealt in passing with preparedness, or rather the lack of it. We have also dealt with their response — criminally inadequate.

The NEU’s response has been magnificent. We have implemented the prime directive of trade unionism, building unity, within our own ranks and with our allies.