BURY Council has demanded an independent inquiry into the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis following a vote by councillors last night.

All councillors – except for the Conservatives – voted for the Labour motion which talked of “grotesque failings” and called for lessons to be learnt.

Cllr Charlotte Morris, who put forward the motion, reminded councillors that 234 people have died from coronavirus in Bury so far, with the total number of Covid-related deaths in the UK now at 44,517 – the highest in Europe.

She said: “We must ensure that the mistakes that have been made in response to this pandemic are never made again.

“This can only be achieved, in our view, through an independent and objective inquiry.

“We owe it to those people who have lost their lives and their loved ones to get to the bottom of some of the mistakes that have been made.

“We owe it to the health and care staff who have been working tirelessly to keep us safe.

“We owe it to the key workers that have kept this country going over recent weeks and months.”

Labour councillors spoke of “serious errors of judgement” by Prime Minister Boris Johnson which resulted in thousands of families grieving for loved ones.

This included failing to recognise the urgent need for personal protective equipment, “blindfolding” local public health directors by depriving them of data and not taking the crisis seriously enough at the start of the outbreak.

Lib Dem and Radcliffe First councillors voted in favour of the Labour motion, although Cllr Mike Smith described it as “political posturing” by the group.

But Conservative group leader Nick Jones said the government has “nothing to apologise for” and described the motion as “negative” and not cross-party.

He said: “Throughout the coronavirus, the government have put in place £160bn worth of plans to protect people’s jobs, incomes and businesses. One of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.

“The crisis has brought the best in our community spirit, but that is with no thanks to the Labour council.

“It is with great sadness that we have lost lives due to this virus.

“However, let me be clear, the Conservative Party did not create this virus. It originated in communist China.”

The Tories put forward their own motion at the meeting which called on the council to create a Covid-19 Recovery Plan for the borough but it was lost.

Council leader Eamonn O’Brien described it as “well intentioned but ultimately ineffective”.

He said: “Much of what has been outlined in the motion, we are already well underway doing and looking forward to bringing back to council through all of the existing arrangements we currently have in place to make sure it is the best plan for Bury.

“Warm words and correct sentiments will not be enough in this instance.”