Financial Support Denied, Lives Were at Stake
The UK's pandemic response was flawed, it's said, More financial aid could've saved lives instead.
In the UK, a pandemic did unfold,
Many fell ill, and some grew old.
Baroness Harding said with a heavy heart,
More funds for self-isolation would have played a brand new part.
Many fell ill, and some grew old.
Baroness Harding said with a heavy heart,
More funds for self-isolation would have played a brand new part.
She led NHS Test and Trace with great care,
Argued for more support, but was met with despair.
The chancellor rejected her every plea,
A "point of principle" he said, and that was all she'd see.
Argued for more support, but was met with despair.
The chancellor rejected her every plea,
A "point of principle" he said, and that was all she'd see.
In September 2020, a £500 payment was made,
For low-income workers who had to stay at home and be swayed.
But some local authorities did more, with discretionary aid,
For those outside the system, who needed help to be sustained.
For low-income workers who had to stay at home and be swayed.
But some local authorities did more, with discretionary aid,
For those outside the system, who needed help to be sustained.
Baroness Harding wished she'd succeeded in her quest,
More funds for isolation support, and a lower death count, at best.
She wasn't the decision maker, the chancellor held the sway,
And rejected her proposals, day after day.
More funds for isolation support, and a lower death count, at best.
She wasn't the decision maker, the chancellor held the sway,
And rejected her proposals, day after day.
Lord Vallance wrote in his diary, with a scientific eye,
The "stick" of enforcement, was the policy makers' reply.
But the "carrot" of financial support, was the science advisers' plea,
To help the disadvantaged, and set them free.
The "stick" of enforcement, was the policy makers' reply.
But the "carrot" of financial support, was the science advisers' plea,
To help the disadvantaged, and set them free.
Baroness Harding felt frustrated, with a heavy heart,
Reading messages from the past, a distressing work of art.
She tried to persuade ministers, with data and with care,
But the chancellor's mind was made up, and he wouldn't budge or share.
Reading messages from the past, a distressing work of art.
She tried to persuade ministers, with data and with care,
But the chancellor's mind was made up, and he wouldn't budge or share.
Rishi Sunak's concerns, were about creating a new aid,
A welfare benefit, that might be seen as a trade.
But Baroness Harding said, it wouldn't have changed his mind,
And more people would have died, and infection rates would have been left behind.
A welfare benefit, that might be seen as a trade.
But Baroness Harding said, it wouldn't have changed his mind,
And more people would have died, and infection rates would have been left behind.