Domestic abuse victims died during coronavirus lockdowns because there was a lack of female decision makers in government, a key aide has told the Covid-19 Inquiry.
Helen MacNamara, who was the deputy Cabinet secretary in the key early stages of the pandemic, told the inquiry how she struggled to be heard by people in government when raising issues specific to women.
An email sent by Ms MacNamara and shown to the inquiry revealed how she’d highlighted the consequences of poor gender diversity among decision makers, starting with the lack of provision for domestic abuse victims during the first lockdown.