Legal Battle: Cabinet Office Challenges Inquiry's Request for Text Messages
Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister, has taken matters into his own hands by directly submitting unredacted WhatsApp messages dating back to May 2021 to the Covid-19 inquiry. This move comes in response to the government's refusal to cooperate and hand over the requested messages. The Cabinet Office, asserting that many of the messages are unrelated to the probe, has filed a judicial challenge against the inquiry's demand.
Clash over Relevance: Johnson and Baroness Hallett Lock Horns
A dispute has erupted between Boris Johnson and Baroness Hallett, the head of the inquiry, regarding the relevance of the WhatsApp messages. While the Cabinet Office argues that certain messages are irrelevant, Baroness Hallett maintains that it is her responsibility to determine what information is pertinent to the investigation. In a letter to Baroness Hallett, Johnson expressed understanding of the government's legal action but affirmed his willingness to release messages he had already shared with the Cabinet Office.
Security Concerns and Restricted Access to Pre-April 2021 Messages
The security issues around Johnson's outdated phone are one of the difficulties encountered in obtaining the sought-after communications. The phone number's reliability was questioned when it was discovered that it had been publicly accessible online for 15 years. Johnson then disclosed that he could no longer "safely" access his phone from before April 2021. These pre-April 2021 letters would probably talk about the COVID-19 lockdowns that were put into place in 2020.
Testing Security Service Advice: Johnson Seeks Assistance from Cabinet Office
Boris Johnson has asked the Cabinet Office to help him securely access his old phone so he may examine the security services' recommendations. Johnson further asserted that he was no longer in possession of his contemporaneous notebooks since they had been given to the Cabinet Office. He made it clear that he intended to send communications before April 2021, emphasizing his willingness to carefully consider the advice he had received during that vital time.
The Cabinet Office failed to meet the deadline set by the inquiry for the submission of messages exchanged between Johnson and 40 other ministers and officials during the pandemic. As a result, they have announced the launch of a judicial review regarding the demand. Despite this legal action, the Cabinet Office assured the inquiry of their continued cooperation and commitment to the process.
Privacy Concerns and Public Confidence
The Cabinet Office defended its choice to keep some messages private, claiming that their submission would jeopardise ministers' privacy and impede future decision-making. However, other people, like Labor's deputy leader Angela Rayner, have criticized the government's legal action as a desperate attempt to conceal facts. Lord Barwell, Theresa May's former chief of staff, expressed worry about how the government restricts the information the investigation can access while highlighting the significance of public trust in the conclusions.
Legal Battle: Cabinet Office Challenges Inquiry's Request for Text Messages
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