The former prime minister’s spokesman requested the Cabinet Office “urgently disclose” the records to Lady Hallett’s COVID probe.
According to his spokesman, all of Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp communications and notebooks that were requested by the COVID investigation have been provided to the Cabinet Office “in full and unredacted form.”
The former prime minister wanted the Cabinet Office to “urgently” disclose the information to the investigation, according to the spokesperson.
The former prime minister’s spokesman issued the following statement: “All of Boris Johnson’s requested materials, including WhatsApps and documents, have been delivered to the Cabinet Office in full and unredacted form”.
Mr. Johnson advises the Cabinet Office to disclose it immediately to the investigation.
“The Cabinet Office has had access to these documents for months. If requested, Mr. Johnson would promptly disclose it directly to the investigation”.
While Mr. Johnson is aware of the government’s position and has no intention of contradicting it. He has no objection to the inquiry having access to this information in whatever format it requires.
Mr. Johnson has fully cooperated with the investigation from the outset of this process, and he continues to do so. Indeed, he initiated the investigation. He anticipates continuing to assist the investigation with its crucial task.”
The intervention of Mr. Johnson’s staff will increase the pressure on the Cabinet Office, which has been under fire for withholding the documents requested by Lady Hallett, the inquiry’s chair.
Lady Hallett had ordered the government department to give over the former prime minister’s messages, along with diary entries and notes, by Tuesday, May 30 at 4:00 p.m.
However, the deadline was later extended to Thursday, June 1 at 4 p.m.
The inquiry awaits the Cabinet Office’s delivery of the requested documents by tomorrow’s deadline.
Later Wednesday, the Cabinet Office confirmed that it had received and was analysing the information.
Despite allegations of a cover-up, the Cabinet Office reaffirmed its refusal to hand over the documents last night, contending that the inquiry lacked the authority to request unambiguously irrelevant information that was outside the scope of the investigation.
The department stated that it has already provided “more than 55,000 documents, 24 personal witness statements, and eight corporate statements” and that “considerable time and effort” have been devoted to aiding the investigation over the past eleven months.
“However, we are firmly of the opinion that the investigation lacks the authority to request unambiguously irrelevant information that is outside the scope of this investigation.”
This includes government workers’ personal WhatsApp messages.
Lady Hallett has ordered that a statement be sent by a “senior civil servant” confirming that the Cabinet Office does not have the requested information, along with a chronology of the government’s communications with Mr. Johnson regarding the requests and whether the government has ever had the data.
The government could face criminal charges if it violates a Section 21 order. And there is also the possibility of a court conflict over whether the information should be provided to the inquiry.
Before the probe, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said “the government is carefully considering its position. But is confident in its approach.”
Labor and the Liberal Democrats have criticized Mr. Sunak for hesitating over the order, with Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, accusing the prime minister of being “slippery.
Mr. Streeting stated on Tuesday that Mr. Sunak should “comply with the inquiry and do it today”
“One minute, the government claims that the messages they possess are irrelevant. The next, they claim that they do not exist. Which one is it?
Mr. Johnson ordered Lady Hallet’s COVID probe in May 2021.
When asked if he was concerned about the possibility of a “cover-up,” Mr. Streeting responded, “I think the fact that the prime minister looks so slippery today will cause deep anxiety among those who are following the inquiry closely, especially those bereaved families who just want some honesty and answers.”
In May 2021, Mr. Johnson launched Lady Hallet’s independent COVID investigation to examine the government’s pandemic response.
The parties dispute Mr. Johnson’s epidemic communications, diaries, and notebooks.
The probe sent the Cabinet Office a formal notice last week for withholding Mr. Johnson’s conversations.
While the government believes it has no obligation to disclose “unambiguously irrelevant” information, Lady Hallett disagrees and has the final say under the Inquiries Act of 2005.
In her response to the government, she refuted their claim that the Cabinet Office decides what is “unambiguously irrelevant.”
She ruled that all these documents “contain information that is potentially relevant” to pandemic decision-making.
