Johnson arms WhatsApps and notebooks to Cabinet Office amid Covid inquiry row
B
oris Johnson has handed his unredacted WhatsApp messages and notebooks to the Cabinet Office, as the previous prime minister referred to as on the Government to “urgently disclose” the fabric to the Covid-19 inquiry.
The Cabinet Office had claimed it didn’t have entry to Mr Johnson’s WhatsApp messages and personal notebooks, which have been demanded by inquiry chairwoman Baroness Hallett.
Ministers have to this point objected to the discharge of “unambiguously irrelevant” materials.
The inquiry has set a deadline of 4pm on Thursday handy over Mr Johnson’s messages, notebooks and official diaries, having granted a 48-hour extension on Tuesday.
All Boris Johnson’s materials – together with WhatsApps and notebooks – requested by the Covid inquiry has been handed to the Cabinet Office in full and in unredacted type
A spokesman for Mr Johnson stated all the fabric requested by the Covid inquiry had been handed to the Cabinet Office and must be disclosed to Baroness Hallett.
“All Boris Johnson’s material – including WhatsApps and notebooks – requested by the Covid inquiry has been handed to the Cabinet Office in full and in unredacted form,” the spokesman stated on Wednesday.
“Mr Johnson urges the Cabinet Office to urgently disclose it to the inquiry.
“The Cabinet Office has had access to this material for several months. Mr Johnson would immediately disclose it directly to the inquiry if asked.
“While Mr Johnson understands the Government’s position, and does not seek to contradict it, he is perfectly happy for the inquiry to have access to this material in whatever form it requires.
“Mr Johnson co-operated with the inquiry in full from the beginning of this process and continues to do so.
“Indeed, he established the inquiry. He looks forward to continuing to assist the inquiry with its important work.”
The choice by Mr Johnson handy over the fabric will add to strain on the Cabinet Office, with Downing Street already compelled to disclaim allegations of a “cover-up” amid criticism over the general public row with the inquiry.
Whitehall officers are involved about setting a precedent by handing over all of the requested paperwork in unredacted type, relatively than deciding what materials is related and must be submitted to the inquiry.
Refusing to adjust to the request handy over the paperwork – which embody textual content conversations between Mr Johnson and a bunch of presidency figures together with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – might result in a court docket battle with the official inquiry.
But Whitehall officers hope {that a} compromise could be reached earlier than the 4pm deadline to keep away from the necessity for a harmful authorized battle with the inquiry set as much as look at the pandemic and the Government’s response.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride had earlier instructed Sky News “we absolutely intend to continue to be absolutely transparent and candid” and the Government had already offered “55,000 documents, eight witness statements and corporate witness statements” to the inquiry.
The inquiry remains to be anticipated to attend for the Cabinet Office response, forward of Thursday’s deadline.