Boris Johnson, the former UK Prime Minister, has complied with the government's demand to hand over all his Covid-related notebooks and WhatsApp messages amidst a heated dispute over transparency.
In a move to support the ongoing probe into the handling of the pandemic, Johnson instructed ministers to urgently deliver his private information to the Cabinet Office. This development follows several days of contentious exchanges between the government and Baroness Hallett, the inquiry chair, regarding the disclosure of relevant materials.
Furthermore, Johnson indicated that if the Cabinet Office refuses to accept the material, he would be willing to directly provide it to the inquiry.
A spokesperson for the former PM confirmed that all of Johnson's requested materials, including unredacted WhatsApp conversations and notebooks, have been submitted to the Cabinet Office. The spokesperson emphasized Johnson's strong desire for the Cabinet Office to promptly disclose the material to the inquiry. While Johnson respects the government's stance and does not intend to contradict it, he fully supports the inquiry's access to the information in any necessary form.
The Cabinet Office previously claimed to lack access to the demanded materials, and the government expressed broader objections to the release of "unambiguously irrelevant" information.
However, the inquiry has set a deadline for Thursday at 4 pm for the Cabinet Office to hand over Johnson's messages, notebooks, and official diaries, with a 48-hour extension granted earlier this week.
Lady Hallett, in response to the Cabinet Office's failure to produce the documents by the new deadline, demanded a witness statement from a senior civil servant, accompanied by a statement of truth confirming that the requested documents are not in their possession.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mr. Stride expressed confidence in the Cabinet Office's engagement and commitment to transparency, ensuring that the inquiry receives all relevant information. No. 10 denied allegations of a cover-up, stating that there is no obligation to permanently store or record every WhatsApp conversation.
The government spokesperson explained that messages pertaining to decision-making are copied to the official record, while individuals have the discretion to determine what personal information they can provide.
Amidst the dispute, an ally of Johnson claimed that he had no objections to disclosing materials to the official Covid inquiry, including unredacted messages. However, accusations that the government is trying to conceal sensitive pandemic-related information were dismissed by No. 10.
Additionally, the government has received legal advice advising against the release of politically sensitive material concerning the pandemic. It was argued that disclosing such documents, which contain discussions among senior ministers, could undermine the principle of collective responsibility.
While Chancellor Rishi Sunak insisted that the government is operating with transparency and openness, Lady Hallett demanded a witness statement and a statement of truth if the Cabinet Office fails to produce the requested materials.
The inquiry seeks unredacted messages involving Johnson and various officials, such as Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty, former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, former top aide Dominic Cummings, and former Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Last week, Lady Hallett rejected claims that the inquiry's request was unlawful, asserting that the Cabinet Office had misconstrued the investigation's scope.
Responding to the situation, a Cabinet Office spokesman reiterated their commitment to fulfill their obligations to the inquiry.
However, they emphasized that the inquiry does not possess the authority to request unequivocally irrelevant information that falls outside the investigation's scope. This includes government employees' WhatsApp messages unrelated to work.
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