Boris Johnson has made a commitment to provide all of his Covid-era WhatsApp messages to the Covid-19 inquiry, even those contained on an old phone that he was advised not to use due to security concerns. These messages, which are locked on the device and pertain to discussions before May 2021, are expected to involve conversations about the three lockdowns implemented in 2020. The announcement comes as Conservative MPs criticize the upcoming Covid inquiry, chaired by Baroness Hallett, labeling it a “pro-lockdown stitch-up.”
In the course of the investigation, Mr. Johnson was presented with 150 questions, with the economy being mentioned only four times. One question inquired whether he achieved the “right balance” between easing restrictions and stimulating the economy in July 2020. Additionally, he was asked if his decision to reduce social distancing from two meters to one meter was influenced by concerns about the impact on the hospitality sector and other economic factors.
There are also indications that ministers could have taken earlier action to prevent lockdowns and implement a slower reopening of restrictions. Some Tory MPs reflect on this, suggesting that hindsight is a factor in the current scrutiny against Mr. Johnson. They argue that clinicians favor the safest approach, which often entails implementing lockdowns to halt virus transmission.
The tone of the questions posed to Mr. Johnson has been described by a senior Tory MP as “terrifying.” There is a belief among some that the government’s decisions regarding lockdowns did not meet their intended goals. Critics argue that the reliance on other countries’ actions played a significant role in the UK’s decision to impose lockdowns, regretting the position it placed the country in.
As the inquiry gears up, the government is preparing for a legal battle as they contest the request for Mr. Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApp messages and notebooks. Mr. Johnson has stated that he will provide all unredacted WhatsApps to the inquiry, including material on the old phone that he no longer has safe access to. He intends to seek assistance from the Cabinet Office to extract and search relevant material from the device securely. If the government refuses to return his unredacted notebooks, he will retrieve them himself and share them with the panel.
In 2021, Mr. Johnson had to change his mobile phone after it was discovered that his number had been publicly available online for fifteen years. Despite potential risks, a cybersecurity expert notes that the Cabinet Office possesses the necessary tools to securely access the device and extract the messages without significant difficulty.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
