An inquiry has been provided with redacted messages from Henry Cook, a former aide to Mr Johnson, who left his role as a senior adviser in early 2022 after working in Whitehall for nearly a decade. However, official documents indicate that key information, including details about Covid regulations regarding protests over Sarah Everard and the relationship between England and Scotland’s pandemic responses, were initially left out.
Baroness Hallett, the chairman of the inquiry, unexpectedly extended the deadline for the government to hand over Mr Johnson’s unredacted messages and notebooks by 48 hours. The Cabinet Office initially refused to do so but then claimed it did not possess the documents, stating that they were in Mr Johnson’s possession and it was his responsibility to submit them.
In response, Lady Hallett demanded a witness statement from a senior civil servant accompanied by a statement of truth confirming that the Cabinet Office does not hold the documents if they fail to produce them by the new deadline. Lady Hallett has warned that failure to comply could result in a breach of criminal law and a potential fine.
Collective Responsibility
According to written advice to the government from Sir James Eadie KC, documents recording discussions between senior ministers during Covid should not be disclosed “as a matter of course” as it would undermine the principle of collective responsibility. In British politics, it is convention for ministers to express dissenting opinions with the expectation of them remaining private.
The advice from the barrister, received last year, stated that the inquiry is likely to request disclosures that pertain to ministers who are still in office and are “extremely recent and of the greatest political sensitivity.” Sir James Eadie argued that this situation goes against the principle of collective responsibility.
A Whitehall source stated that the government has not redacted any material related to Cabinet collective responsibility. The source also highlighted that the Labour Party adhered to the same rules during the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq War.
A spokesperson from the Cabinet Office has claimed that they have provided the inquiry with over 55,000 documents, 24 personal witness statements, eight corporate statements, and have invested significant time and effort over the past 11 months. The spokesperson also emphasized that any individual or witness who wishes to contribute material to the Covid inquiry can do so directly.
Mr. Sunak stated that the government is acting “in a spirit of transparency and candour.” However, a Tory source expressed concerns about the Cabinet Office’s handling of the situation, stating that there is a lack of control and growing anxiety among Tory MPs.
It has also been revealed that ministers will avoid questions regarding the deaths of thousands of care home residents during the pandemic until after the general election, with the final public hearings of the inquiry not scheduled to take place until summer 2026.
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