No 10 denies cover-up over Boris messages
DOWNING Street has rejected claims of a “cover-up” as the Covid19 inquiry extended the deadline for the Government to hand over Boris Johnson’s unredacted Whats App messages and notebooks.
As yesterday’s deadline approached, the Cabinet Office was given until 4pm tomorrow to turn over the evidence after officials claimed they do not possess all the documents demanded.
The former prime minister insisted he has “no objection” to handing over the evidence as his successor Rishi Sunak insisted the Government was acting “in a spirit of transparency and candour”.
But inquiry chair Lady Hallett demanded a witness statement from a senior civil servant accompanied by a statement of truth confirming the documents are not held if the Cabinet Office fails to produce them by the new deadline.
Former head of the Civil Service Lord Kerslake told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There’s some cover-up going on here to save embarrassment of ministers, but there’s also the Cabinet Office fighting for a principle of confidentiality.
“I have to say I think they’re misguided on this situation. I actually think it would set a helpful precedent if Lady Hallett prevailed in this fight about the information.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman flatly denied the allegation of a cover-up, saying: “No. We want to learn the lessons about the actions of the state during the pandemic, we want that to be done rigorously and candidly.”
He said there is no requirement to “permanently store or record every Whatsapp”, with messages related to decision-making instead copied over to the official record.
But the spokesman said it is “down to individuals to decide what personal information they are able to hand over”.
Lady Hallett rejected a request to extend the request for compliance with her demands for disclosure until Monday, but agreed to the shorter extension.
“Second, the inquiry was informed that the Cabinet Office does not have in its possession either Mr Johnson’s Whatsapp messages or Mr Johnson’s notebooks, as sought in the original section 21 Notice,” a notice from the inquiry added.
Mr Johnson’s office said he “has no objection to disclosing material to the inquiry”.