UK Government Refuses to Give Boris Johnson’s Texts to Covid Inquiry

The refusal of the British government to hand over former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Covid-era text messages has created a mounting political controversy. As the Cabinet Office argued against disclosing the unredacted messages, diaries, and notebooks, it emphasized the potential compromise of private exchanges between senior officials and the establishment of worrisome precedents for future investigations.

The government's stance has triggered a legal battle, with the Cabinet Office seeking a court ruling on whether it is obligated to provide all communications, even material it deems irrelevant to the Covid response inquiry.

Baroness Heather Hallett, the chairwoman of the inquiry, maintains that it is the committee's responsibility, not the government's, to determine the requested materials’ relevance. The case raises significant challenges due to the prevalence of WhatsApp, the messaging app widely adopted by British officials for personal and professional communication.

Unlike traditional correspondence, WhatsApp exchanges are preserved indefinitely in cyberspace, presenting a new dimension to public inquiries seeking access to internal government communications.

The government's reluctance to disclose the text messages has prompted concerns that their content could prove embarrassing for current senior ministers, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. During his tenure as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Johnson, Sunak vehemently argued against prolonged lockdown measures.

The withholding of the messages has led to accusations of a cover-up and sparked criticism that the government is not transparent in handling the pandemic response inquiry. Such allegations could damage Sunak's reputation and undermine the Conservative Party's standing ahead of the upcoming general election.

While Boris Johnson, who is no longer in office, faces relatively lower political risks, tensions between him and Sunak have persisted. Their strained relationship was initially triggered when Sunak resigned from the cabinet last July, ultimately contributing to Johnson's downfall.

Johnson's fury was recently reignited when the Cabinet Office referred new claims to the police regarding his alleged violation of lockdown regulations at his country residence, Chequers.

The government's response has put Sunak in a difficult position, as critics argue that the refusal to disclose the messages indicates an attempt to protect the government's reputation and avoid setting a precedent for disclosing substantial amounts of previously undisclosed material. 

Article Writer - LexaNews Journalist