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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Why row about Boris Johnson's Covid WhatsApp messages matters | Why row about Boris Johnson's Covid WhatsApp messages matters |
| (2 days later) | |
| In less than two weeks' time, one of the most important inquiries in recent British history will start holding public hearings. | |
| Senior government ministers - who made life-or-death decisions - will be among those giving evidence. | Senior government ministers - who made life-or-death decisions - will be among those giving evidence. |
| The inquiry is supposed to help the government and the public work out what ministers got right and wrong - before, during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. | The inquiry is supposed to help the government and the public work out what ministers got right and wrong - before, during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. |
| But, already, there is an almighty row over what the inquiry should have access to. | But, already, there is an almighty row over what the inquiry should have access to. |
| This isn't just about process. Let me explain. | This isn't just about process. Let me explain. |
| The inquiry's chair Baroness Hallett is demanding unredacted WhatsApp messages and notebooks from Boris Johnson. | The inquiry's chair Baroness Hallett is demanding unredacted WhatsApp messages and notebooks from Boris Johnson. |
| No 10 denies cover-up over Johnson Covid WhatsApps | No 10 denies cover-up over Johnson Covid WhatsApps |
| The battle for truth over Covid is just starting | The battle for truth over Covid is just starting |
| Loss and suffering at heart of Covid inquiry | Loss and suffering at heart of Covid inquiry |
| They cover the period of the pandemic when he was prime minister and making key decisions. | They cover the period of the pandemic when he was prime minister and making key decisions. |
| She is adamant that it is her job to decide what is and isn't relevant to her inquiry. | She is adamant that it is her job to decide what is and isn't relevant to her inquiry. |
| The government disagrees - and speaking to people close to the process, I don't think they're going to back down. | The government disagrees - and speaking to people close to the process, I don't think they're going to back down. |
| Who is going to win? | Who is going to win? |
| They argue that they need to protect the privacy of ministers and others. They say they will not send information that is "unambiguously irrelevant" to the inquiry. | They argue that they need to protect the privacy of ministers and others. They say they will not send information that is "unambiguously irrelevant" to the inquiry. |
| Baroness Hallett has made her position clear | Baroness Hallett has made her position clear |
| Insiders have told the BBC they will send relevant messages - for example, WhatsApp conversations that led to a policy decision. They would not send messages involving personal conversations. | Insiders have told the BBC they will send relevant messages - for example, WhatsApp conversations that led to a policy decision. They would not send messages involving personal conversations. |
| But they think that decision is for the government - and its lawyers - to make. | But they think that decision is for the government - and its lawyers - to make. |
| So who is going to win? | So who is going to win? |
| The more likely answer seems to be the Covid inquiry. | The more likely answer seems to be the Covid inquiry. |
| It has legal powers to compel people to produce documents. It also had a pretty broad remit under the terms established by the government. | It has legal powers to compel people to produce documents. It also had a pretty broad remit under the terms established by the government. |
| And some senior Conservatives are now urging the Cabinet Office to back down. | And some senior Conservatives are now urging the Cabinet Office to back down. |
| William Wragg is the chair of the the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee. It's his job is to look at constitutional issues like this. | William Wragg is the chair of the the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee. It's his job is to look at constitutional issues like this. |
| He told me: "If the inquiry requests documents and info - then whoever it has asked should comply." | He told me: "If the inquiry requests documents and info - then whoever it has asked should comply." |
| He said this included the government. | He said this included the government. |
| Matt Hancock says he is happy to share all messages in full | Matt Hancock says he is happy to share all messages in full |
| Caroline Nokes - another select committee chair - said Baroness Hallett was unlikely to roll over and there would be "less pain for the government if they hand [the messages] over quickly". | |
| Legal battle | |
| Former Conservative health secretary Matt Hancock is among those who have made clear they are happy to share unredacted messages in full. | Former Conservative health secretary Matt Hancock is among those who have made clear they are happy to share unredacted messages in full. |
| Boris Johnson's allies have also made clear he is happy to send more information - and he says he has given his WhatsApp messages and notebooks in full to the Cabinet Office. | |
| He has also said he will bypass the Cabinet Office by providing WhatsApps dating from April 2021 onwards directly to the inquiry. | |
| So where does this leave the government? | So where does this leave the government? |
| Potentially in a tricky place. | Potentially in a tricky place. |
| It has now launched a legal battle with the inquiry looking into how it functioned during a public health crisis that changed all of our lives. | |
| If it loses, that would be an embarrassing defeat. Questions would be asked about using public money to fight the case. | If it loses, that would be an embarrassing defeat. Questions would be asked about using public money to fight the case. |
| If it wins, it's quite possible the Covid inquiry will be seriously undermined. | If it wins, it's quite possible the Covid inquiry will be seriously undermined. |
| Will bereaved families who have demanded full transparency accept this? Where would such a ruling leave inquiry chair Baroness Hallett, who has made her position clear? | Will bereaved families who have demanded full transparency accept this? Where would such a ruling leave inquiry chair Baroness Hallett, who has made her position clear? |
| Cabinet minister Mel Stride has questioned the need for "irrelevant" documents to be provided to the inquiry - saying they would not add value. | |
| He told the BBC the government would be "robust and open and candid" in its dealings with the inquiry. | |
| But he drew a distinction with information that was "unambiguously, entirely irrelevant". | But he drew a distinction with information that was "unambiguously, entirely irrelevant". |
| He added: "It seems to me to request lots and lots of that kind of data is not something which is adding any value". | He added: "It seems to me to request lots and lots of that kind of data is not something which is adding any value". |
| With the government and the inquiry now locked in a legal battle, this row looks set to drag on. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Coronavirus public inquiry | Coronavirus public inquiry |
| Boris Johnson | Boris Johnson |