Government ‘trusts’ Covid Inquiry chair – despite blocking release of WhatsApps
Cabinet Minister Steve Barclay has insisted the Government trusts the Covid Inquiry chairwoman – despite blocking the release of unredacted WhatsApps to her.
The Health Secretary also claimed Rishi Sunak’s Government “stands ready to fully comply” with Baroness Heather Hallett’s probe just days after launching a costly legal battle.
Last week the Cabinet Office launched a judicial review – estimated to cost well into the six figures – seeking to block the disclosure of WhatsApp messages from ex-PM Boris Johnson.
The messages include correspondence with dozens of Cabinet ministers and senior officials involved in the Government’s response to the pandemic, including Mr Sunak.
Yesterday Inquiry chairwoman Baroness Hallett stood by her request and stressed it was for her to decide what information is relevant to the inquiry, not the Cabinet Office.
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Tackled on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on whether he and the Prime Minister trusts Baroness Hallett, Mr Barclay replied: “Yes, I do.
“I think we’re extremely fortunate in this country with the quality of the judiciary and in particular in this question, so that is not in question at all.”
He added: “I think there is huge support for the Inquiry – that’s why the Government has set it up for those who lost loved ones during the pandemic. The Government stands really to fully comply with the Inquiry .
The Health Secretary also defended the court action against the Inquiry – attempting to frame it as the Cabinet Office seeking a “clarification” on “some small technical questions”.
He said the inclusion of WhatsApp messages and their use within Government is a “new area” for a public inquiry.
Estimated to cost well into the six figures, he added: “It’s the courts that will decide where the boundaries are. Wherever those boundaries are set by the court then the Government will comply with that.”
It comes after a preliminary hearing of the Inquiry on Tuesday was told that former Health Secretary Matt Hancock has submitted his WhatsApp messages to the investigation in an unredacted format.
Asked on LBC whether he will be doing the same, Mr Barclay said: “I will comply with whatever the inquiry requests.
“I’ve submitted, as many ministers have, a witness statement.
“The Cabinet Office is currently testing a legal aspect around messages, so I await that announcement.”
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