A senior minister has stated that Boris Johnson will not face restrictions on what he can disclose in the Covid inquiry. However, MP Robert Jenrick emphasized the importance of not sharing documents or messages unrelated to the pandemic. As the government seeks legal recourse against the official investigation.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been cautioned that he could lose public funding for legal advice if he attempts to “frustrate or undermine” the government’s position. The Cabinet Office lawyers sent a letter to Mr Johnson, cautioning that funding would be withdrawn if he breaches conditions, such as releasing evidence without permission.
Ministers launched a High Court bid to challenge the Covid inquiry’s request for Boris Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApp messages and notebooks. The former Prime Minister has pledged to directly send all his messages to the official investigation, bypassing the Cabinet Office. While Mr Johnson has received taxpayer-funded legal advice. The Sunday Times revealed the letter from lawyers containing the warning.
Mr Jenrick emphasized that the level of cooperation with the inquiry lies entirely with the former Prime Minister. He stated that Mr Johnson is free to send his documents or WhatsApp messages to the inquiry. And make any arguments or statements he wishes in his witness statement. The government does not intend to restrict Mr Johnson’s testimony but expects the appropriate use of taxpayer funds.
Balancing Information Disclosure
While the focus of the row centres on Boris Johnson, the government aims to avoid unnecessarily providing irrelevant messages from other ministers. Potentially including evidence from the former Prime Minister during his tenure as Chancellor. The government’s objective is to strike a balance between disclosure and safeguarding what it considers unrelated information.
In summary, Boris Johnson has been granted freedom to share information and provide testimony in the Covid inquiry. However, he has been warned about potential repercussions concerning public funding for legal advice if he fails to comply with the set conditions. The government’s legal challenge pertains to the demand for unredacted messages and notebooks. While Mr Johnson intends to bypass the Cabinet Office and directly cooperate with the investigation. The government seeks to avoid sharing irrelevant messages from other ministers. While still ensuring transparency and accountability in the inquiry.
