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Deadline Extended for Boris Johnson's Documents in Covid-19 Inquiry

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Geeta Pillai
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Boris Johnson could be set for a legal battle with the Covid inquiry over unredacted messages sent between him and the government.
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Image Credit: PA

Deadline Extended for Submission of Boris Johnson's WhatsApp Messages and Notebooks to Covid-19 Inquiry

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The deadline for the UK government to submit Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages, diaries, and notebooks to the ongoing Covid-19 inquiry has been extended after officials claimed they did not have all the requested documents in their possession. The extension was granted amid an ongoing dispute regarding whether the inquiry has the authority to obtain Johnson's private communications.

Originally set for 4 pm on 30th May, 2023; the deadline was postponed until June 5th following a request for an extension. However, the chair of the Covid-19 inquiry decided to grant only a "short extension" until 4 pm on Thursday, June 1st.

The notice from the inquiry stated, "First, an extension was requested for compliance with the ruling until Monday, June 5th, 2023. 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. The chair rejected the request for an extension of time to June 5th, 2023, but granted a short extension until 4 pm on Thursday, June 1st, 2023."

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Cabinet Office Claims it Lacks Requested Documents

The Cabinet Office has thus far declined to provide the requested documents. In a notice released on Tuesday, the Cabinet Office claimed that it did not possess the specified materials. It is believed that the government questions the inquiry's jurisdiction over these documents.

In response, the Covid-19 inquiry expanded its demand for evidence to include a "witness statement from a senior civil servant, verified by a statement of truth," regarding the existence of the documents in question and additional details about them.

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Government Insists on Cooperation with the Inquiry

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasized that the government is acting "in a spirit of transparency and candor" and has been cooperating with the inquiry. He mentioned that tens of thousands of documents have already been provided to the investigators.

As the Covid-19 inquiry continues, the extended deadline provides an opportunity for the UK government and the Cabinet Office to address the inquiry's request for Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages, diaries, and notebooks. The outcome of this ongoing tug-of-war over the documents will shed light on the government's transparency and its willingness to fully cooperate with the investigation into its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Boris Johnson has insisted he does not object to disclosing his evidence to the Covid-19 inquiry. A spokesman for the former prime minister said: ‘Mr Johnson has no objection to disclosing material to the inquiry. He has done so and will continue to do so.

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