Boris Johnson blasted for ‘creating chaos’ over lockdown – live

Martin Reynolds was asked about a report he conducted with Helen McNamara – deputy cabinet secretary at the Cabinet Office – in spring 2020 which found women had been talked over during meetings and people were shouting at each other, Adam Forrest reports.

Asked if the report found both “chaos” and a “significant degree of misogyny”, Mr Reynolds: “I agree.” He said he had talked Mr Johnson though the report.

Boris Johnson was “all over the place and completely inconsistent” during the pandemic, Sir Patrick Vallance, Archie Mitchell reports.

Sir Patrick Vallance described Boris Johnson as “all over the place and completely inconsistent” in diary extracts revealed by the Covid inquiry.

The former chief scientific advisor also blasted Mr Johnson’s “ridiculous flip-flopping” in notes that reveal the scale of his discontent at the government’s handling of the pandemic.

Cabinet secretary Simon Case sent a message to Dominic Cummings saying former prime minister Boris Johnson “cannot lead and we cannot support him in leading with this approach”, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has heard.

In the message, read by counsel to the inquiry Hugo Keith KC, Mr Case said: “I am at the end of my tether.

“He changes strategic direction every day (Monday we were all about fear of virus returning as per Europe, March etc – today we’re in ‘let it rip’ mode cos (sic) the UK is pathetic, needs a cold shower etc.)

“He cannot lead and we cannot support him in leading with this approach.

“The team captain cannot change the call on the big plays every day. The team can’t deliver anything under these circumstances.

“A weak team (as we have got – Hancock, Williamson, Dido, No10/CO, Perm Secs), definitely cannot succeed in these circs (sic). IT HAS TO STOP!

“Decide and set direction – deliver – explain. Gov’t isn’t actually that hard but this guy is really making it impossible.”

Boris Johnson’s top team mocked his indecision during the pandemic, with WhatsApp messages between officials suggesting he went “full trolley mode”, Archie Mitchell reports.

In a group chat between comms chief Lee Cain, civil service chief Simon Case and his private secretary Martin Reynolds, the trio also criticised health secretary Matt Hancock, calling him a “joker and a liar”, messages shared with the Covid inquiry reveal.

The inquiry is back underway but Lee Cain is heading off, Archie Mitchell reports.

The testimony of Martin Reynolds, dubbed “Party Marty” because of his infamous “bring your own booze” lockdown email, overran.

Boris Johnson’s former communications chief Lee Cain had been scheduled to appear before the inquiry, but has been sent home and will be back tomorrow morning.

Lee Cain has arrived at Dorland House in central London ahead of his appearance before the inquiry.

Cain was Mr Johnson’s former communications chief, who announced his departure from Downing Street in November 202 wheb Cummings left.

He is a former journalist who worked at The Sun and the Daily Mirror.

As we’ve been reporting, Martin Reynolds has been giving evidence to the Covid inquiry.

But who is he, what was his role in government during the pandemic and why has he been asked to appear before Baroness Hallett’s team?

David Hughes and Joe Sommerlad report:

Reynolds has told the inquiry his former boss “did blow hot and cold on some issues”.

Before the inquiry broke for lunch, Hugo Keith KC said: “There is a great deal of material from WhatsApps, Mr Cummings’s statement, Patrick Vallance’s diaries, showing that following his return from his illness, the prime minister again oscillated in terms of what should be done, he wondered whether he should be regarded as the ‘mayor in the Jaws film’ – shutting the beaches.”

Mr Keith then asked Martin Reynolds: “Then, within hours or days, he would take a contrary position and this was noted by Mr Cummings, Mr Case, Sir Patrick Vallance and others. Did you notice that?”

Mr Reynolds responded: “I think it’s fair to say the Prime Minister did, as it were, blow hot and cold on some issues.”

One of Boris Johnson’s key aides turned messages to “disappear” in a key Covid WhatsApp group only weeks before the Covid inquiry was announced, it has been revealed.

Mr Reynolds, Mr Johnson’s principal private secretary, told the inquiry he “cannot recall exactly why I did so” – before adding that he did not believe it was to “prevent” the inquiry having access to the messages.

The Independent’s Political Correspondent Adam Forrest reports: