Related video: David Cameron heckled at Covid inquiry
Boris Johnson has been accused of a “mad and dangerous” response to the Covid pandemic comparable to Donald Trump’s handling of the crisis.
The exchanges between Simon Case, the government’s top civil servant, and officials were shown on Monday to the inquiry into how the government handled the worst health crisis in almost a century.
When the government was reopening after the first lockdown, Case said Mr Johnson wanted to let the virus “rip” and compared his approach to that of the former US President and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
“This is in danger of becoming Trump/Bolsonaro level mad and dangerous,” Case told other colleagues.
Meanwhile, former top aide Martin Reynolds confirmed his internal report into government culture in spring 2020 found that female staff were being “talked over and ignored” in what showed a “significant degree of misogyny”.
Dominic Cummings, who served as chief of staff and Lee Cain, Mr Johnson’s former communications chief, will be grilled at the inquiry today.
Key Points
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Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Covid inquiry.
Lee Cain, former director of communications and Dominic Cummings, ex-chief of staff – two of Boris Johnson’s closest aides – are due to give evidence today.
Yesterday saw Martin Reynolds, the former principal private secretary and Imran Sahfi, the private secretary for public services, appear before the inquiry.
Here is a summary of the evidence given on Monday:
Matt Mathers31 October 2023 07:07
Watch: NHS left unprotected during pandemic, says Shafi
NHS was left unprotected during Covid pandemic, says Imran Shafi during inquiry
Tara Cobham31 October 2023 07:00
‘We have a weak and indecisive prime minister’
Lead counsel Hugo Keith KC referred to comments previously heard by the Covid inquiry describing Mr Johnson’s “ridiculous flip-flopping” – a note from former chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance – and the Government looking like a “terrible, tragic joke”, a comment made by the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.
Another read “we have a weak and indecisive prime minister”, although it was not stated who had made that comment.
Mr Keith put it to Mr Johnson’s former principal private secretary Martin Reynolds: “In the face of a viral pandemic, if those views are right, that was a deeply unfortunate position to be in, was it not?”
Mr Reynolds replied: “Yes.”
The country was in a “deeply unfortunate position” when the pandemic hit, with a “weak and indecisive prime minister” in charge, the Covid inquiry has heard.
Tara Cobham31 October 2023 06:00
Ex-No10 chief admits he ‘disappeared’ messages in PM’s group chat
One of Boris Johnson’s key aides turned messages to “disappear” in a key Covid WhatsApp group only weeks after the ex-PM promised a Covid public inquiry, 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.
Adam Forrest, Political Correspondent reports:
Tara Cobham31 October 2023 05:00
I’ve retained my WhatsApp messages relating to Covid pandemic, says Humza Yousaf
Last week a note to the chairman of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry from one of its counsels said the inquiry was of the belief that the “majority” of informal messages, including on WhatsApp had “not been retained”.
The First Minister said on Monday he had retained his messages, but that there had been a Scottish government policy on social media messaging which advised their deletion after 30 days.
Shweta Sharma31 October 2023 04:45
Women staff were being ‘talked over and ignored’, report into No 10 culture during pandemic finds
The report, by former top aide Martin Reynolds and then deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara, was written in May 2020 amid concerns about discipline, “macho behaviour” and misogyny, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry heard yesterday.
Released as part of a batch of documents relevant to the inquiry, the report asked more than 45 people who worked closely with No 10 what could be done to better support the prime minister in May 2020.
Shweta Sharma31 October 2023 04:14
Watch: Johnson stressed ‘need to avoid overreaction’ at start of pandemic
Johnson stressed ‘the need to avoid overreaction’ at beginning of Covid pandemic
Tara Cobham31 October 2023 04:00
‘High degree of dysfunctionality’ dealing with Johnson, says Shafi
The former private secretary to the prime minister for public services, Imran Shafi, told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry there was a “high degree of dysfunctionality” when dealing with the then-PM Boris Johnson.
Counsel to the inquiry Hugo Keith KC asked the witness: “The material may suggest there were a number of competing power sources in Downing Street, personality clashes, and we can see… a high degree of dysfunctionality in terms of dealing with the prime minister – would you agree?”
Mr Keith continued: “None of that leant itself well to the best sort of decision-making did it?”
Tara Cobham31 October 2023 03:00
Watch: Reynolds agrees Covid officials operated ‘without proper playbook’
Martin Reynolds agrees Covid department officials operated ‘without a proper playbook’
Tara Cobham31 October 2023 01:00