MINISTERS must ensure that Covid-related WhatsApp messages are handed over to the inquiry into the Government’s handling of the crisis, according to the Labour party.
Shadow International Trade Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds told GB News: “The Government has to comply with Baroness Hallett’s requests for these messages, and the reason is we need to see the full background to the decisions the government made during the pandemic.
“Now, I totally understand why for reasons of speed government ministers and officials did use WhatsApp, we can all understand that because of how quickly things are moving but just as in governments of the past you had the logic of all the decisions on paper, you had transcripts of phone calls.
“So now as Baroness Hallett, the independent chair has requested those WhatsApps, as she’s asked for them they should be provided.
“They should be provided, frankly, because the thousands of families out there who lost loved ones in the pandemic deserve to have the truth, and we need to learn the lessons from this health emergency for future health emergencies.”
In a discussion with Ellie Costello and Peter Andre, he continued: “This is a specific type of inquiry with specific statutory powers that has been set up.
“And I’ve looked carefully at what Baroness Hallett, who is a widely respected former judge, has said and she is saying if you look at the the notice that that she’s issued, that she thinks there is relevant material in WhatsApp messages between certain senior ministers and the most senior civil servant and I think she should be at the judge of that.”
He added: “I don’t think it is about setting a precedent because of the very particular nature of this inquiry and the very particular powers Baroness Hallett has got. I think the government should simply comply with the order that she’s made.”
