Investigation into the management of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom: Boris Johnson had to deliver his messages to the government

"BoJo" back in turmoil. In the United Kingdom, a public inquiry into the management of the Covid-19 pandemic by the government of the former Prime Minister asked for exchanges between the latter and political and health leaders. "All the requested elements", including unredacted WhatsApp messages and notes, were delivered on Wednesday to the Cabinet Office (the services of the government Editor's note), told AFP a spokesman for Boris Johnson.

He called on the Cabinet Office to make them known "urgently" to the public inquiry, he added. The chair of the public inquiry into the pandemic, former magistrate Heather Hallett, had initially given the Cabinet Office until Tuesday afternoon for all the requested elements to be handed over to her, before the deadline was extended by 48 hours. Via his spokesman, Boris Johnson assured that he was cooperating "fully" with the investigation from the beginning.

'Totally absurd' accusations

"BoJo" has returned to backbench since he was forced out of power last summer after a succession of scandals, including parties held in Downing Street in violation of health restrictions. The shadow of "partygate" has returned to torment Boris Johnson after the Cabinet Office reported to the police new elements about possible violations of anti-Covid rules of which the police were not aware.

In this case, the former Prime Minister has already been fined for his presence at a surprise drink for his 56th birthday in June 2020. Boris Johnson deemed "totally absurd" these new accusations. His spokesman had denounced "a last-ditch attempt to prolong the (parliamentary) investigation as it was coming to an end and to weaken Boris Johnson".

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The former head of government is still under a parliamentary inquiry, which must determine whether he lied to MPs by repeatedly stating in the House of Commons that all the rules had been respected in Downing Street. This investigation can go so far as to cost him his seat as an MP and torpedo any hint of return.