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Covid inquiry: Government labelled ‘tragic joke’ in WhatsApp [1]

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Date: 2023-10

Damning WhatsApp messages shown to the Covid inquiry today reveal key Boris Johnson adviser Simon Case describing the government as a “terrible, tragic joke” and labelling Carrie Johnson the “real person in charge”.

The messages between cabinet secretary Case, former Downing Street head of communications Lee Cain and former chief adviser Dominic Cummings, highlight the tensions and exasperation around the decisions of Johnson’s government.

The messages from 14 October 2020 were shown to the inquiry during a discussion about the functions of the Cabinet Office during the pandemic.

“Am not sure I can cope with today,” Case wrote. “Might just go home. Matt [Hancock] just called, having spoken to PM. According to Matt (so aim off, obvs), PM has asked Matt to work up regional circuit breakers for the North (as per Northern Ireland) today – and to bring recommendations. I am going to scream…”

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Cain asked: “Wtf are we talking about,” and Case replied: “Whatever Carrie cares about, I guess.”

Case then joked: “I was always told that [Dominic Cummings] was the secret PM. How wrong they are. I look forward to telling select cttee tomorrow – ‘oh, fuck no, don’t worry about Dom, the real person in charge is Carrie’.”

Case concluded: “This gov’t doesn’t have the credibility needed to be imposing stuff within only days of deciding not too [sic]. We look like a terrible, tragic joke. If we were going hard, that decision was needed weeks ago. I cannot cope with this”.

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[1] Url: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/covid-19-inquiry-boris-johnson-carrie-dominic-cummings-simon-case-whatsapps/

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