#dominic-cummings

#dominic-cummings

Crucial decisions during the pandemic were made using WhatsApp groups made up of ministers and officials, it has emerged.The government set up numerous channels on the messaging app for figures including Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock and Dominic Cummings.Other key players in the groups were Mr Johnson's communications chief Lee Cain, chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.

Government WhatsApp groups were never used to make important decisions during Covid and instead relayed information and discussed coffee orders, a former health minister has argued.James Bethell, a hereditary peer whose role involved the awarding of Covid contracts, said he supported the government's legal attempt to limit the amount of information handed to the official inquiry into the pandemic, as otherwise people would be asked to hand over messages that you wouldn't reasonably be happy with.

Wrangling over Boris Johnson's notebooks and WhatsApp messages continues in earnest, with the government and the official Covid inquiry locked in a standoff over what should be shared.What has the inquiry asked for?A vast trove of documents was requested by Heather Hallett, the chair of the public inquiry into the government's handling of Covid.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails The BBC chairman under pressure to resign in light of the Gary Lineker row is a former banker with connections at the heart of the political establishment.

BBC chairman Richard Sharp is facing calls for an investigation into his appointment, amid claims he helped Boris Johnson secure a loan weeks before the then-prime minister recommended him for the role.The former banker, who is in his 60s, worked for more than 30 years in the financial sector, including a 23-year stint at investment giant Goldman Sachs, where he was reportedly mentored by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Boris Johnson was accused of relying on flimsy assurances before issuing his partygate denials, as he insisted there is not a shred of evidence to show he lied to MPs.In at times short-tempered testimony, the former prime minister's defences were met on Wednesday with exasperation by multiple colleagues on the Privileges Committee that could recommend his suspension.

Boris Johnson has insisted mid-pandemic gatherings in Downing Street were essential, as he swore hand on heart to tell the truth to the inquiry into whether he lied to MPs.The former prime minister told the Privileges Committee on Wednesday he had been misremembering when claiming during partygate that rules had been followed at all times.

Boris Johnson's political future hangs in the balance as he faces a televised grilling over whether he lied to MPs with his denials of lockdown-busting parties held in Downing Street.The former prime minister will be questioned for around four hours by the Commons Privileges Committee a seven-member, cross-party command chaired by Labour grandee Harriet Harman.

Boris Johnson's 52-page submission to Privileges Committee is being pored over before the former prime minister gives evidence to MPs on Wednesday.In the document setting out why he does not believe he misled Parliament with his assurances over partygate, Mr Johnson regularly refers to a number of key aides who were working with him at the time of the Downing Street lockdown events.

The inquiry into whether Boris Johnson misled MPs over rule-breaking parties in Downing Street is homing in on a gathering in his private flat, the Observer understands.Follow-up exchanges with witnesses working with the inquiry are now taking place as the privileges committee, led by Labour grandee Harriet Harman, works its way through a huge tranche of evidence handed to it by the government at the end of last year.

BBC chairman Richard Sharp is facing calls for an investigation into his appointment, amid claims he helped Boris Johnson secure a loan weeks before the then-prime minister recommended him for the role.The former banker, 64, worked for more than 30 years in the financial sector, including a 23-year stint at investment giant Goldman Sachs, where he was reportedly mentored by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Thousands gathered to burn an effigy of Liz Truss on Bonfire Night to mark the failed 1605 plan to blow up Parliament.Britons carried torches in the rain in Lewes, East Sussex to watch the controversial but popular event which saw an effigy of the former Tory leader go up in flames.Last year, up to 30,000 people attended the event, which had a Covid theme.