2023-11-03 14:29:45
MONDE – After the experts and lawyers, it is the turn of the former members of the Johnson government to be heard by the public commission of inquiry into the management of the Covid-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Among the first personalities to testify were Lee Cain, former director of communications, and Dominic Cummings, political advisor to the former Prime Minister, did not mince their words. “Incompetent”, “a weather vane”, “a liar”… Boris Johnson and his staff, including his Minister of Health, Matt Hancock, have taken it for granted.
The witnesses confirmed the information already published by The Daily Telegraph and its investigation into the Lockdown Files which revealed, through WhatsApp messages, behind the scenes the main decisions of the authorities in the fight against the pandemic such as vaccination, wearing a mask, closing schools and even confinement.
When the journalist from Daily TelegraphIsabel Oakeshott, revealed the 2.3 million words of WhatsApp messages exchanged by British leaders during the pandemic, she justified her decision by the slowness of this public inquiry. “Announced in May 2021, [celle-ci], Who [avait] already cost up to £85 million – [n’avait] not even started its official hearings”. The commission, set up in July 2022 after months of pressure from the victims’ families, did not begin its hearings until June 2023.
Hancock? “Incompetent”. Johnson? “A weather vane”
Experts, lawyers and crisis management specialists were the first to be called to the stand. Relatives of the victims are not among the witnesses to be heard by this commission, which has no power to bring criminal or civil charges against individuals. However, at least three Prime Ministers, namely David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak as well as many of their ministers and senior civil servants will be interviewed. Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance, chief doctors and scientists during the pandemic, will also have to explain.
On Tuesday, October 31, two influential members of the Johnson administration testified before the commission of inquiry, chaired by former magistrate Heather Hallett. They are Dominic Cummings, chief of staff and political advisor to the former Prime Minister, and Lee Cain, former communications director. Faced with investigators, the first was confronted with the messages he exchanged in 2020, in which he described Matt Hancock as a minister “incompetent, liar and compulsive, only interested in TV shows”and Boris Johnson of “weathercock, (…) not worried about looking like a Prime Minister working with a team of incompetents”. The councilor apologized for the “deplorable language” but assumes and maintains his words, which represented, according to himthe majority opinion within the administration.
The chief of staff also revealed that his Prime Minister was described as “caddie” supermarket, in reference to his propensity to be influenced by his advisors in decision-making. An element already apparent in the Lockdown Files revelations. Information confirmed by Lee Cain, former communications director of Boris Johnson. “He made his decision based on the last person he looked at in the room. He was someone who often delayed making decisions. He often sought advice from multiple sources and changed his mind on certain issues. It was exhausting”did he declare.
Concerned, Rishi Sunak refuses to reveal his exchanges
If he recognizes that a consensus in politics “could be a great force”Lee Cain believes that the context did not lend itself to this: “If you look at something like Covid, you need quick decisions and you need people to stay the course and have the strength of mind to do it.”
He mentioned, before the commission investigators, a government “confused”, “undecided”torn “between health and political interests”. He doesn’t mince words either, explaining that Rishi Sunak’s predecessor was “incompetent”. “It was the wrong crisis for the Prime Minister’s skills”, does he have conclu.
Another adviser, Martin Reynolds, testified, admitting that his boss “blowing hot and cold”. WhatsApp messages from Simon Case, former Downing Street general secretary, in which he praised Johnson “unable to lead” were also disclosed. “I’m at the end of my rope. It changes strategic direction every day”he confided on the messaging application.
At the start of the Covid pandemic, the former conservative leader was criticized for having hesitated to take measures, but these, once taken, were maintained without any valid reason, except for purely political considerations. His successor, Rishi Sunak must also be interviewed in his capacity as former Minister of Finance and Treasury for more than two years (2020-2022).
Commission chair Heather Hallett has asked Sunak’s government to provide new documents, including WhatsApp exchanges between his predecessor and his team. However, she suffered the refusal of the Prime Minister, who affirmed that these exchanges had not “no relation” with this investigation.
For many observers, Rishi Sunak owes his election to his popularity acquired thanks to his measures taken during the pandemic. These hearings on the management of the Covid pandemic take place in a complicated political context for him, and the Conservative Party, who have just suffered a third electoral setback in a few months against Labor.
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