Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings sent sexist WhatsApps to each other that will be shared by the Covid Inquiry, a Tory ex-minister has claimed.
Former Chancellor George Osborne, who has previously been called as a witness to the inquiry, said the pair exchanged "disgusting and misogynistic" messages. Mr Cummings, who is Mr Johnson's ex-adviser, will be called to give evidence at the inquiry next Tuesday, while the Partygate PM is expected to give evidence next month.
Mr Osborne said the WhatsApps included some "pretty staggering things" which will make people feel "even less highly" of that period of Government. "I’ve got to be a little bit careful here — it’s a judicial inquiry", he told the Political Currency podcast, which he hosts with former Labour minister Ed Balls.
"But from what I understand, there are some pretty staggering things that have been said on those WhatsApp messages not just by Boris Johnson, but key advisers like Dominic Cummings — really pretty disgusting language and misogynistic language. And I think if you didn’t think very highly of that period of government, you’re gonna feel even less highly after you’ve heard those messages next week.”
The Covid Inquiry has already revealed humiliating WhatsApps from across the pandemic period. Last week, it emerged the Chief Scientific Adviser branded Rishi Sunak "Dr Death" the month after he launched his Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which was blamed for a surge in Covid cases. Dame Angela McLean called the now-PM "Dr Death the Chancellor", while she also branded another official involved in the pandemic planning as a “f***wit”.
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Earlier this month, WhatsApps appeared to show civil service boss Simon Case joking that Carrie Johnson was "the real person in charge" during the pandemic according to WhatsApps handed to the Covid Inquiry. A previously unpublished exchange between the Cabinet Secretary, Boris Johnson's then-spin chief Lee Cain and Dominic Cummings was shown on screen during an evidence hearing.
The messages were featured as part of evidence from Mr Cummings, Mr Johnson's top aide turned nemesis, alongside an email from July 13 2020 complaining about the Cabinet Office. The WhatsApps, understood to date from October 14, 2020, showed Mr Case saying "not sure I can cope today" after being contacted by Matt [Hancock] to discuss "regional circuit breakers for the North". He adds: "I'm going to scream." Mr Cain, who was No10 director of communications, replies: "Sigh. Wtf are we talking about." The top civil servant responded: "Whatever Carrie wants I guess."
Another message from Mr Case shows him joking: "I was always told Dom [Cummings] was the secret PM. How wrong they are. I look forward to telling select cttee tomorrow 'oh f*** no, don't worry about Dom. The real person in charge is Carrie'. He appears to be referring to an evidence session with the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee in October 2020.
Mr Johnson and Mr Cummings have not responded to requests for comment.
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