The head of the civil service secretly blasted Boris Johnson for causing havoc during the pandemic. In explosive WhatsApp messages, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case accused the PM of making the Government look like a “tragic joke” with “bulls***” ideas.
The exasperated top official warned that Mr Johnson alternated between fearing the virus was getting worse and “let it rip” mode when he argued the country was “pathetic” and “needs a cold shower”. In one chat, Mr Case wrote: “He cannot lead… A weak team definitely cannot succeed in these [circumstances]. IT HAS TO STOP!" He added: "I am at the end of my tether… Gov't isn't actually that hard but this guy is really making it impossible."
On an explosive day at the Covid Inquiry, it was suggested that Mr Johnson had resisted the first lockdown as he asked why he would damage the economy in order to save “people who will die anyway soon”.
Senior officials revealed the shocking extent of the Government’s relaxed attitude towards pandemic preparations before it hit. Mr Johnson had a 10-day break during February half term in 2020 when he received no emails, Cobra briefings or written papers on coronavirus. Imran Shafi, a No10 private secretary, told the hearing that he believed Downing Street should have spent every day that month working on a detailed Covid plan.
The inquiry was shown a notebook entry written by Mr Shafi following a meeting held by Mr Johnson and then Chancellor Rishi Sunak in March 2020 days before the first lockdown was announced. It read: “We’re killing the patient to tackle the tumour” and “Why are we destroying economy for people who will die anyway soon”. Asked who had made these comments, Mr Shafi said he believed it was Mr Johnson although he was not certain.
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Martin Reynolds, who was Mr Johnson’s Principal Private Secretary, admitted there had been a "systemic failure” to prepare for the pandemic as he appeared to acknowledge that the realisation of the scale of the disaster had come "late". Asked if the plans in place in March 2020 were "grossly deficient", Mr Reynolds said: "I agree."
The top official became known as “Party Marty” after sending the infamous “bring your own booze” email inviting hundreds of Downing Street staff to a drinks party in the No10 garden during lockdown in May 2020. He told the inquiry: "I would like to say how deeply sorry I am for my part in these events and for the email message which went out that day. I'd like to apologise unreservedly to the families who suffered during Covid for distressed caused."
In his evidence, Mr Reynolds admitted turning on disappearing messages on a No10 WhatsApp group both he and Mr Johnson were members of shortly before the Covid Inquiry was announced.
Campaigners from the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group said it had been "hard to keep up with the number of horrific revelations" which emerged from the hearing. Charlie Williams, spokesman for the group, said: "Whilst we were desperately doing everything we could to protect our loved ones, even if it meant not being with them at their final moments, the Government was failing to take decisive action and pretending everything was fine, repeating their many, many mistakes, partying and breaking their own lockdown rules. Like so many others, we're left having to live with the devastation caused by their failures and chaos for the rest of our lives."
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