‘Version of PIN’ for Boris Johnson’s old phone may have been found by govt
A breakthrough may have been made in attempts to unlock Boris Johnson’s old mobile phone.
An ally of the former prime minister has suggested that a “version” of the device’s PIN has been found by the government.
The phone was used until May 2021, and likely contains WhatsApp messages related to the ordering of coronavirus lockdowns – as well as the Johnson administration’s early response to the pandemic.
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COVID inquiry: Everything you need to know
On Monday, the government missed a deadline to hand over this evidence to the COVID inquiry.
According to The Times, the delay was because Mr Johnson had forgotten the password to the phone.
Mr Johnson’s spokesperson did not deny the claims to Sky News – instead saying that government-appointed “technical experts” were continuing to work “to recover material safely from the device”.
Yesterday, one of his allies said: “It is not true that Boris does not remember his PIN number, it is just that he does not have 100% confidence he remembers it.
“Separately, the government has found its own version of the PIN.”
He was advised not to access the phone again on security grounds while serving as prime minister after it emerged his number had been freely available online for 15 years.
Whitehall officials were known to be trying to securely retrieve the messages on the phone, which is being held by Mr Johnson’s lawyers.
The Cabinet Office has been contacted for comment about the suggestion technicians have discovered a past code that Mr Johnson used.
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According to The Times, there are concerns the contents could be wiped if the wrong combination of numbers is entered.
The newspaper has also reported that the device was last accessed in December 2021 after Lord Geidt – then the prime minister’s adviser on ministerial interests – asked for WhatsApp messages relating to an investigation about the funding of the refurbishment of the Downing Street flat.
If accurate, this would suggest that the phone has been opened since Mr Johnson was told to no longer use it.
Mr Johnson’s spokesman has been approached about the claim.
The Cabinet Office had until 4pm on Monday to hand over the unredacted WhatsApp messages from Mr Johnson’s previous phone after it lost a legal challenge.
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Ministers had fought a request from inquiry chairwoman Baroness Heather Hallett to release his uncensored messages, notebooks and diaries from his time in Downing Street, arguing they should not have to hand over material that was “unambiguously irrelevant”.
But the argument was dismissed by the High Court last week.
The government has since handed over the rest of Mr Johnson’s documents, except for the messages from the locked phone.
The inquiry, which heard evidence from Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove yesterday, is understood to be aware of the efforts to securely extract any potentially relevant content from Mr Johnson’s old phone.
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A mobile security expert has cast doubt on claims the messages cannot be accessed because of a memory lapse on Mr Johnson’s part.
Andrew Whaley, senior technical director at Norwegian cybersecurity company Promon, said: “This is a pretty lame excuse. Provided Boris’s WhatsApp is backed up, accessing the data would take minutes.
“As this is a diplomatic phone, the security measures may very well be different, but even still, it’s not an impossible task by any means.”
The COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group said it was a “complete joke” and Mr Johnson “needs to take full responsibility” for handing over his WhatsApp messages.
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And they’re off! Bridget Phillipson was first away in her two-horse race with Lucy Powell in the Labour deputy leadership stakes.
Facing a rival who was sacked from the government nine days earlier, the education secretary said the deputy leader should be a cabinet minister, as Angela Rayner was.
Launching her campaign at The Fire Station, a trendy music and entertainment venue in Sunderland, she also vowed to turn up the heat on Nigel Farage and Reform UK.
She also repeatedly called for party unity, at a time when Labour MPs are growing increasingly mutinous over Sir Keir Starmer’s dealings with sacked Washington ambassador Lord Mandelson.
Despite Ms Phillipson winning 175 nominations from Labour MPs to Ms Powell’s 117, bookmakers StarSports this weekend made Ms Powell 4/6 favourite with Ms Phillipson at 5/4.
But though the new deputy leader will not be deputy prime minister, a title that’s gone to David Lammy, Ms Phillipson praised the way Ms Rayner combined the two roles and rejected suggestions that as a cabinet minister she would be a part-time deputy leader.
Phillipson’s deputy leadership rival Lucy Powell. Pic: Reuters
“What can be achieved under a deputy leader with a seat at cabinet, just look at Angela Rayner,” Ms Phillipson told her enthusiastic supporters.
“Angela knew the importance of the role she had. There was nothing part-time about her deputy leadership.
“Last year I campaigned up and down the country to get Labour candidates elected – I’ve not stopped as education secretary – and I won’t stop as deputy leader.
“Because with local elections, and with elections in Wales and Scotland right around the corner, that role is going to be more important than ever.
“So that’s why, today, I pledge to continue Angela Rayner’s campaigning role as deputy leader.
“Continuing her mission to give members a strong voice at the cabinet table.
“Her ruthless focus on getting our candidates elected and re-elected, alongside her total determination to drive change from government. Because what mattered was not just what she believed, but that she could act on it.”
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Ms Phillipson pledged to run a campaign of “hope, not grievance” and claimed the party descending into division would put the chances of children and families benefiting from Labour policies at risk.
But admitting Sir Keir Starmer’s government had made mistakes, she appealed to party members: “You can use this contest to look backward, to pass judgement on what has happened in the last year, or you can use it to shape positively what happens in the run-up to the next election.
“Back me so I can unite our party, deliver the change we want to see and beat Reform. Back me so together, we can deliver that second term of Labour government.”
Phillipson with Labour supporters at her campaign launch on Sunday. Pic: PA
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As she did in a speech at the TUC conference last week, Ms Phillipson spoke about her upbringing “from a tough street of council houses in the North East all the way to the cabinet”.
At the TUC, she said she grew up – “just me and my mam” – and told how when she was nine, a man who’d burgled the house turned up at the front door with a baseball bat and threatened her mother.
Ms Powell, who enjoys the powerful backing of Labour’s ‘King of the North’ Andy Burnham, called this weekend for a change in culture in 10 Downing Street, with better decisions and fewer unforced errors.
His backing has led to the deputy contest being seen as a battle between Sir Keir’s candidate, Ms Phillipson, and that of the Greater Manchester mayor, seen increasingly as a leadership rival to the prime minister.
And like all the best horse races, with the betting currently so tight, when the result is declared on 25 October the result could be a photo-finish.
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