Key WhatsApp messages from the COVID inquiry – emojis, insults and top aides’ despair
WhatsApp messages sent at the height of COVID paint a picture of how senior officials really felt about the government’s handling of the pandemic.
The exchanges have been shared as part of the COVID inquiry amid criticism that major decision-making may have happened over WhatsApp rather than through normal processes.
But not all the messages sent will be seen by the inquiry. A senior civil servant turned on a “disappearing message function” on a group chat titled “PM Updates” on 15 April 2021 – but told the inquiry he could not remember why.
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Cabinet Office is ‘terrifyingly s***’ – Dominic Cummings
On 12 March 2020, Dominic Cummings – former chief adviser to Boris Johnson – texts the prime minister saying: “We’ve got big problems coming – CABOFF (Cabinet Office) is terrifyingly s***, no plans, totally behind the pace.”
“We must announce TODAY – not next week – ‘if feel ill with cold/flu stay home’,” he adds.
“Some CABOFF want delay cos [sic] haven’t done the work and don’t work weekends.”
PM ‘melting down’ and going into ‘Jaws mode’
Mr Cummings sent a series of messages to Lee Cain, the Downing Street director of communications, from inside a meeting with Mr Johnson and Rishi Sunak.
He says the prime minister was “melting down” and going into “Jaws mode”.
By that he meant Mr Johnson was acting like the mayor in the film Jaws, who thinks the beaches should be kept open despite shark attacks.
“I’ve had to sit here for 2 hours just to stop him saying stupid s***,” Mr Cummings says.
He adds later: “It’s only a matter of time before his babbling exposes fact he doesn’t know what to say.”
WhatsApp messages presented during Lee Cain’s appearance at the Covid inquiry
Boris Johnson ‘cannot lead’, cabinet secretary says
In one particularly disparaging message from September 2020, cabinet secretary Simon Case says Mr Johnson “cannot lead and we cannot support him in leading with this approach”.
Mr Case tells the WhatsApp group, which includes Mr Cummings, “I am at the end of my tether”.
“He changes strategic direction every day (Monday we were all about fear of virus returning as per Europe, March etc – today we’re in ‘let it rip’ mode cos (sic) the UK is pathetic, needs a cold shower etc.)
“He cannot lead and we cannot support him in leading with this approach.
“The team captain cannot change the call on the big plays every day. The team can’t deliver anything under these circumstances.”
Messages between Simon Case and Dominic Cummings shared with the COVID inquiry
Mr Case goes on to admonish a “weak team”, appearing to name former health secretary Matt Hancock and former education secretary Gavin Williamson, saying we “definitely cannot succeed in these circs (sic). IT HAS TO STOP!”.
He adds: “Decide and set direction – deliver – explain. Gov’t isn’t actually that hard but this guy is really making it impossible.”
Mr Cummings replies: “Totally agree, am getting lots of despairing messages from people in [meetings] with him.”
“And he’s careering around on WhatsApp as usual creating chaos and undermining everybody.”
‘We look like a terrible, tragic joke’
At another point in the WhatsApp group, Mr Cummings says: “As always, discussions with these ministers is moronic.
“They cannot understand priorities.”
Later in the conversation, Mr Case says the government “doesn’t have the credibility needed to be imposing stuff within only days of deciding not to”.
“We look like a terrible, tragic joke.”
Mr Cain, the Downing Street director of communications, responds with a trolley emoji.
Mr Cummings told the inquiry Mr Johnson was described as an indecisive “trolley” by “pretty much everyone”, a reference to his habit of veering from one decision to another.
Messages between Simon Case and Lee Cain shared with the COVID inquiry
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Boris Johnson asks if government ‘believes in long COVID’
In February 2021, Mr Johnson wrote in a WhatsApp message: “Do we really believe in long COVID? Why can’t we hedge it more? I bet it’s complete Gulf War Syndrome stuff.”
Four months prior, he had described the condition as “b*******”, writing that comment in a document next to a description of the symptoms.
Boris Johnson’s wife Carrie was ‘real person in charge’
In messages understood to have been from 14 October 2020, Mr Case writes: “Am not sure I can cope with today.”
In a discussion about the prime minister’s instructions about regional “circuit breaker” lockdowns with former health secretary Matt Hancock, Mr Case says “I am going to scream”.
Mr Cain replies: “Wtf are we talking about.”
Responding, in an apparent reference to Mr Johnson’s partner Carrie Johnson, Mr Case says: “Whatever Carrie cares about, I guess.”
He adds: “I was always told that Dom [Dominic Cumming] 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’.”
In the same series of messages, Mr Cain says: “Also she doesn’t know wtf she is talking about either. Jesus.”
The 19-year-old woman who died after she was attacked by a dog at a flat in Bristol on Wednesday has been named as Morgan Dorsett from Shropshire.
Two people – a man and a woman both aged in their 20s – have been arrested over the attack and have been released on conditional bail.
Initial reports suggested the dog may be an XL bully, but confirming the breed will form part of the police assessment process, according to Avon and Somerset Police.
It was sedated and seized by officers.
An XL bully. File pic: PA
Ms Dorsett’s family thanked the public for their support and those who have left flowers near the scene.
Officers were called to an incident in the Hartcliffe area of Bristol at 7.19pm on Wednesday.
Paramedics and police officers attended but Ms Dorsett died at the scene.
Ms Dorsett. Pic: Avon and Somerset Police
On Thursday, Inspector Terry Murphy said: “Our thoughts, first and foremost, are with the family of the young woman who’s tragically died as a result of yesterday evening’s incident. They have been updated and will be supported by a family liaison officer.
“I’d also like to thank the officers and paramedics who attended yesterday evening and tried to save her life. Support is in place for them.
“A full investigation is now well under way to establish the full circumstances of the events that led to her death.”
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Flowers left near the scene. Pic: PA
A neighbour also paid tribute to Ms Dorsett, saying she “seemed a lovely girl” and had only lived in the property for a few weeks.
“I was up all night awake trying to process this,” the neighbour, who did not want to be named, said.
“I am shocked. I just can’t believe it’s happened and she hasn’t been there that long.”
The neighbour said she had seen the dog on a lead with its owner and was certain it was an XL bully.
“I do feel so sad for the dog owner,” she said.
“She did mention the dog wasn’t great with men, fine with women and children.
“I feel for her so, so much. It wasn’t her fault.”
She added: “I genuinely feel that this was one of those freak accidents and wasn’t her fault – that’s how I feel.”
In February 2024 it became a criminal offence to own the XL bully breed in England and Wales without an exemption certificate.
Anyone owning one of the dogs must have had the animal neutered, microchipped, and kept muzzled and on a lead in public, among other restrictions.
The government move to ban the breed followed a series of attacks on people and other dogs.
UK
Bargain Hunt auctioneer Charles Hanson cleared of coercive control and assault allegations related to his wife
Bargain Hunt auctioneer Charles Hanson has been cleared of coercive control and assault allegations relating to his wife.
The 46-year-old was accused of being violent towards Rebecca Hanson over an eight-year period.
The charges were brought after he was arrested in June 2023.
The TV auctioneer, from Mackworth, Derby, denied controlling or coercive behaviour spanning from 2015 to 2023, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and assault by beating. The two assault charges related to incidents in 2015 and 2023.
During the trial, Hanson claimed his wife had controlled him. He told the court he was “almost a slave” to her, saying she left him “a beaten and broken man” by controlling him and making him subservient towards her.
She had claimed her husband was violent towards her and put her in a headlock in 2012, while she pregnant with a baby she later lost.
Mrs Hanson also alleged her husband repeatedly “grabbed” her, scratched her as she tried to snatch a mobile phone and pushed her twice during a row.
Hanson outside the court with his parents today. Pic: PA
The auctioneer told the court his wife was allowed “to do what she wanted” but had experienced “moments and episodes” including one which saw her claim his legs being crossed amounted to abuse.
Jurors deliberated for around four and a half hours before delivering not guilty verdicts on all charges.
As the verdicts were returned, Hanson smiled at his parents, who were sat in the front row of the public gallery at Derby Crown Court, and gave them a thumbs-up.
After thanking the jurors for their care in considering the case, Judge Martin Hurst told Hanson: “You have been found not guilty. That is the end of the case. You will hear no more about it and you are free to go.”
The TV star’s parents wept and hugged their son after he was discharged from the dock.
Hanson ‘relieved this is all over’
Hanson speaks to media after the verdict. Pic: PA
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Hanson said: “I’m delighted that after a year and a half the truth has finally come out.
“I can finally live my life again. I feel this burden has finally been lifted.”
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“It has been a tormentuous time and all I want now is to readjust to what has been such an ordeal,” he continued. “I am so relieved that this is all over.”
As well as regularly featuring on Bargain Hunt, Hanson has appeared on Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip.
A self-described “monster” who beat a top chef to death near Notting Hill Carnival has been jailed for life.
Omar Wilson repeatedly punched and kicked Mussie Imnetu during an altercation outside a restaurant in Queensway, west London, on 26 August last year.
Wilson, 31, then left the scene to go clubbing.
Mr Imnetu, 41, who worked under star chefs Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing, died in hospital four days later, without regaining consciousness.
Mussie Imnetu. Pic: Metropolitan Police
Sentencing Wilson to a minimum 18 years, Judge Philip Katz said Mr Imnetu’s “brutal” killing was “abhorrent”.
“Mussie and those who loved him are the victims in this case and the impact on them of his murder has been severe,” he said.
“Mussie was defenceless on the ground when you punched and kicked him to death.”
He continued: “You could not control your temper. Only a few seconds after punches were aimed by both of you you tripped Mussie and he fell to the ground and you could have walked away.
“As he knelt you rained further punches down on his head. You could have walked away.
“However, you stood up, raised your leg and kicked him hard to the head. Kicking someone to the head when they are defenceless on the ground is abhorrent.”
CCTV footage of Omar Wilson at a security point after the assault. Pic: Metropolitan Police
Mr Imnetu’s wife, Linda, described her husband as “respected, admired and loved” in a pre-recorded victim impact statement played in court.
“Mussie didn’t just leave behind a legacy for his family, he left an indelible mark on his workplace and community,” she said.
“Nothing can undo what has been taken from us. I ask the court to remember the man Mussie was: his character, his integrity and the life he built; not just the circumstances of his passing.”
An audio recording of Mr Imnetu’s six-year-old son wishing his “daddy” goodbye was also played in court, which the judge called “heart-rending”.
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CCTV footage was played in court during the trial showing Wilson approaching Mr Imnetu and headbutting him.
Around a minute later, Wilson punched Mr Imnetu five times in the head, continued to repeatedly punch him while he was on his hands and knees, and then kicked him in the head.
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Wilson of Napier Road, east London, told the Old Bailey he was acting in self defence, telling jurors: “I just regret that somebody’s life was taken while I was trying to defend mine.”
He claimed Mr Imnetu had a broken bottle – something Judge Katz described as “a deliberate lie”.
The court heard after the attack that Wilson had told an associate he “crossed the line”.
In a message, he said: “There’s a monster in me, man, and it’s just like sometimes it comes out.
“And I think I’ve messed up now, I’ve messed up, everything’s finished.”
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