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Boris Johnson: Ambitions to return to the top of government?
Photo: Frank Augstein / dpa
The British government has warned Boris Johnson not to go it alone. Previously, the ex-prime minister had passed on uncensored WhatsApp messages with government employees and cabinet members from pandemic times to the Corona Investigation Committee.
The committee had previously demanded that the government pass on the news – and even threatened criminal consequences. However, the government wanted to have the courts examine whether it could be forced to do so, describing the news as "undoubtedly irrelevant" to the investigation.
Johnson has also been reminded that he should use public funds responsibly to defend himself in the investigation. Johnson's party colleague and Secretary of State for Migration, Robert Jenrick, said on Sky News. The "Sunday Times" had previously quoted from the letter. As a result, Johnson was warned not to undermine the government's position on the corona investigation. Otherwise, support will be discontinued.
Critics think Prime Minister Rishi Sunak fears Johnson's WhatsApp correspondence could cast a bad light on his own role as finance minister in the pandemic. Johnson, on the other hand, is said to have ambitions to return to the top of government. The dispute also highlights the extent to which important government business is carried out via the short message service in Britain itself.
The Corona Committee of Inquiry is to deal with the sometimes chaotic handling of the pandemic by the British government. According to death certificates, about 227,000 people died of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom – significantly more than in Germany, despite a smaller population.
kha/dpa