Has the Cabinet Office complied with Heather Hallett’s request?

One really interesting area (well for me) is just how much was the government guided by the science, and how much guided by the economy and politics.

My guess is very little scientific guidance was followed, particularly when you look at Sunak’s eat out initiative. There are reports that he gave zero attention to the scientific advice at the time which warned that it would rapidly increase covid infection and it was proved to be the case.

It is reported that Sunak’s eat out scheme cost the country over £800 million and countless extra deaths.

There are a number if other incidents where scientific advice was directly contradicted resulting in needless deaths and illness.

Ww2 is Johnson allowed to answer directly to Lady Hallett or does he have to submit them first to the Cabinet Office for approval?

Well, information is beginning to creep out, including some if the 150 questions Hallett wants answered by Johnson.

These include. (Paraphrased)

Why did you fail to attend any COBRA meeting relating to covid prior to March 2 2020 - given the seriousness of the situation?

What discussions did you have with Sunak before the Eat out to help out scheme was launched?

What was your understanding as to whether individuals being discharged from hospital into care homes would first be tested for covid

In or around autumn 2020, did you state “let the bodies pile high” rather than order another lockdown

Why did you attend a personal meeting on the evening of March 19 after you called for all non- essential contact to cease on March 16?

Why did you say in September 2020, that you felt that you had been manipulated by sage into imposing the first lock down?

This gives a flavour of the way the Enquiry is heading

(Observer)

ronib

Casdon Lady Hallett is perfectly able to assess the information in front of her and she has been stopped from doing so by threats from the Cabinet Office? Is this your understanding?

No, it isn’t.

Casdon Lady Hallett is perfectly able to assess the information in front of her and she has been stopped from doing so by threats from the Cabinet Office? Is this your understanding?

ronib

Maizie D this sounds like witness intimidation? Wonder what Lady Hallett will do in this situation?

That’s not anything to do with her. She requested information from the government, it’s up to them to provide it. Internal wrangles are their concern, not hers.

We could always crowd fund the legal fees …. Bad joke

I don’t think they can. I seem to recall the government saying they were obliged to provide legal support, because Johnson and others were the government at the time.

I’m not sure whether the story has been briefed from the government, from Johnson in his quest to embarrass Sunak, or, less likely, but possible, originated with the journalist

MaizieD

^Given it appears Boris does not seem to be the one with something to hide - it begs the question, who does?^

Alternatively, Johnson knows that he's going to go down and he wants to pull as many people as he can down with him.

Well who would know it, damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

Maizie D this sounds like witness intimidation? Wonder what Lady Hallett will do in this situation?

Oh. Interesting.

The Cabinet Office has warned Boris Johnson it will pull public funding for his legal advice for the Covid inquiry if he “undermines the government’s position” or releases evidence without permission.

The story is in the Sunday Times, which I don't have a subscription to, but for those who do:

t.co/TSW6CPQ2IT

Given it appears Boris does not seem to be the one with something to hide - it begs the question, who does?

Alternatively, Johnson knows that he's going to go down and he wants to pull as many people as he can down with him.

Whitewavemark2

Well knock me down with a feather.

Johnson apparently lied when he stated that he’d handed everything over!

I am shocked🙄

Apparently he had handed the stuff to the cabinet office months ago, but they are sitting on it. So, whatever he still has copies of himself, such as his Whatsapp messages, he is handing over to the inquiry himself. So far as I know, the Cabinet Office actually have his notes and diaries though and I doubt he has a copy of those. Given it appears Boris does not seem to be the one with something to hide - it begs the question, who does?

As was posted on twitter; we now know that government was run on burner phones. Just like drug dealers.

Baggs

Whitewavemark2

👀

“Dear Cabinet Office
Our lives were in your hands.
Whatever you're hiding was a matter of life and death to us.
Some of us were lucky to survive.
Many did not.
We're entitled to know why.
Every little bit of it.
Michael Rosen”

Most of us survived
Some did not

That's how diseases work, surely? I don't think covid was much different from other coronavirus infections.

SARS-CoV-2 (aka Covid) was (is) very different from the two other known serious human coronavirus outbreaks (SARS and MERS). The fatality rate for SARS and MERS was higher, but for some reason the transmission rate was lower and they were much easier to contain. Covid has caused far more deaths than either the original SARS or MERS did.

Baggs

Whitewavemark2

The enquiry isn’t about that though is it?

The enquiry is trying to establish how well/badly it was handled by the government, together with forward planning that went into the handling of it.

The victims deserve this.

Agreed.

🙂

All messages related to the Inquiry, not just those from those two. They can’t conduct an inquiry with only part of the story.

Casdon isn’t it just the communication from BJ/Henry Cook therefore which is under the microscope? All other messages from everyone else have been given to the inquiry?

ronib

Casdon the judicial inquiry names Boris Johnson and Henry Cook as interested parties. I don’t think it is using this process to include all ministers.

Earlier this week, the inquiry told the government to submit messages sent between Mr Johnson and 40 other ministers and officials during the pandemic by 16:00 BST on Thursday.
The Cabinet Office - which supports the prime minister in running the government - also holds communications between ministers and civil servants which do not involve Mr Johnson.

From BBC News.

Casdon the judicial inquiry names Boris Johnson and Henry Cook as interested parties. I don’t think it is using this process to include all ministers.

I think it was badly handled. In particular I think lockdowns caused more harm than not having them would have.

Whitewavemark2

The enquiry isn’t about that though is it?

The enquiry is trying to establish how well/badly it was handled by the government, together with forward planning that went into the handling of it.

The victims deserve this.

Agreed.

MaizieD

Baggs

Whitewavemark2

👀

“Dear Cabinet Office
Our lives were in your hands.
Whatever you're hiding was a matter of life and death to us.
Some of us were lucky to survive.
Many did not.
We're entitled to know why.
Every little bit of it.
Michael Rosen”

Most of us survived
Some did not

That's how diseases work, surely? I don't think covid was much different from other coronavirus infections.

And the relevance to this topic of stating the obvious is .. What?

Ask wwmk2, maiz. I saw her post and replied to it.

The enquiry isn’t about that though is it?

The enquiry is trying to establish how well/badly it was handled by the government, together with forward planning that went into the handling of it.

The victims deserve this.

Baggs

Whitewavemark2

👀

“Dear Cabinet Office
Our lives were in your hands.
Whatever you're hiding was a matter of life and death to us.
Some of us were lucky to survive.
Many did not.
We're entitled to know why.
Every little bit of it.
Michael Rosen”

Most of us survived
Some did not

That's how diseases work, surely? I don't think covid was much different from other coronavirus infections.

And the relevance to this topic of stating the obvious is .. What?