Covid inquiry told of exchange between cabinet secretary and the then PM’s principal private secretary
Boris Johnson was “mad” if he did not think his WhatsApp messages would become public during the Covid inquiry, Whitehall’s leading civil servant told another senior mandarin in an exchange during the pandemic.
The exchange between Simon Case and Martin Reynolds was revealed as the latter appeared as a witness in the inquiry, where he was challenged about why he turned on a disappearing messages function on a WhatsApp group involving Johnson weeks after the then prime minister announced an inquiry would take place.
Reynolds, the former principal private secretary to the prime minister, was described as “Party Marty” after an email emerged showing he had invited more than 100 Downing Street staff to a “bring your own booze” event during the first lockdown.
His appearance comes as the official Covid inquiry reaches a week of hugely significant and potentially damning testimony, evidence that could shine a deeply unforgiving light on the inner workings of Boris Johnson’s government.
During cross examination by counsel for the inquiry, Hugo Keith KC, Reynolds said he was aware that all WhatApp messages from key decision-makers would become relevant in due course.
