Explosive WhatsApp messages have laid bare the utter chaos and dysfunction at the heart of Boris Johnson's government during the Covid-19 pandemic. The UK Covid-19 Inquiry was presented with devastating exchanges between the former Prime Minister's most senior advisors, who accused him of making it 'impossible' to tackle the virus effectively.
Advisors at Breaking Point
The extraordinary cache of messages, sent between figures including Dominic Cummings, Lee Cain, and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, reveals a team in despair. In a particularly stark assessment, Simon Case declared he was 'at the end of my tether' with Mr Johnson's leadership. The UK's top civil servant lamented the Prime Minister's habit of changing strategic direction every single day, veering from fearing the virus to a 'let it rip' mentality.
Case's messages, shown to the inquiry on Thursday 20 November 2025, were unequivocal in their criticism. 'He cannot lead, and we cannot support him in leading with this approach,' he wrote. 'The team captain cannot change the call on the big plays every day. The team can’t deliver anything under these circumstances.'
'Weak and Indecisive' Leadership
The discontent was widespread among the Prime Minister's inner circle. Advisors collectively branded Mr Johnson as 'weak and indecisive', with Dominic Cummings referring to him as a 'trolley' for his tendency to veer erratically between issues. This sentiment was echoed by the government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance.
In his own diary entries presented to the inquiry, Sir Patrick described 'Number 10 chaos as usual'. He recorded his astonishment that no one in Number 10 or the Cabinet Office had properly understood the scientific advice on the two-metre rule. Vallance also expressed his belief that scientists were being 'used as human shields' by ministers and noted that Johnson was 'all over the place and so completely inconsistent'.
Apologies and Admissions of Failure
The inquiry also heard from Martin Reynolds, Mr Johnson's former principal private secretary, who offered a profound apology for his role in the 'Partygate' scandal. Mr Reynolds, who sent the infamous 'bring your own booze' email invitation to over 100 staff during a strict lockdown, said he was 'deeply sorry' and apologised 'unreservedly to all the families of all those who suffered during Covid'.
Beyond the social gatherings, Reynolds admitted that the government's core preparedness for a pandemic was 'grossly deficient'. He confirmed that officials were operating 'without a proper playbook', leaving the country vulnerable at a time of unprecedented crisis. The messages and testimony collectively paint a picture of a government led by a chaotic prime minister, struggling to provide the clear and consistent leadership the nation desperately needed.
