Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has delivered explosive testimony to the UK's COVID-19 Inquiry, revealing unprecedented behind-the-scenes chaos during the darkest days of the pandemic. The inquiry heard shocking details of government infighting, with damning WhatsApp messages exposing the brutal reality of decision-making at the highest levels of power.
WhatsApp Messages Expose Government Tensions
Among the most startling revelations were text exchanges between senior ministers that laid bare the toxic atmosphere within government. In one particularly brutal message, former Health Secretary Matt Hancock was described in terms so offensive they shocked inquiry lawyers. The messages painted a picture of a government tearing itself apart while trying to manage the greatest public health crisis in a century.
"Save Lives or Protect the Economy?" The Impossible Choice
Johnson defended his government's approach, stating they faced an "impossible choice" between saving lives and protecting the economy. "We were grappling with decisions that no prime minister had faced since the war," he told the inquiry. However, critics argue the evidence shows a government fundamentally unprepared and deeply divided at the moment it needed unity and clear leadership most.
Key Revelations That Shook Westminster
- Explosive WhatsApp messages revealing bitter ministerial rivalries
- Admissions of government unpreparedness for pandemic scale
- Defence of controversial "herd immunity" discussions
- Revelations about pressure on scientific advisors
- Details of lockdown timing debates that cost precious weeks
What This Means for Johnson's Political Future
The testimony represents a critical moment for the former Prime Minister's legacy. While Johnson attempted to portray himself as leading a government doing its best in impossible circumstances, the paper trail of messages and emails suggests a administration in chaos. The inquiry continues to hear evidence that could reshape public understanding of Britain's pandemic response for generations to come.
