Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages have now been retrieved from his old phone and will be handed over unredacted to the coronavirus investigation, his spokesman said.
The inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic has called for the former prime minister’s message at the height of the lockdown to be part of its ongoing work.
But after resolving differences with the Cabinet Office in the court Regarding whether the SMS is necessary, ask if the SMS has not been received yet before last week’s deadline.
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A spokesman for Mr Johnson said the former prime minister was advised to switch off his old mobile phone for security reasons after it was discovered that the number had been stolen while he was in office. Available for free on the Internet for about 15 years.
But after the former leader received approval from security services to reopen the facility, reports said he forgot his password.
Now, Johnson’s spokesman says “technical experts” have “successfully recovered all relevant information” from the device, meaning it can be used in the investigation.
However, the government is now requiring “a security check of the material”, so “the timing of any further progress in the delivery investigation is under the control of the Cabinet Office”.
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The spokesman added: “Boris Johnson will always hand this material over to investigative agencies and will do everything possible to help it be recovered.
“We followed a careful process of investigation approval to ensure the success of this operation.”
The Covid-19 Inquiry, led by chair Baroness Hallett, demanded all unanswered WhatsApp, diaries and notebooks from Johnson back in May under a Section 21 notice.
But the Cabinet Office argued some of it was “clearly irrelevant” and seek judicial review be opposed to.
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Johnson has maintained throughout that he would be happy to hand over the material, putting him at odds with the government.
However, he said security issues with his old phone, which he stopped using in May 2021, meant he had to seek advice from security about messages before that date.
Earlier this month, the High Court ruled in the chairman’s favor, and the department has pledged to comply.
Now, Mr Johnson also appears set to hand over any remaining material needed for the investigation.