Lord Bethell insisted it is “plain wrong” to suggest WhatsApp had been used for major decision-making during the pandemic, claiming most of his own messages on the platform over that period had related to coffee orders. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We need these tramlines, that’s why the court case is a good idea. A Whitehall source told the paper: “Senior officials including the Cabinet Secretary were in the critical WhatsApp groups and their phones aren’t compromised. He has vowed to send all his messages to the official investigation directly, circumventing the Cabinet Office. It comes ahead of inquiry chairwoman Baroness Heather Hallett on Tuesday making her first public remarks since the Government sought legal action.

Source: The Times June 05, 2023 08:54 UTC