Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has acquired a warning from the Cabinet Office that public funding for his authorized representation in relation to the Covid inquiry could be withdrawn if he attempts to “undermine” the federal government. The Sunday Times revealed extracts of a letter from the Cabinet Office, which instructed Johnson to submit witness statements to officials for potential redactions. This growth comes as the Cabinet Office resists the inquiry’s request for unredacted messages between Johnson and officers.
Johnson has expressed his willingness to offer the material directly to the inquiry. Jackpot confirmed that the letter was sent final week, but a government supply stated that it was not in response to any current event and had not been seen by ministers.
The letter from the Cabinet Office outlined that the funding offer would now not be available if Johnson knowingly sought to frustrate or undermine the government’s position in relation to the inquiry, unless there was a transparent and irreconcilable conflict of curiosity on a specific level at issue. Funding would only be offered if Johnson adhered to sure conditions, including submitting any witness assertion or exhibit meant for the inquiry to the Cabinet Office for safety checks and never offering evidence until any redactions deemed essential by the Cabinet Office had been utilized.
A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office clarified that the letter did not prevent Johnson from submitting any proof he wished to provide to the inquiry. The spokesperson explained that the letter, written by officials, aimed to guard public funds and reiterated that taxpayer-funded lawyers must solely be used to assist the Covid inquiry and for no other function. The Cabinet Office emphasised that Johnson had an obligation to supply sincere witness testament to the inquiry independently and irrespective of the present government’s views..