Covid inquiry: Lib Dems to table humble address forcing Government to hand over pandemic messages to the Covid inquiry

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats have announced they will be tabling a ‘Humble Address’ motion as soon as Parliament returns next week, to force the government to release unredacted messages sent by Conservative ministers during the pandemic to the Covid-19 inquiry.

The Liberal Democrat humble address motion will call for the publication of “all material which has been requested of His Majesty's Government by the [UK COVID-19] Inquiry, including unredacted WhatsApp messages, diaries and notebooks.”

It comes as the government launches a judicial review over the Covid inquiry's demand to hand over messages sent by Boris Johnson and other ministers during the pandemic.

Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office Spokesperson Christine Jardine:

“People are sick and tired of the government’s attempts to duck scrutiny by refusing to hand over these messages in full.

“Rishi Sunak promised to govern with integrity and accountability, instead it’s just more chaos and cover-ups.

“Bereaved families deserve full transparency instead of this endless game of smoke and mirrors.

“It’s time for MPs to come together, end this Conservative cover-up and force the government to come clean.”  

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Full text of the draft motion is as follows:

That an Humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that he will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be deposited in the House of Commons Library for the sole purpose of the UK COVID-19 Inquiry all material which has been requested of His Majesty's Government by the Inquiry, including unredacted WhatsApp messages, diaries and notebooks.