Former Prime Minister hands over data from old phone after technical recovery

Boris Johnson has agreed to provide the UK Covid-19 Inquiry with messages recovered from his old mobile phone, following a breakthrough in efforts to retrieve the data. The recovery, confirmed on Friday, follows a period of uncertainty after the former Prime Minister was advised to stop using the device due to security concerns, stemming from the revelation that his number had been publicly available online for years.

Johnson reportedly forgot the passcode to his phone, complicating efforts to access the crucial messages. However, after technical experts succeeded in retrieving all relevant content, a spokesman for the former Prime Minister confirmed that he would hand over the data in unredacted form to the inquiry.

The process now requires a security check by the Cabinet Office, which will determine when the materials are passed to the inquiry. Johnson’s spokesman reiterated that it was always the plan for him to provide these records, stating that a meticulous, approved process was followed to ensure the recovery was successful.

The phone, used by Johnson during pivotal moments of the pandemic, is believed to contain communications about key decisions such as the ordering of lockdowns in 2020. This development marks the latest chapter in the inquiry’s efforts to probe the government’s handling of the pandemic. Johnson had previously resisted full disclosure of his notebooks and messages, but the matter was taken to the High Court, where the government lost, leading to the forced release of the material.