These are the bits of the news story I feel like I've known for weeks:
Boris Johnson is still in possession of his old mobile phone containing crucial WhatsApp messages despite a strict deadline set by the Covid inquiry for all relevant material.
It was explained ages ago repeatedly by many (journalists etc) that this release would be difficult because the phone is compromised.
Rishi Sunak’s government was unable to hand over the former PM’s previous phone – which contains vital Covid-era messages up until May 2021 – by Monday’s deadline.
sEe above, the phone has dodgy spyware on it. Numpty wasn't careful with it.
The Covid inquiry chair Baroness Hallett had given the Cabinet Office until 4pm to hand over Mr Johnson’s WhatsApps, notebooks and diaries after the government lost its legal challenge in a “humiliating” court defeat last week.
I didn't know the deadline but I knew the deadline might well be missed.
Both No 10 and the Cabinet Office pointed to Mr Johnson – saying he had not handed over the phone in time for the messages to be accessed and given to the inquiry.
So that was predicted weeks ago
However, Mr Johnson’s office said his team was still working with government security officials on how best to switch on the old phone – insisting he wanted to “cooperate fully” with the inquiry. He was forced to turn the device off and switch to a new mobile in May 2021 after a security breach: it emerged his number had been freely available online for 15 years.
Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson have been at odds over Covid inquiry
I can't stand BoJo but he has cooperated better with Inquiry than Sunak's lot. Weeks ago that was apparent.
The government had fought the request from inquiry chairwoman Baroness Heather Hallett to release unredacted documents – arguing it should not have to hand over material that is “unambiguously irrelevant”.
Stances govt & Hallett had weeks ago, no change there.
But the argument was dismissed by High Court judges last week, who said the fact an order for material would produce “some irrelevant documents” did not “invalidate” it or mean it “cannot be lawfully exercised”.
Aha! something new. To me anyway. Also new was the rest after that, about Norn CMO & Arlene Foster & Michele O'Neill. About 110 words of a 600 word article.