Simon Case called Boris Johnson ‘Trump-level mad’ on Covid

The head of the civil service accused Boris Johnson of “Trump-Bolsonaro levels of mad and dangerous” behaviour on WhatsApp after the prime minister argued for the end of social distancing, The Times has been told.

Next week the Covid-19 inquiry will hear evidence from Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s former chief adviser, and other senior Downing Street figures as part of its investigation into the government’s handling of the pandemic.

A cache of WhatsApp messages is expected to be published, including one involving Simon Case, the cabinet secretary. The exchange, from July 2020, came while Johnson was pushing to ease lockdown restrictions and arguing in favour of the end of social distancing and the reopening of society.

However, coronavirus levels were steadily increasing at the time and Case, Cummings and others in No 10 were worried about the plans. In one message Case said that Johnson wanted to declare “we’re over Covid”. He said that the approach would be “Trump-Bolsonaro level mad and dangerous”. The comment was a reference to Donald Trump, who was then the US president, and Jair Bolsonaro, who was then the president of Brazil. Both leaders had dismissed warnings about the dangers of Covid.

Donald Trump’s pronouncements on Covid often frustrated Anthony Fauci, who was chief medical adviser

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At the time there were concerns that Britain was on the cusp of a second wave of the coronavirus. In the event, plans for the widespread reopening of society were delayed by a fortnight in mid-August. A month-long lockdown came into force in November.

Cummings has previously accused Johnson of saying that he would rather see the “bodies pile high” than impose another lockdown in the autumn. The claim has been categorically rejected by Johnson.

Case is presently on medical leave. The WhatsApp message is further evidence of the concerns he had about Johnson’s approach.

Messages already released by the Covid-19 inquiry show Case describing Carrie Symonds, then Johnson’s fiancée and now his wife, as the “real person in charge” and saying that the government looked like a “terrible, tragic joke”.

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Case, who became cabinet secretary in September 2020 and had been permanent secretary in No 10, made the comments in a WhatsApp group that included Lee Cain, the head of communications, and Cummings.

‘Wtf are we talking about’

In an apparent sign of frustration with the administration’s handling of the pandemic, Case wrote: “Am not sure I can cope with today. Might just go home. Matt [Hancock] just called, having spoken to PM. According to Matt (so aim off, obvs), PM has asked Matt to work up regional circuit breakers for the north (as per Northern Ireland) today — and to bring recommendations. I am going to scream . . . ” Cain, Johnson’s director of communications until November 2020, replied: “Wtf are we talking about.”

In an apparent reference to Johnson’s partner, Case replied: “Whatever Carrie cares about, I guess.” He added wrote: “I was always told that [Dominic Cummings] was the secret PM. How wrong they are. I look forward to telling select committee tomorrow — ‘F*** no, don’t worry about Dom, the real person in charge is Carrie’.”

Simon Case is presently on medical leave

OLI SCARFF

Later Case wrote: “This gov’t doesn’t have the credibility needed to be imposing stuff within only days of deciding not too [sic].

“We look like a terrible, tragic joke.

“If we were going hard, that decision was needed weeks ago. I cannot cope with this.”

Johnson denies sending sexist texts

George Osborne, the former chancellor, said on his Political Currency podcast this week that Johnson and Cummings sent “disgusting and misogynistic” WhatsApp messages that will be released by the Covid-19 inquiry next week.

He said: “I’ve got to be a little bit careful here. It’s a judicial inquiry. But from what I understand, there are some pretty staggering things that have been said on those WhatsApp messages, not just by Boris Johnson, but key advisers like Dominic Cummings.

“Really, pretty disgusting and misogynistic language. And I think if you didn’t think very highly of that period of government, you’re gonna feel even less highly after you’ve heard those messages next week.”

A spokesman for Johnson denied that he had sent any misogynistic messages. The Cabinet Office declined to comment.