Covid inquiry roundup: Lee Cain and Dominic Cummings provide worrying insight into No 10
Ministers and officials “laughed” at Italy as the country’s health system became overwhelmed by Covid at the start of the pandemic, a former top civil servant has told the Covid inquiry.
Helen McNamara, the former deputy cabinet secretary and ethics chief, is giving testimony on her role in government during the pandemic.
On Tuesday, Dominic Cummings apologised for the language used in a series of foul-mouthed messages criticising members of the government but denied misogyny over a sexist rant against a civil servant.
Boris Johnson’s former chief of staff was shown a host of sweary WhatsApps at the Covid inquiry on Tuesday, in which he called his former colleagues “useless f***pigs, morons and c***s” during the pandemic.
He apologised for his disparaging language but defended the criticism more generally, saying he was reflecting “a widespread view” that senior politicians were “dealing with this crisis extremely badly.”
To audible gasps in the press annex, one message was read out in which Mr Cummings called former top civil servant Helen MacNamara a “c***” and said he would “handcuff her and escort her” from Downing Street. However, he denied misogyny.
