Thread by @callum8004

🧵1/ The UK government is seeking a judicial review over an order to release PM Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages, diaries, and notebooks to the COVID inquiry. This move raises important questions about transparency, accountability, and the use of government resources.

2/ While it's crucial to understand the decisions made during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's also important to consider the impact of this ongoing saga on the functioning of the government and civil service.

3/ Mistakes were undoubtedly made during the handling of the pandemic. However, the focus should now be on learning from these mistakes and moving forward, rather than getting mired in a potentially lengthy and resource-intensive legal battle.

4/ The Cabinet Office argues that some of the requested materials are "unambiguously irrelevant" to the inquiry's work and represent an "unwarranted intrusion" into other aspects of government work.

5/ It's worth asking whether this ongoing saga is the best use of government resources, especially when there are other pressing issues that require attention. The civil service and the government should be focusing on current and future challenges, not past ones.

6/ The government has offered alternatives such as providing redacted versions of the materials or a more focused approach to the direction of the information requirements. This suggests a willingness to cooperate, but also a desire to protect certain aspects of government work.

7/ It's clear that this saga cannot go on indefinitely. It's time to find a resolution that respects the need for transparency and accountability, while also allowing the government and civil service to focus on the pressing issues of today.

8/ The COVID-19 pandemic was a global crisis that required unprecedented responses. It's important to learn from the past, but it's equally important to move forward and focus on the future. Let's hope for a swift resolution to this saga. #COVIDInquiry #UKGovernment #BorisJohnson