Freshened-up Version:
Unraveling Boris Johnson's Cross-examination: Five Unveiled Truths in the Coronavirus Inquiry
First off, Boris Johnson's familiar tousled hairdo was in place, looking as though it might have been styled with a balloon. Yes, the ex-prime minister still favors his white-blonde 'do, even under scrutiny.
The Boris Johnson we saw, however, was a far cry from his usual boisterous self. The occasion called for an air of seriousness and solemnity, and he delivered, or at least attempted to, as he faced the Covid-19 Select Committee Investigation in London. The former prime minister was under oath to tell the truth; a challenging task for a man known for his flexible relationship with facts.
The inquiry, launched since June, has been probing the British government's handling of the Coronavirus pandemic under Johnson's leadership. Witnesses ranging from scientists and politicians to government employees, including Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Johnson's principal advisor Dominic Cummings, have all testified at length. Even with the pre-hearing buzz surrounding Cummings and the compromise-filled WhatsApp messages, the public still had much to learn about the ex-prime minister on the witness stand.
Findings: A Glimpse into Boris Johnson's Unforeseen Aspects
1. Boris's Alarm Clock: Calibrated for Significance
Johnson surprised everyone by arriving at Dorland House in West London three hours ahead of his hearing start time. Supporters viewed it as a symbol of his conscientiousness, eager to prepare for such a crucial event. His critics, however, speculated that he wanted to avoid eye contact with the protesters mourning Covid victims outside the entrance.
1. Boris's Handy-Dandy Unresponsive Cell Phone
Lawyer Hugo Keith, presiding over the inquiry, raised an intriguing matter: the sudden disappearance of 5,000 WhatsApp messages related to the coronavirus pandemic spanning the months of January to February, vanished without a trace. "What happened to them?" Keith asked. Johnson's response? "Something to do with the app," he replied noncommittally. Keith had a different theory: the phone had been reset at some point. "I didn't do that, I have no idea how to do it," Johnson assured, hardly believing he'd once been entrusted with nuclear codes.
1. Crown Prince of Insincere Apologies
Johnson, in his written testimony, acknowledged "mistakes" made during the pandemic, but it was unclear precisely which mistakes he was referring to. Keith wanted clarification. "Could you elaborate on the mistakes?", he asked. Johnson's response was classic Johnson: filled with loosely-connected rambles related to communication and regional differences, ultimately ending in "I'm not trying to anticipate your questions."
1. The Consultant-Free Zone
Johnson sought to explain how the British government didn't order a lockdown until more than ten days after other neighboring countries. He attributed the delay to his inexperience, as it had been more than a century since the country faced a major pandemic. He conveniently overlooked the fact that he was surrounded by scientific experts specializing in pandemics during his tenure, ensuring that the facts were already known. The judge overseeing the inquiry, Heather Hallett, couldn't hide her incredulity at the explanation.
1. Long Covid: Just "Bullshit"?
For the record, Johnson is a traditionalist who seems to view his citizens as fragile. After the pandemic broke out, he mused that "risk groups" such as the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions were "already on their way out" and that "the economy couldn't be ruined because of them." The pandemic seemed like a minor inconvenience to him in its early stages. As he came to realize the enormity of the threat, he flip-flopped between herd immunity strategies and saving the overburdened NHS.
The inquiry is expected to continue with more revelations emerging in upcoming hearings. Johnson's cross-examination is ongoing for another day.
Additional reading:
- During the cross-examination, Boris Johnson struggled to explain the sudden disappearance of 5,000 WhatsApp messages related to the Covid-19 pandemic, stating that he was unfamiliar with how to reset his phone to factory settings.
- The Covid-19 Select Committee Investigation probed the British government's handling of the Coronavirus pandemic under Boris Johnson's leadership, with testimony from experts, politicians, and government employees.
- Johnson was questioned by lawyer Hugo Keith regarding the government's failure to implement effective communication strategies and mistakes made in decision-making during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Enrichment Data:
The issue of Boris Johnson explaining the disappearance of 5,000 WhatsApp messages related to the Covid-19 pandemic during his cross-examination by Hugo Keith could not be gleaned from the search results provided. The search results only provided details about Michael Gove and other unrelated topics. As a result, there is no available information regarding how Boris Johnson explained his cell phone's disappearing WhatsApp messages during his cross-examination.
