Working to make government more effective

Working to make government more effective

Boris Johnson outside Downing Street.
Podcast

WhatsApp with the Covid inquiry?

Salma Shah, and the i's chief political commentator Paul Waugh join the podcast team to discuss the unprecedented scale of the inquiry.

Westminster watchers are used to the long tails of public inquiries. Baroness Hallett’s investigation of the pandemic will be no different, with hers due to take evidence until 2026.

Her first big hurdle is the cache of government WhatsApps that have long been withheld by Number 10. With a legal challenge looming, what do the messages contain that has pushed their publication to the deadline?

Former adviser to Sajid Javid, Salma Shah, and the i's chief political commentator Paul Waugh join the podcast team to discuss the unprecedented scale of the inquiry.

Plus, with an election not far off, Rishi Sunak is in search of his own strategy, as he attempts to clean up the messes his predecessors left behind. Can he activate the machinery of Whitehall in time to make his own mark on Number 10?

What we talked about in this episode

29 APR 2021 Report

The coronavirus inquiry

Boris Johnson should establish his promised public inquiry into the government’s handling of coronavirus in May.

21 MAR 2022 Report

WhatsApp in government

Government must introduce rigorous WhatsApp guidance for ministers, special advisers and officials.

People featured in this episode

Topic
Coronavirus Parliament and the constitution Ministers
Keywords
Public inquiries Law Cabinet Judicial review Government transparency Government communications General election
Political party
Conservative
Position
Prime minister
Administration
Sunak government Johnson government
Department
Cabinet Office
Public figures
Rishi Sunak Boris Johnson
Publisher
Institute for Government

Related content

10 MAY 2024 Podcast

Dover and done with

The FT’s Lucy Fisher joins the podcast team to discuss the defection of Dover MP Natalie Elphicke.