02 June 2023 , 21:17
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Whatever his motives, Boris Johnson has done the right thing by promising to hand his WhatsApp messages directly to the Covid Inquiry.
It could be the former PM genuinely wants to help the investigation. Or he may be seeking to embarrass Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Regardless of his reasons, and despite the rather odd delay in providing his older messages, it is an outrage that Baroness Hallett is having to fight the Government tooth and nail to access the records of ministers and officials.
To claim the inquiry is on a fishing expedition for irrelevant details is a nonsense.
If information is not relevant it will not be used. But it’s for the inquiry to decide what’s in the public interest, not ministers who may have something to hide.
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By blocking the release of the documents Mr Sunak shows he has no regard for the truth, bereaved families or taxpayers’ money.
Penalty time
The behaviour on the pitch at this week’s Europa League final was disgraceful. The behaviour off the pitch was even worse.
Referee Anthony Taylor and his assistants were harassed, intimidated and abused by players and coaching staff.
The two teams, Sevilla and Roma, were as bad as each other but by far the worst offender was the Italian side’s manager Jose Mourinho.
He confronted Taylor in the stadium car park after the game and singled him out for criticism in the post-match press conference.
Taylor and his family were then accosted by fans at the airport as they travelled home.
UEFA is charging Mourinho with misconduct. A mere slap on the wrist will not do.
Only the harshest possible penalties will force players and managers to start acting like sportsmen and not petty thugs.
Stag-flation
Attending a friend’s stag or hen do costs nearly £800 on average.
The bill may not be cheap but the chance to embarrass the bride or groom is priceless.
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