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The Independent UK

National

Archie Mitchell

Government WhatsApps about ‘frothy’ coffee orders, not major decisions, former health minister claims

Boris Johnson WhatsApp Covid-19 Chris Whitty Dominic Cummings Lee Cain Patrick Vallance Rishi Sunak Hallett Matt Hancock

AFP/Getty

Government WhatsApp groups were used to discuss “frothy material” such as coffee orders and not to make major policy decisions, a former Tory health minister has claimed.

Lord Bethell, who was criticised for replacing his phone during the pandemic, meaning some of his own messages were lost, said it was “plain wrong” to suggest WhatsApp was used to make key decisions during the pandemic.

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