Top civil servant referenced in ‘misogynistic’ messages to give inquiry evidence

The former top civil servant criticised by Dominic Cummings in expletive-laden WhatsApp messages is set to appear before the Covid-19 inquiry.

Helen MacNamara, the former deputy cabinet secretary, will become the latest pandemic-era senior official to face questions about the response on Wednesday after two days of hearings revealed the dysfunction, indecision and dithering inside Boris Johnson’s government.

The ex-civil servant, who left the Civil Service in 2021, was namechecked in proceedings on Tuesday as Mr Cummings denied he had behaved in a misogynistic way during his time in Downing Street.

WhatsApp messages shared with the inquiry revealed that Mr Cummings had labelled Ms MacNamara “that c***” and said he would “handcuff her and escort her” from Downing Street.

“I don’t care how it’s done but that woman must be out of our hair – we cannot keep dealing with this horrific meltdown of the British state while dodging stilettos from that c***,” he wrote.

Ms MacNamara, who took up a senior role at the Premier League following her Civil Service exit before leaving after less than two years, played a key role in the Covid response as one of the country’s most senior officials.

The inquiry has already revealed that she authored a report in the early period of the pandemic on the culture at the top of Government, finding that female staff were being “talked over and ignored” and “bad behaviours” were being tolerated from senior leaders.

Ms MacNamara also made headlines for providing a karaoke machine for a lockdown event in Downing Street.

She was subsequently fined by the Metropolitan Police for her part in the leaving do and issued an apology for her “error of judgment”.

Dr David Halpern, the former chief executive of the behavioural insights team, will also give evidence on Wednesday.

This week has already seen a number of high-profile figures give evidence, with No 10’s former communications director Lee Cain and key Johnson aide Martin Reynolds appearing alongside Mr Cummings.

The role of the Cabinet Office came in for particular criticism by Mr Cummings, who labelled it a “bomb site” and a “dumpster fire” in his evidence.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said he understands the “deep hurt” of families whose loved ones died during the pandemic, when asked about the expletives being shared and the tone of language from former prime minister Mr Johnson.

The ex-PM is alleged by Mr Cummings to have believed that coronavirus was “nature’s way of dealing with old people”.

Mr Dowden warned against taking the former adviser’s account at face value, and told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “I understand people’s deep hurt at some of these allegations that are being made. What I would say is this is precisely why we set up this inquiry in the first place.

“It is right that victims should understand what happened.”

He also said he expects Mr Johnson to give his own “full account” to the inquiry.