Boris Johnson ‘can’t remember’ the iPhone password to get his old WhatsApp Covid Messages – 17 pin-sharp responses
In a twist that manages to be both shocking and entirely predictable, Boris Johnson has apparently been unable to hand over WhatsApp messages from his old mobile phone to the Covid inquiry – because he’s forgotten the password.
The former PM has already missed a deadline for evidence set by the investigation into the pandemic and the government’s response to it.
Now he cannot remember ‘with 100% confidence’ the code to unlock his old phone, according to the Times, and there are fears the mobile could wipe the messages if the wrong password is entered too many times.
EXCLUSIVE:
Boris Johnson has been unable to give the Covid inquiry Whatsapp messages from his old iPhone because he has forgotten passcode
Government security experts trying to establish if they can stop the iPhone erasing itself if passcode is wronghttps://t.co/42c8XHOQ4U
— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) July 13, 2023
Boris Johnson can’t ‘100% recollect’ the passcode for his old iPhone
Rather than take risk of device disabling, security experts are trying to find a way of getting round it
His iPhone has a much higher level of security than normal iPhones, which disable after 10+ attempts
— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) July 13, 2023
It prompted no end of comment and a whole bunch of jokes, as you might imagine, but possibly the best bit was that it was entirely predicted by LBC’s James O’Brien.
I predicted this live on the radio at 11:05:34 this morning!
And now I'm worried that he heard me… https://t.co/0TQkWaW80U— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) July 13, 2023
And here he is doing it!
‘This is the only programme in Britain where you get the news before it has actually happened!’@mrjamesob predicted that Boris Johnson would claim he couldn’t give his WhatsApps to the COVID Inquiry as he forgot the phone’s passcode – 35 minutes later it happened. pic.twitter.com/5XwBLo62bM
— LBC (@LBC) July 13, 2023
And here are our 17 other favourite things people said about it.
1.
Good that Boris Johnson is kicking off an inquiry that ultimately asks if he was trustworthy, competent and intelligent enough for the job of being Prime Minister by claiming he can't remember the passcode to his phone. I feel like we might already have the inquiry's conclusion?
— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) July 13, 2023
2.
I would suggest trying some combination of his childrens' birthdays but that would take forever. https://t.co/dKvPkCzynP
— Sam Freedman (@Samfr) July 13, 2023
3.
There is no chinny big enough to reckon for this. They could genetically splice Jimmy Hill & Bruce Forsyth and still not come close. This is reckoning beyond the realms of chinny. https://t.co/3lnvciuV82
— Mooms – The Integrity & Honesty Liker (@Danny_McMoomins) July 13, 2023
4.
We have discovered why Boris Johnson has been unable to get into his phone.
Face ID wasn’t working because it wasn’t sure which of his two faces to use.#BorisJohnsonContemptOfCourt #BorisJohnsonsphone pic.twitter.com/WtLZMlaylP
— Conservatives (@TheBigCons) July 13, 2023
5.
It's quite clearly… https://t.co/LSWo2QNO48 pic.twitter.com/mVP5rtd3RQ
— christhebarker (@christhebarker) July 13, 2023
6.
Here's a clue, Boris. It's the same as the one on your current phone. https://t.co/QVIAa31wBg
— Adam Kay (@amateuradam) July 13, 2023
7.
"Have you tried using your children's date of birth? It works for me every time."
"I only get 10 attempts." https://t.co/jNczwCPR2D pic.twitter.com/dfzOIdNXQS
— Colin the Dachshund (@DachshundColin) July 13, 2023
8.
When you order yourself a cheeky pizza even though you told everyone your phone wasn’t working. pic.twitter.com/Jwdf9rr7W8
— Domino’s Pizza UK (@Dominos_UK) July 13, 2023
9.
Britain’s most notorious liar claims that he can’t remember the passcode for a phone containing WhatsApp messages which will cast fresh light on quite how much he lied during the Covid pandemic. Sounds legit. https://t.co/Sg1bD1v47A
— Nicholas Pegg (@NicholasPegg) July 13, 2023