A potential breakthrough has been made in the ongoing attempts to unlock former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s old mobile phone. According to an ally of Johnson, the government claims to have found a “version” of the device’s PIN.

The phone, which was used until May 2021, is believed to contain crucial WhatsApp messages related to the ordering of coronavirus lockdowns and the early response to the pandemic by the Johnson administration.

The government missed a deadline on Monday to provide this evidence to the COVID inquiry, citing Johnson’s forgotten phone password as the reason for the delay.

While Mr. Johnson’s spokesperson did not deny the claims, they stated that government-appointed “technical experts” are working to safely recover material from the device.

Addressing the issue, an ally of Johnson mentioned that he does not lack knowledge of his PIN number, but rather lacks complete confidence in remembering it. Additionally, the government claims to have discovered its own version of the PIN separately.

Concerns have been raised about the contents of the phone potentially being wiped if the wrong combination of numbers is entered. The device was reportedly last accessed in December 2021 when Lord Geidt, the former prime minister’s adviser on ministerial interests, requested WhatsApp messages relating to an investigation into the funding of the Downing Street flat refurbishment.

The Cabinet Office has been contacted for comment regarding the suggestion that technicians have found a past code used by Johnson.

While the inquiry, headed by Baroness Heather Hallett, is aware of efforts to extract relevant content from Johnson’s old phone, doubts have been cast on the claim that the messages cannot be accessed due to a memory lapse.

Mobile security expert Andrew Whaley stated that accessing the data provided by Johnson’s WhatsApp is backed up, would be a relatively straightforward process. He noted that although the security measures on a diplomatic phone may differ, it is not an insurmountable task.

The COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group criticized the situation, describing it as a “complete joke” and urging Johnson to take full responsibility for providing his WhatsApp messages.

As the investigation unfolds, the public eagerly awaits further developments in this ongoing inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic response.