Boris Johnson claims he has 'no objection' to Covid inquiry trends now
Boris Johnson's allies last night said he had 'no objection' to disclosing material to the official Covid inquiry as the deadline for handing over unredacted messages was extended.
Ministers had been given until yesterday afternoon to comply with an order to release, in full, the former prime minister's WhatsApp messages and diaries.
But the deadline was yesterday pushed back to 4pm tomorrow by inquiry chairman Baroness Hallett, who rejected a Government bid for a longer extension. She also revealed that the Cabinet Office said it 'does not have in its possession either Mr Johnson's WhatsApp messages or notebooks' which had been sought.
No 10 denied accusations of a cover-up, and said there is no requirement to 'permanently store or record every WhatsApp', with messages related to decision-making instead copied over to the official record. The spokesman said it is 'down to individuals to decide what personal information they are able to hand over'.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said he 'has no objection to disclosing material', adding: 'He has done so and will continue to do so. The decision to challenge the inquiry's position on redactions is for the Cabinet Office.'
Boris Johnson pictured leaving his house on March 22, as he fights demands to hand over records of his private conversations
An ally of the former PM alleged he had become a 'distraction' in the row and said the 'WhatsApps the Government really doesn't want disclosed are Sunak's' – a claim dismissed by No 10.
Rishi Sunak has snubbed Boris Johnson’s bid for a ‘clear-the-air’ meeting this week.
Initial discussions were held by No 10 and the former prime minister’s office about holding a telephone call – but it will now not go ahead.
The meeting had been billed by the former PM’s allies as an opportunity to discuss his honours list. Several Tory MPs are believed to have been put forward for peerages which, if confirmed, would force the Conservatives to fight risky by-elections at a time of dire opinion polling.
But it is understood that no meeting was confirmed before the reports surfaced and time could not be found in Mr Sunak’s busy diary.
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It emerged last night that the Government has received legal advice to block the release of 'politically sensitive' material about the pandemic. Bloomberg reported that documents detailing discussions between senior ministers during the Covid crisis should not be disclosed 'as a matter of course' to avoid undermining the principle of collective responsibility.
Mr Sunak insisted
