A Covid Cover-Up

Tories accused as evidence of Johnson's pandemic texts and notes goes missing

- BEN GLAZE

THE Cabinet Office's insistence it no longer has messages from Boris Johnson it said were irrelevant to the Covid Inquiry has led to claims ministers have something to hide.

And last night grieving relatives of those killed by the virus demanded his WhatsApp texts and notebooks be handed over amid accusations of a cover-up and a bid to obstruct progress.

Officials had faced a 4pm deadline yesterday to give inquiry chair Baroness Heather Hallett, 73, the former PM's messages, parts of which government lawyers wanted redacted.

But just hours before that the Cabinet Office insisted it did not have the material.

Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice spokeswoman Susie Flintham said: "The lengths the Cabinet Office are going to in order to stop Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages and diaries from being shared with the Covid Inquiry should alarm everyone.

"This inquiry needs to get to the facts if it is to learn lessons to help save lives.

"So why are the Cabinet Office standing in their way? Our members are wondering what they are hiding."