Government to launch legal action in attempt to retain Johnson WhatsApps

Unprecedented move follows Covid inquiry chair giving Cabinet Office 4pm Thursday deadline to comply

Legal action is being launched by the government in a last-ditch attempt to avoid handing over Boris Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApps to the official Covid public inquiry.

The inquiry’s chair, Heather Hallett, had given the Cabinet Office a deadline to comply with her demands for evidence of 4pm on Thursday.