The UK government has lost its legal challenge over the Covid-19 inquiry’s request for Boris Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApp messages, notebooks and diaries, paving the way for a wider release of sensitive government communications from the pandemic period.
The Cabinet Office had refused to supply the documents, arguing that some of the material the inquiry had demanded was “unambiguously irrelevant”, and last month challenged the request through a judicial review.
The Covid-19 inquiry chair, Lady Heather Hallett, countered that it was for her “to decide what is relevant” so she can gather materials necessary for a thorough investigation.
In a decision on Thursday, Lord Justice Dingemans and Mr Justice Garnham dismissed the claim for judicial review.
This is a developing story . . .