UK Government Seeks Judicial Review Against Covid Inquiry's Demand for Unredacted WhatsApp Messages

The Cabinet Office announced on Thursday that it had sought permission to bring the judicial review, stating that it was regrettable but assuring cooperation with the inquiry.

The government's move has sparked an immediate row at Westminster, with Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP accusing the government of attempting to obstruct the inquiry, which is investigating the UK government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, told broadcasters that the government was still considering its next steps just 45 minutes before a deadline to hand over the documents.

Mr. Sunak said that the government was confident in its position but was carefully considering its next steps, and that it was important to learn the lessons of the pandemic to be better prepared in the future.

The government had previously argued that it did not have the messages and notebooks, but Mr. Johnson's office confirmed that he had handed them over to officials.

Lady Hallett, the chair of the inquiry, has ruled that everything should be disclosed, and she will decide what is or is not necessary for her work.

Mr. Johnson's decision to publicly confirm that he had handed over the material and his suggestion that it should be disclosed to the inquiry has heaped pressure on his successor's government.

Whitehall officials are concerned about the wider precedent that will be set by handing over swathes of unredacted WhatsApp conversations, with fears that the inquiry will seek similar levels of disclosure from other senior figures, including Mr. Sunak himself.

Lady Hallett issued her demand for the material under Section 21 of the Inquiries Act 2005, and failure to comply could lead to prosecution and a potential fine or jail term for an individual found guilty of the offence.